'Miracle team' vows big finish in World Cup

MANILA, Philippines - A group of street children dubbed “the miracle team from the Philippines” leaves for South Africa today, hopeful of pulling off a big surprise in the first Deloitte Street Child World Cup slated March 15-23 in Durban.

“This is a miracle team because we’ve experienced so many miracles along the way,” said RP team manager Craig Burrows in a recent press conference at the Amici in Makati City.

One of the most recent was when Amos Trust, established 25 years ago to promote justice and hope to forgotten communities, decided to bankroll the team’s airfare and other travel expenses.

“They gave the team more than P1 million and that in itself is a miracle,” said Burrows, a Briton who has been doing charity works in the country.

Burrows was joined by Peter Moran of the Henry Moran Foundation, Fr. Rocky Evangelista of Tuloy sa Don Bosco, an institution for street children, Derek Page of the British Embassy, and Miles Roces, who represented Manny Pacquiao, one of the team’s chief backers.

“We’re using football as our venue but our real advocacy is to lift these street children out of poverty and help them improve their lives,” said Peter Moran.

Skipper Erica Mae Inocencio heads the RP squad that also 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.

“All of our boys and girls believe they are now part of one big football family. And we have to thank Fr. Rocky for that,” said team co-manager Ed Formoso.

Former national player 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 Rivilla and Dolores Cheng are the team’s other supporters.

“We would also like to express our gratitude to the Football Alliance group, Asian Students Christian Foundation, Stone Baptist Church, Danny Moran and Manny Pacquiao,” he said.

Co-managed by Formoso and Burrows under the auspices of the Henry V. Moran Foundation, the RP team is also backed by Deloitte, Angus Lawson Memorial Trust, Deutsche Bank, the British Chamber of Commerce, Mitre, Whitehouse Scientific, Amos Trust, Bayanihan National Dance Co., Tesoro’s and Amici pizza pasta. – Joey Villar