Grassroots indoor football tournament Ambassadors Cup set for May 16
FOLLOWING a successful first staging last year, the futsal tournament Ambassadors Cup kicks off for a second edition on May 16.
A grassroots outreach project aimed at fostering in children from underprivileged communities a love for virtues and values through futsal, or indoor football, training and competition, the Ambassadors Cup hopes to continue its thrust of creating a road map for a sustainable local sports industry, particularly the football industry, and a program for the holistic development of football players as persons and as citizens.
The Cup, whose slogan is “Teach Belief,” forms part of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) Center for Research and Communication Football Research and Advocacy Group, which views football not only as a sport but also a platform to create livelihood, promote local businesses, develop virtues, and form good character in children.
It is done in partnership with various foreign embassies, hence, the name, as well as The Henry V. Moran Foundation, Team Socceroo Football Club, Inc. and the Philippine Football Federation.
In the Ambassadors Cup, participating embassies adopt underserved communities in Manila and oversee the youth’s general grassroots football training for six weeks before competing against teams from other communities.
Embassies may partner with communities of their choice or find suitable communities with the help of the organizers.
Through the training and character-building sessions held by the embassies and partner institutions, beneficiaries not only get physical benefits but also gain confidence, skills and virtues which they can use not only in the sport but life in general.
In a message, the UA&P highlighted the significance of the Ambassadors Cup.
“This project is not ultimately about football — or futsal — but about the message that the sport may be brought to convey and the unique power the sport has in delivering it. This entire project is a communication job. The Ambassadors Cup’s value is in its message,” it said.
In the second season of the Ambassadors Cup, 11 embassies are competing, including those of Mexico, Chile, Spain, Great Britain, USA and Argentina.
Venue of the tournament is at the UA&P Parking Sports Building at Ortigas Center in Pasig City. —