WHILE Davao Football Association (DFA) committee Rachelle delos Reyes welcomed the suggestion of a Philippine Football Federation (PFF) official to establish a football academy in Davao City, she is doubtful of its implementation until they get an ample budget for its establishment.
Delos Reyes, in a recent edition of the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the NCCC Mall of Davao Food Cove Function Hall, said a football academy could help increase Davao City’s capability to produce national players who could represent not only the city but the country as well.
Davao City has produced several national level players through the years and recently, DFA developed national players by the likes of Joyce Semacio, Joanah Adao, Patricia Fransisco, Bea Angela de Luna Nina Arrieta, Amir Amaikurut, Jasper Rex Lim, Joshua Mella and many more.
Yet the only qualm of DFA is that they don’t have enough budget to establish a football academy.
“We can’t establish a football academy because we lack equipment and the equipment is among the most expensive aspect which we should allot a budget to. If ever we have this football academy, we also have a pool of licensed coaches and instructors who could facilitate the academy,” Delos Reyes said in the vernacular.
But she was quick to add that DFA will just have to settle with finding ways to source funds from different sponsors so that they could continue with their football development program.
Delos Reyes’ statement came after PFF technical director Aris Caslib suggested that a football academy be established in Davao City to elevate the level of players that the city produces. Other than a football academy, Caslib also suggested that Davao City should also have its own stadium which will serve as a training ground for Dabawenyo booters.