RP street kids toughen up for Street Child World Cup

MANILA, Philippines - A bunch of street kids sets out on a tough mission as they compete against their counterparts from eight other countries in the first Deloitte Street Child World Cup slated March 15-23 in Durban, South Africa.

Erica Mae Inocencio will skipper the RP team, which includes Blue Shark Gaerlan, Jayson Simangan, Ladylyn Ampe, Lorelyn Cabayanan, Noriel Pineones, Mario Titoy, winger Raymond Elona, goalie Roberto Orlandez Jr. and alternate Gerry Boy Joaquino.

The Philippine team will be up against Brazil, India, Nicaragua, South Africa, Tanzania, the UK, Ukraine and Vietnam in a unique tournament among street children.

Like Team RP, which is organized by Tuloy sa Don Bosco Street Children Village in Alabang, the other competing squads are put up by street child organizations in their respective countries.

Spearheading the RP team’s campaign in the event is the Henry V. Moran Foundation, headed by Peter Moran, with Ed Formoso and Craig Burrows, a British national who has been in the country for nearly a decade now, as co-managers.

“All our boys and girls believe they are now part of one big football family. And we have to thank Fr. Rocky for that,” said Formoso, referring to Fr. Rocky Evangelista, founder of Tuloy sa Don Bosco Village who incidentally marks his birthday today.

The Tuloy sa Don Bosco Village does not only serve as the team’s training ground but also the team members’ home as they prepare for the tough tournament.

“The players can look at life’s bigger picture through Fr. Rocky’s example and timely reminders,” Burrows said.

The team’s stint in the World Cup is also backed by Deloitte, Angus Lawson Memorial Trust, Deutsche Bank, British Chamber of Commerce, Mitre, Whitehouse Scientific, Amos Trust, Bayanihan National Dance Co., Tesoro’s and Amici Pizza Pasta.

Burrows also cited Tuloy sa Don Bosco’s Marivi San Juan and team head coach Jess Landagan for helping Fr. Rocky mold the members of the squad not just as football players but also decent human beings.

Other supporters of the team are former RP team mainstay Freddy Gonzales, Deutsche Bank’s Damian and Laura Dunn, Monchu Garcia, Mike Camahort, Marissa Concepcion, Sarah McLeod, Sandy Moran, Manuel de Jesus, Fernando Peña, Robs Delfino, Inaki Alvarez, Carla Ramsey, Stephen Davis, Dicky and Cathy Revilla, Dolores Cheng and Miles Roces.

“We would also like to express our gratitude to the Football Alliance group, Asian Students Christian Foundation, Stone Baptist Church, Danny Moran and the team’s most popular godfather, Manny Pacquiao for their support,” said Burrows. – Joey Villar