THE Davao City football community has more reasons to be proud as Agot Danton (striker), Maylene Albaracin (defender) and Joy Roces Chavez (goalkeeper) of the SOS Children’s Village Davao were chosen together with six other under 17 girls, to represent the Philippines for the Street Child World Cup in Brazil later this month.
Chavez said in vernacular that she feels like she is in cloud nine for being chosen to compete in Brazil along with Danton and Albaracin, knowing that they will bring the name of the country in the competition.
She said that this will be their first time to go overseas and they felt privileged for being the first football players from SOS CV to be given the opportunity.
Deprived of the opportunity to have a complete family, Danton, Albaracin and Chavez all grew up with the care of the SOS Children’s Village Davao, a Non-Government Organization that continues to provide a loving home for every child.
Football is one of the activities provided by SOS CV among the children living in the village and it is through it that the girls learned the art of football.
Danton said that she was eight years old when she started playing football through the encouragement of SOS CV’s coaches. “Gusto na gyud ko mag football katong six years old palang ko kay makita nako ang mga bata sa village na mag dula pero kay bata paman kaayo ko, gihulat sa na mag eight years old ko bag-o ko naka-apil. (I wanted to play football since I was six and pursued the sport when I turned eight since I was too young then.)”
Chavez meanwhile said that since she started playing football at the age of seven, she learned a lot of values especially self-disicipline.
“Daghan ko ug sports na ginadula sulod sa SOS pero ang football gyud ang nakatabang sa pag improve sa akong disiplina lalo na kay sa football gyud nimo ma-experience ang tanan. (I play a lot of sports, but football taught me self-discipline and it improved my values as a young individual because of all the things you experience while playing it.)”
At a young age, the girls have won numerous awards in various competitions.
Danton won as Most Valuable Player during the Alaska Cup 2009, MVP and best striker in Faith Academy U16 Football League 2012, best striker in Acosta Cup Ladies Open 2013 and DFA U17 Girls Football League 2014.
Albaracin won as best goalkeeper in Del Monte Cup 2010, best defender (DFA U17 Girls Football League 2014) while Chavez received the best goalkeeper awards in Alaska Cup 2010, Del Monte Cup 2010, Mayor Duterte Cup 2012 and Acosta Cup Ladies Open 2013.
With the help of SOS CV, Danton, Chavez and Albaracin are close to completing their secondary education as they graduate this March at Holy Cross of Davao College.
After graduation, the girls plan to pursue different medicinal courses if they are given the chance to become a part of Far Eastern University’s football team. Dantonis eyeing medical technology, Albaracin wants to pursue medicine and pathology while Chavez hopes to take up veterinary medicine.
The girls are currently training at The Camp in Taguig with the help of Team Socceroo captain Enzo Pinga in preparation for the Street Child World Cup in Brazil later this month, together with Payatas FC’s Ronalyn, Angelica and April Joy, Yanzie (Gawad Kalinga) and Juvie Lyn (Josie's Angels).
The girls are thankful for all the opportunities that have come along their lives despite not growing up in the hands of their own parents. They ask for the prayers of their fellow Filipinos in this once in a lifetime opportunity.