MANILA, Philippines - The city of Calamba in the province of Laguna yesterday kicked off an ambitious sports development program anchored on the popular sport of football.
“We chose football as our flagship because of the renaissance it’s experiencing in the country right now. Thanks to the Azkals,” said Calamba City Mayor Joaquin Chipeco.
In a well-attended press conference at the municipal hall, Chipeco said the program takes off with the Calamba City Football Festival on Dec. 10 and 11.
As many as 50 teams in the elementary, high school and collegiate levels within Calamba will join the festival that is expected to provide the program the needed spark.
“I think we have a lot of football talents waiting to be discovered. Then we hope to form a team that can compete in the national level,” the mayor added.
“Who knows, we can go international. This is a very ambitious start but this is how the others started as well. So we might as well start now.”
Already lined up is the Calamba Football Invitational in March of 2012, featuring teams from Calamba’s second district and the rest of the province of Laguna.
And in July, on tap is the Calamba Football Open featuring teams from all over the country. It culminates with the Calamba Football International later on.
Congressman Timmy Chipeco (2nd district) has thrown his full support to the program, which this early has lured some private individuals and corporations.
“We’re not asking too much from them. Maybe they can help by providing uniforms, shoes and other equipment,” said the congressman.
“We want to start small and go big later on than start big and go small. We know that Laguna is turning into a sports hub. We hope this thing works,” he added.
The Department of Education and the Laguna Football Federation will play a very active role in the program.
Chipeco said they are looking at different sites to put up decent soccer fields, but for the meantime they will put up one right in front of the City Hall.
“Soccer can be played in any open venue. You give kids the ball and they start kicking it. Thanks to the Azkals, the sport has gained momentum.”
During the presscon, the mayor was asked if the program would also involve the out-of-school youths of the city and the province as well.