Young football club for public school kids looks to crowdfunding for support

This is a press release from Stallion-Marist Youth FC:

MANILA, Philippines — A heartwarming social transformation is touching the lives of young kids in a suburb in the eastern part of Metro Manila.

Kids as young as 6 years old learn to kick balls, and at the same time, learn to care for their less fortunate brothers from neighboring public schools.

These are the players of the Stallion-Marist Youth Football Club (SMYFC) based in Marikina. Composed primarily of varsity players of Marist School, it is reinforced by other players who live or study in Marikina. 

Marist School has a rich winning tradition in football. They are back-to-back champions of the League of Southern Manila Schools held in Brent International School for the past 2 years. Last month, they were first runner-up in an Asian tournament held in Singapore beating Thailand and Indonesia. They have also been NCR champions of Palaro, among other competitions.

“We needed to strengthen the football program of the school. A major part of it involved playing as a team in a highly competitive tournament like the summer league for youth squads of the United Football League (UFL),” explained coach Frank Muescan.

The Marist head coach envisions school football clubs fielding their own teams in the UFL because of the higher level of competition which is good exposure for the teams. Muescan also dreams of the time football clubs will sprout all over the Philippines just like in other countries.

“One day, on my way to Marist, I saw several kids of nearby Kapitan Moy Elementary School playing football by themselves in the open area in front of the school,” said Muescan. “They did not have a coach to teach and guide them. That’s when I promised the Lord that I will one day teach these kids as my way of giving back to the sport that has been so good to me and my family.” 

He explained that only players and teams with resources have access and are exposed to the higher level of competition necessary for one to excel in the sport.

“I believe that every one now wants to play in the UFL, even in the UFL Youth tournaments every summer. But what about these kids from public schools? How can they afford the club fees and cost of attending training and practice sessions? That’s when we came together with some parents of the Marist Football Club and some school officials to form this Stallion-Marist team with the help of Ernest Nierras of Stallion Football Club,” narrated Muescan.

Young athletes

Since September last year, SMYFC has more than 90 players from 5 age groups (under 17 to under 9) training at the Marist football field every Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. About 20 players come from the public schools of Marikina.

They also have 6 female players from St. Scholastica Academy practicing with the team. The club plans to form a female team with Nierras giving them the go-signal recently.

Unlike other youth football clubs owned by professional UFL teams or big business, this Stallion-Marist Youth Football Club has no major financial backer. The club came to be because of a noble mission.

As expected, it is having problems making both ends meet. Marist School lets them use the field for free as their way of supporting this social experiment. But, there still is the monthly salaries of coaches and trainers, the cost of balls and other training equipment, etc.

Muescan sees this as a social experiment because both the players and the parents have to help out each other. Especially, since many players cannot afford to pay the monthly club fee. Thus, they learn compassion and caring for others.

The experience helps build the character of these young kids. Some parents have responded to the challenge and have adopted some players by paying or sponsoring their monthly obligations. Some even approached friends to adopt players. A British national even pledged to sponsor 2 goals for the club.

For those pure in heart, there are many ways to help this mission succeed.

The UFL Youth summer league is just a few months away. The clock is ticking for this football club with a noble purpose in Marikina. Will they succeed in making the dreams of public school players to play in the UFL come true this summer?

They can, if we help them. – Rappler.com

For more information on how to help this crowd-funding initiative, you can visit the Stallion-Marist Youth FC Facebook page or reach Paul Sison at 09176251963.