The Goal Diggers PH rallying behind sports community in return from pandemic

THE Goal Diggers PH, a special podcast that features conversations with distinguished sports personalities, is ramping up its efforts to continue to inspire and motivate people to move accordingly, especially during this time of picking up the pieces from the pandemic.

A brainchild of football stakeholders and marketing professionals, The Goal Diggers PH was born at the height of the coronavirus pandemic last year and has since spotlighted topics and issues that people, particularly those in the sports community, could take cue from as they weave their way back in the “new normal.”

“Year 2020 was really a time for us to reflect. And 2021 is our time to return to action. We should use this year to plan strategies on how to move forward and put that plan to action. Regardless of whether virtual or faceto-face, we have to make informed decisions before putting these strategies into action and which is why we’re doing the program and other activities,” said Robbie de Vera, founder and chief sports advocate of sports marketing organization XMPLR, at the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

“We want to reach as many people as possible and contribute to help uplift sports. This is a program for motivation and guidance to help create change,” he added of the mission and vision of The Goal Diggers PH.

In line with the group’s thrust, it will be holding online sessions for free on Sports Events Essentials 1 and 2 scheduled for March 13 and 20 starting at 11 a.m. on The Goal Diggers PH Facebook page.

Next month, The Goal Diggers PH will also launch a more in-depth sports management course with the goal of helping develop more sports leaders and impactful sports events.

Topics to be covered include sports marketing, events management, project management, safeguarding sports in the medical and legal aspects, digital marketing and crisis management.

“The best way to maximize this opportunity that we have now is by staying productive. We are encouraging our sports leaders, facilitators, directors, entrepreneurs, coaches and athletes to use our energy with the hope of raising the capability of our community to run better and more impactful sports events in the new normal,” said Mr. San Agustin in underscoring the needed mind-set to have to take on the challenges that present time presents.

The people behind The Goal Diggers PH said they are still planning more activities moving forward and will announce them in time.

Since kicking off in September, the podcast has featured sports celebrities like Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz, Azkals’ Nate Burkey and Anton del Rosario, volleyball’s Gretchen Ho, rugby’s Ada Milby, and champion Philippine Basketball Association coach Jong Uichico, who shared their experiences in the pandemic and how they are surviving it.

Set to grace the program this month are Alyssa Valdez (March 13) and Jude Turcuato of SMART Sports (March 20). —