CEBUANO footballer Joaquin Buyco again joins the Philippine Under-16 National Football Team for international duties.
The Philippine team is in Miyazaki, Japan for the Jenesys 2017 Japan-Asean U-16 Youth Football Exchange Programme starting today until March 14.
Joaquin is the only Cebuano in the bunch and is one of three players from the Visayas and Mindanao.
“Of course, we are very happy that he was given the chance to play in this event, especially to play for the country. We are very thankful for the support of the school (Don Bosco Technology Center), teachers and coaches, especially coach Glen (Ramos), coach Bobit (Colina) and the coaching staff of Don Bosco for the training and understanding,” Joaquin’s father Keith Buyco told SunStar Cebu.
The Philippines is in Group B with Indonesia and Cambodia. Group A is composed of Japan Under-15, Timor Leste and Malaysia. Group C is comprised of Thailand, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. Group D is made up of Vietnam, Laos and Miyazaki Selection.
Buyco has become a staple in the Born 2002 batch and has been representing the country for a while now. He got his first call up with the Under-14 team for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Festival of Football in Brunei, then AFC Under-16 Qualifiers in Thailand and the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-16 Championship in Myanmar.
Other players in the Philippine squad are Amir Amaikurut, Kristian Bumatay, Leland Caro, Miguel De Mesa, Genesis Elefan, Karl Emery, Jethro Flores, Paolo Go, Lorenzo Lim, Enrico Mangaoag, Emmanuel Meer, Enrique Meer, Jacob Peña, Matteo Roxas and Timothy Uy.
The team is mentored by Roxy Dorlas along with assistant coaches Christian Salanguit, Christopher Pedimonte, Ralph Datoy, and Joshua Castelo. (EKA)