Tryout for homeless football players held
TEAM JEEPNEY SEARCH
A FOOTBALL tryout was conducted recently in Lingayen as part of the nationwide search of Team Jeepney for players who will represent the Philippines in the 10th Homeless World Cup tournament.
The Homeless World Cup (HWC), established in 2003, is intended to use football to increase global awareness on the problem of homelessness and serve as a means to help those who are homeless.
The Philippines has been represented in the event for four years and the ongoing search is for the team that will compete in Mexico City on October 6-14.
Rodolfo del Rosario, HWC Team Philippines Director, said Pangasinan was chosen as one of the tryout venues because one of the players in last year’s team, Ricardo Padilla, is from Lingayen.
Aside from the tryout, a workshop was also held for students interested in football, also called soccer.
Ricardo Padilla, 24 years old and a former soccer player at Pangasinan State University-Lingayen campus, said he is proud to be a Pangasinense who had the opportunity to be part of Team Jeepney, an experience that made a significant change in his life.
In the nationwide football tryout, only eight players will be chosen.
Qualified players could either be homeless or vulnerably housed, orphan in an institution, street dweller, internally displaced refugee, currently in a drug rehab program and have been homeless in the past two years, indigenous person who is not living in their tribal lands for reasons beyond their control or is vulnerably living on their tribal lands, or vendor of the Jeepney magazine.
Potential players will be evaluated on their athletic ability and football skills; current and/or past life story; on what this opportunity can do for them and their community; ability to communicate and speak for marginalized people; and commitment and availability to the program.
Del Rosario said the Homeless World Cup is a rare chance for indigent Filipinos wanting to transcend poverty and Team Jeepney stands as a reminder that sports activities can serve not only as a hobby but as a source of direction and purpose that could make a difference in one’s life. (PIA-Pangasinan/ April Montes)
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