THE first High Performance Football Center of the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Football Federation will be launched in Negros Oriental on January 17.

Edward Magallona, development officer of the Philippine Football Federation, said the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), together with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), is scheduled to launch the center at 2 p.m. at Silliman University ball field in Dumaguete City.

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Magallona said Negros Oriental was chosen as the site of the center due to its noteworthy and active participation in the field of football, citing in particular efforts of the Negros Oriental Football Association (Norfa).

He said the province's football team was the champion in the first Inter Football Youth Training Center Tournament held in 1981.

Magallona also noted the number of skilled football players from Negros Oriental that's powering the national team.

He added that during the launching, they will turn over to the province a set of 20 balls, eight big cones, and bibs. They will also give their pledge to provide for the salary of local coaches as part of their commitment to support the training of local football players.

The center is a new program conceived by PFF and PSC. It is aimed at developing a core group of football athletes from where players for the national youth team can be drawn from.

Moreover, Magallona said 19 more centers will be opened across the country after the launching in Negros Oriental.

He invited football players and enthusiasts in the province to attend the launching this January 17.

He also invited interested football aficionados to attend a free Basic Referee Scores and Basic Coaching Course training at Macias Sports Complex.

The three-day training for referees will start on January 16 while the three-day training on coaching will start on January 17. (VLC)