Right after the awarding, KIM squad had an interview with PTV4
La Salle Greenhills hosted the first Philippine Homeless World Cup Selection Tournament Saturday April 25th. Eight teams of homeless players battled in the heat and the rain and mud to win the right to represent their country in Milan, Italy this September.
A makeshift team from Cainta, Rizal, called KIM, for Kids International Ministries, coached by Alex Obiang, a Cameroon Refugee, and Joselito Pimentel, put together three wins in the first round of their bracket. They shut down the Mindoro Sharks coached by Onie Patulin 7-2. They battled past Don Bosco B coached by Father Antonio Molavin 3-0 and shut out Nayon Ng Kabataan B, coached by last years HWC assistant coach Jess Landagan 12-0.
In the semi-finals the KIM squad beat Don Bosco A, 5-1, which set up a tense and emotional match against undefeated and tournament favorite Nayon A, again coached by Jess Landagan.
KIM struck first on a blistering left footed shot by 17-year-old Mark Anthony Rosales, of Manila Boys Town. They scored again on a penalty from Cainta striker Larry Dela Cruz. Nayon A got on the scoreboard early in second half, slipping one past goalie Joy R’Nell Torremocha. KIM then held back a frenzied attack by Nayon and surprisingly closed out the scoring with a goal by Robert Francisco of Batangas, winning the championship 3-1.
It was an emotional finish in a day of firsts. “We’re excited.” Enrique Ortiz the defensive stopper of KIM said. “We have a great goalie and he made the difference.”
Coach Pimentel was surprised and exuberant. “We had never played together,” he said, “but we played as a team. Mark from Manila Boys town was a surprise addition and he was a big contributor on the pitch.”
According to the pre-tournament rules 4 players and one coach from the winning team are automatically invited to join the Philippine 2009 lineup. In addition 4 other players and one coach will be selected to complete the roster. Last years HWC head coach Marlon Maro and William Shaw, Director of Urban Opportunities for Change Foundation, (UOFC the organizers) are in the process of choosing the 4 select players.
The Homeless World Cup is an annual International Tournament, played by homeless men and women. It gives them a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives for the better. The Philippines was represented for the first time last year in Melbourne. They finished 37th out of 48 nations.
The HWC selection tournament was played during a Homeless Football Festival. 700 street children from organizations around Manila and beyond gathered for a day of sport, food and friendship. 2500 donated meals were served.
The Philippine team is made possible through the efforts of many people. Urban Opportunities for Change has had the privilege of employing Ed Formoso to help organize our events. In an exciting change the Henry V Moran Foundation (HVM) has agreed to partner with Urban to make the 2009 games possible. They are providing a group, which will include our former organizer Ed Formoso to generate the media and revenue to see the Homeless World Cup be effectively used for social development in the country.
The 2009 team will be composed of homeless and unemployed youth from many organizations. It is the goal of UOFC that these young men, by the nature of this incredible opportunity will bring hope and energy to their communities and country.
To support the 2009 team, please contact William Shaw at UOFC Foundation or Peter and Kathy Moran at the HVM Foundation.
William Shaw
Urban Opportunities for Change Foundation, Inc.
+63.928.780.3682
Peter Luis Moran
Henry V. Moran Foundation
+63.2.721.7211
Kathy Moran
Henry V. Moran Foundation
+63.2.721.7220
Lisa Canon
Henry V. Moran Foundation
+63.2.818.6887
Filed under: Press Release
