Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 28) – The Japanese Football Association lent a helping hand to the country’s young and upcoming homegrown players.
On Thursday, the Japanese Embassy turned over football supplies to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) in Pasig City.
These include soccer balls, apparel, and backpacks previously used by the Japan National Football Team.
The initiative is also part of the Sports Diplomacy Project of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The PFF expressed its gratitude to its Japanese allies for continuously supporting grassroots programs.
“The balls will be used by our youth players that are involved with our talent development system,\” PFF president Mariano Araneta said.
\”But the uniforms I think will be used by our girls team because we have a futsal team now preparing for our tri nation tournament in October next month against New Zealand and Indonesia,” he also said.
Trisha Advincula, a member of the Philippine National Women’s Futsal Team, said the supplies would greatly benefit young players based in the province.
“Usually naman po yung mga batang gusto maglaro ng football minsan walang shoes, walang masusuot na jersey in trainings lalo na sa iba’t ibang sulok ng provinces sa Pilipinas,\” she said.
\”Mabubuhayan sila, parang ma-i-inspire sila na mag-join ng sports kasi may ganun tayong suporta galing sa ibang bansa,” Advincula added.
