AT LEAST 100 Under-12 (U-12) football players in Negros Occidental joined the football clinic hosted by the Loyola Football Club Victorias at the football pitch of Victorias City on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Keith Buyco, co-owner of Loyola Football Club Victorias, said they invited several football clubs in Negros Occidental and they registered at least 100 U-12 participants from various football club in the province.
“We just limit the number of the participants and we are very happy for the positive response of the young players here,” he said.
He said they aim to develop the young talent in Negros Occidental.
Buyco noted that the Loyola Football Club Victorias, which is composed of at least 20 players, is now participating in Philippine Football League (PFL) representing Negros Occidental.
Buyco said they have a scheduled game on Wednesday, April 2, in Iloilo City, and supposedly, they have a game on April 6, 2025 in Negros Occidental, but it was cancelled due to some problems from other teams.
He said they are also scouting players from other schools in the province as well as in Manila to be part of the club.
“For now, it’s our target to get player from Negros Occidental. Being based here in Victorias City, we will try to have a Negrense players,” he added.
Buyco noted that some of their players are from Japan, Mongolia, Canada, Purtugal and Netherlands since they are allowed by PFL to have at least five foreign players in the pitch.
In February 2025, Victorias City Mayor Javier Benitez led the signing of a memorandum of agreement between Victorias City and Loyola Football Club, a former football team of Palawan Province.
Roxy Dorlas, Loyola Football Club Victorias head coach, said they are currently ranked seven in the PFL and they are doing their best to win their remaining games.
He said it is now their target to belong in the top 4 of the PFL, adding that on Saturday, March 29, they lost against the Cebu Football Club.
Dorlas, Buyco along with their players defender Aaron Vasquez, winger Curt Dixon, strikers Francis Tacardon and Paulo Gonzales, and defender Leon Morimoto, also expressed their gratitude to Benitez for supporting their club to represent Negros Occidental in the national tournament. (MAP)