MEMBERS of the Philippine team who will be seeing action in the forthcoming 2010 Homeless World Cup slated on September 19 to 26 in Brazil will be arriving in Bacolod City on July 15, 2010.
The eight-member squad of the Homeless World Cup Team Philippines, not the Futsal team earlier reported in the other daily, consists of three booters from Bacolod and Negros Occidental, namely: Leopoldo Aragon from Barangay Banago, Bacolod City; and Tonie Mark Arenal and Michael Quinlat, all of Talisay City.
Leopoldo C. Arnaiz, committee chairman of Team Philippines Homeless World Cup, said Friday that the squad will be playing series of tune up matches in the province against local football squads as part of their preparation in the upcoming leg.
Among the teams they will be up to are the Bacolod United Football Club, Talisay City FC, West Negros University football team, a team selection led by former national standout and RP national head coach Norman Fegidero and a team of Bacolod lone district Congressman Anthony Golez, among others.
Meanwhile, Arnaiz said the team, upon their arrival at Bacolod-Silay Airport on July 15, will parade to Talisay City Hall to pay courtesy call to City Mayor Eric Saratan and visit the previous school of Arenal and Quinlat before proceeding to Bacolod, whom they will also meet Cong. Golez and Mayor Evelio Leonardia.
Arnaiz earlier disclosed that these players were chosen based on the study conducted on various communities in the country. Among these players chosen came from the less fortunate families yet have the potential to excel not only as football players but as valuable members of the society.
He added one of their objectives in promoting these game is to improve the lives of these young football aspirants by doing way with drugs and alcohol, getting jobs, reunited with families and even going on to become players and coaches.
Nineteen years old Aragon, on the other hand, was born March 31, 1991 and had not yet finished his high school as he was only on his third year. He used to live with his aunt and since he has no money to spend, he was hooked up with his friends and dropped out of school.
He later engaged himself in several vices including taking prohibited drugs. But after he was brought in into the team he changed his ambition and that to change my life and become a better citizen of the country.
Meanwhile, Quinlat, 23 and born June 4, 1986, have four siblings wherein all are married. He is a product of a broken family where he often stayed with his father's family, or with his brother's family, for a month at a time.
After his parents separated, Quinlat had a chance to work as an extra in a factory in Magnolia, in a storage freezer, but since he could not stood the cold, he quitted. And later jumped form one place to another to look for permanent job.
And since his dream was get a permanent job and to have a house he can call his own, he continued to strive harder. Later he heard of this team which he thought will help him realize his dream. Aside from attaining his ambitions, he will also do anything to make the country proud.
Finally, Arenal, also 23 and born on September 30, 1986. And like the other two, he has his own story to tell and ambition to obtain.
According to Arenal that if he is given the opportunity to be a champion he would like to go back to school or at least help my younger brother to return to college. And though he is poor but he wanted to show others that there is still hope.