ID program for young Minda footballers on

CAGAYAN DE ORO - Camiguin Misamis Oriental Regional Football Association (CMORFA) president Percy Guarin launched his self initiated and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) sanctioned talent identification program for the young players in Mindanao recently.

Some 26 young footballers born 2006 and above led by Palaro bound players Sam Salingay of Rosevale School, Jrand Hortilano of St. Mary’s School, and Ivan Sambaan of Pagatpat Elementary School trooped to the Westridge Sportspark as early as 7 a.m. on Saturday to show off their skills to Guarin and some other coaches picked to spearhead this project.

“We plan to cover the entire island of Mindanao by going to all the 17 local football associations to look for players who have talents and identify them to become members of the future national youth teams,’’ Guarin said.

Guarin, an AFC B licensed coach led the different skills and stamina tests of the players with AFC C licensed coach Jeralp Ronquillo.

Guarin, a former member of the national football team during the late 80’s and early 90’s is working for his AFC A license. He said that as a technical person of the PFF for Mindanao, he has created this initiative to help the PFF identify the talents who could possible play for the different national teams as early as this summer.

PFF Grassroots incharge and Ceres FC owner Ricky Yanson has tasked Guarin to look for talents all over the country but initially he is starting here in Mindanao where he is based.

“The aim is at least to have more than 3000 players in different categories to fill the pool of players,’’ Guarin added. He will hold another series of tests here next month to give chance to other players who failed to show up. SS-CDO