Full documentary on Azkals player Rota to be unveiled
AFTER initially showing a workin-progress edition last year, the
makers of the documentary Journeyman Finds Home – The Simone
Rota Story will unveil its full version this weekend.
Backed by Football for a Better Life ( FFABL), an organization which aims to empower youth and uplift their lives through football, and Davao Aguilas FC, the film chronicles the personal struggles of Philippine Azkals player Simone Rota — from how he was adopted by an Italian couple, to how he grew up and played football in Italy, and then returned to the Philippines to join the national team and search for his biological mother.
The unveiling of the documentary will be held at the Uptown Ultra Cinema in Taguig on Saturday, Feb. 24.
Albert Almendralejo, one of the directors of the documentary, said the latest version of the film is more comprehensive as they added other facets of the life and football journey of Davao Aguilas FC player Rota.
“We have added the grassroots programs that led to the establishment of the Youth Football League and included the Azkals game where Simone was called back to the national team. There is also new information about the lady whom Simone believed was his long-lost mother,” Mr. Almendralejo said.
In conjunction with the unveiling of the documentary, Football for a Better Life will also launch two sports program that it is supporting, namely, Women Empowerment through Sports ( WEtS) and Mindanao Futbol.
The former is an international youth project whose local organizer is the nongovernment organization Bridging the Gaps, while the latter is a talent identification mission in Mindanao led by national player-turned-coach Percy Guarin.
“Sport empowers women and develops values in children. This is the advocacy of Football for a Better Life and serves as our humble contribution to national development,” said Mr. Almendralejo, who is the FFABL founder and president. Journeyman Finds Home – The
Simone Rota Story is supported by the Philippine Italian Association, Elan Vita Diagnostic Solutions and Puma. —