Smokey Mountain booters join Barcelona soccer camp

Two talented young boys from Smokey Mountain attended the soccer camp of FC Barcelona, one of the world’s top football clubs, sponsored by Caltex fuels and lubricants, marketed by Chevron Philippines Inc. in partnership with Gawad Kalinga and the Junior Chamber International-Manila.

Caltex selected Arnel Britania, 10, and, Jay-E Vhien Sabalza, 11, from the annual summer Caltex Supa Strikas Cup Football Tournament held recently at the Field of Dreams for indigent kids from the Smokey Mountain and Tondo areas.

The five-day soccer camp was held last April 17 to 21 and was facilitated by coaches from FC Barcelona.

Britania and Sabalza were selected based on several criteria such as athletic ability, team adaptability, and behavior exhibited during the games.

“Through this partnership, we hope that we will be able to entice children from indigent families to get into sports and become more active,” Caltex brand manager Veronica Pangilinan said.

She emphasized the crucial role of sports in an individual’s personal and social development: “Sports do not merely aid in developing motor skills. Children learn life skills when they play sports.  Through sports, children learn to become resourceful, patient, and goal-oriented.”

The sponsorship is part of the Caltex Energy for Learning initiative which invests in projects that provide disadvantaged people with skills and learning to give them better opportunities in life.