Football enthusiasts set goal for street kids

MANILA, Philippines - As millions of people around the world were glued to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a small group of Filipino football fans were cheering a team of young boys playing on a makeshift field inside the Baclaran church compound in Pasay City.

The players — street children aged eight to 12 — did not have proper uniforms and shoes, but they kicked and dribbled and blocked as if the entire world was watching. The boys make up the Calidad Humana Football Club, a group organized last May by individuals from different backgrounds who aim to develop children’s character through street football. 

“We were inspired by the world-class football players of South America who started via street football,” said Calidad Humana founder and managing director Mark Solis.  “But more than developing top athletes, we aim to provide these kids with opportunities for personal and spiritual development, which is why I and my cofounder Chot Ramento sought the support of Father Ino.”

Father Ino is Victorino Cueto, rector of the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, which is more popularly known as the Baclaran Church. The priest saw that the Calidad Humana project was a good fit for the Shrine’s program for street children, so he invited the wards of the Sarnelli Center for Street Children Foundation, as well as other street kids in the neighborhood, to join the football team.

“Aside from the psycho-emotional and spiritual support the children are getting from the church, physical activities are also needed to keep them healthy and engaged. It’s a more holistic approach,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ramento invited his friends from the Smart Football Club — the multi-awarded football team of Smart Communications, Inc. for which he used to play —  to spend their Saturday mornings training 40 kids at the cemented basketball court inside the Baclaran Church compound.

 “But we did not want trainers who would just come and go. We wanted people who would commit to do this on a regular basis,” Ramento said.

Fortunately, Smart senior engineer Ashley James Argel and senior supervisor for global access Jake Robillo were more than willing to help. So were Alfonso and Sebastian Gonzales, sons of Father Cueto’s friend who are members of their respective colleges’ football teams.

“Like Sir Chot, we want to see the children happy playing football so we’re sharing with them the skills we’ve acquired at the Smart Football Club. By encouraging street kids to explore their talents and join sports events, we can help steer them away from dangerous activities,” Argel said. 

Their efforts appear to have paid off. As the boys were playing against each other one Saturday morning, their mentors happily noted how much they had improved.

“These kids did not know anything about football before this. But now, they already know how to kick and dribble properly. Some of them even keep asking us when we’re going to select the players that would compete in tournaments for street children. You can see their determination,” Solis said.

And, more importantly, the children are happy with the sport. “The kids look forward to their Saturday trainings. Sessions start at 9 a.m., but some of them are already at the court as early as 6:30 a.m.,” Father Cueto said.

“It makes us happy to see their development. It’s good that they’re engaged in sports and not in bad activities,” said Alfonso Gonzales.

 Twelve-year-old Igi Boy shared how much he enjoyed being part of Calidad Humana FC: “I did not know how to play football, but now I’ve gotten good because of practice. We’re happy when we win practice games and when we make new friends.”

Ramento said he’s thankful for getting constant support from kind souls who keep the program going. “We have friends who provide financial assistance so the kids would have something to eat after their games. Some of them also provide equipment. Smart also gave financial support and donated footballs to the kids. Another friend sent over shirts and shorts. This project is a collaborative effort among various people and groups — private individuals, the private sector, the Church, and the academe.”

Among Calidad Humana’s advisers aside from Father Cueto are Dr. Antonio Torralba of the University of Asia and the Pacific and Chilean Ambassador Roberto Mayorga. Other partners are the Missionary of Perpetual Help Sisters, Neumann Migrants Center, Baclaran Mission Community, and the Soup Kitchen Football Club.