Calamba football tilt unfolds February 9

AN ambitious grass- root development program, sanctioned by the Philippine Football Federation ( PFF) and recognized by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association ( FIFA) starts a year- round football activities in Calamba City beginning February 9- 12.

The program as announced by Calamba City Mayor Joaquin Chipeco Jr,, is a four-leg series in the boys 9under, 13-under and 17-under categories and girls 17-under level spread until December this year.

The opening leg, the JMC ( Join in Making Champions) Calamba Football Cup, will be participated some 660 players representing 58 school teams from the public and private schools within the city, Chipeco said during the recent SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-padre Faura.

“The program is actually a revival of the “Kasibulan” program of the PFF that produced a number of players that earned membership in the past and present national teams, “Chipeco said.

The three- day event, with no less than the Prince of Jordan, Prince Ali Bin Al- Hussien, who is also the vice president of FIFA as guest of honor, will also include a coaches’ workshop to be conducted by the PFF in coordination with the Laguna Football Association

Prince Al- Hussein, will formally launch the year- long program, officially called the Calamba Football Festival, as part of FIFA’S grass root program.

Former Sen. Joey Lina, president of the Manilas Hotel and a former Laguna governor who accompanied Chipeco in the forum along with Congressman Timmy Chipeco, PFF grass root development head Chito Manuel and Laguna Football Association president Jun Pacificador, said the program is in line with President Nonoy Aquino’s call for the public and private sectors to united in any and all undertaking.

EDDIE G. ALINEA