Biggest football clinic goes to Maguinda, more than 600 children expected to participate

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – The biggest football clinic dubbed as the Kasibulan Football Grassroots Festival organized by the Butuan-Agusan Norte Football Association (BANFA) and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will be staged on July 29, 2012 in the rural area in Maguinda National High School Football grounds in Brgy. Maguinda, this city.

Now on its 3^rd leg of staging, the football clinic aims to introduce the game of football to more than 3,000 children ages 6-12 years old from all walks of life. At present more than 600 children have already registered who will participate in the said clinic which will come mostly from the schools in Brgy. Maguinda and in the neighboring barangays such Tungao, San Mateo, Sumile, Maibu, Dangkias, Amparo, among others.

The first two staging of the said clinic attracted more than 1,000 kids which were held at the Butuan City Sports Complex in Brgy. Libertad in Butuan City. This is the first time the a football clinic, which is offered for free to all participants, of this magnitude is staged in Butuan City, more so in the rural area like Brgy. Maguinda. According to Butuan City Vice Mayor and BANFA President Lawrence “Law” Fortun, he feels very ecstatic that they will be able to bring this clinic to the rural area which has never occurred in the past. “We should take advantage of this opportunity as not all the major cities in the country is given the chance to host this clinic which is patterned after the successful grassroots development program of Germany” Fortun added.

Butuan City Vice Mayor and BANFA President Lawrence “Law” Fortun

The game of football has become popular after the Philippine Team Azkals romped up several wins in international tournaments the past years when almost all Filipinos were engrossed so much on basketball. The clinic, which is also held in several key cities, is also aimed at discovering new breed of talents who could be part of the Team Azkals who will be competing in the 2018 Asian Football Cup. To date, the program has produced a member of Team Azkals in the person of Chiffy Caligdong who is a product of the program in the late 1990s.

There will also be a Basic Training on Coaching in the first two days of the clinic on July 27-28 at the same venue. The clinic is supported by the Philippine Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Department of Education (DepEd) – Butuan City Schools Division.

656 kids participate in the biggest football clinic in Butuan

A total of 656 children ages 6 – 12 years old participated in the biggest football clinic to happen in Butuan City, dubbed the Kasibulan Football Grassroots Development Festival, which is organized by the Butuan – Agusan Norte Football Association (BANFA) and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) last July 1, 2012.

a kid participant practices dribbling

The participants all raring to play

The clinic, which is patterned after the successful German grassroots development program to introduce the game of football to children as young as 6 years old, was on its second leg of implementation.  Its ultimate goal is producing high-caliber football players who will represent the country in international competitions under the Team Azkals, which has been bagging unprecedented wins in prestigious tournaments.  Midfielder Chieffy Caligdong was once a product of this program back in the early 1990s, and is a living testimony to the success of the clinic.

Aside from the festival, there were also 62 Coaches who underwent a Basic Coaching Course in Football last June 29-30, 2012 as part of the clinic.

During the Opening Ceremony, Libertad Punong Barangay Vicente Rizal Rosario lauded the BANFA through the able leadership of its President, Vice Mayor Lawrence “Law” Fortun for massively promoting the sport in Butuan City and Agusan del Norte, which has now attracted a high number of enthusiasts. Councilor Erwin L. Dano also echoed the sentiment of Rosario in his message as guest of honor.  Calling Fortun as his “mentor” in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Dano noted the efforts of Fortun, who despite being on official trip for a renewable energy training program, was able to lure a huge participation from children and ignited their interest in the sport.

Councilor Erwin L. Dano giving his inspirational message to all the participants

As part of the program, the coaches also became recipients of soccer balls from the PFF, which they can use in their continuing training of the children in their respective schools.

Subsequent legs of this program will take place on July 29 which for the first time will take place at Brgy. Maguinda, Butuan City and on August 27, 2012 back at the Butuan City Sports Complex. The same clinic will also be held on September 8, 2012 at CSU Football Grounds in Cabadbaran City and in Casiclan High School in the Municipality of Las Nieves on September 30, 2012.

2nd Leg of “Kasibulan” football clinic slated

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – More than 500 children is expected to participate in the 2^nd leg of the Kasibulan Football Grassroots Festival slated on June 29 – July 1, 2012 at the Butuan City Sports Complex in Brgy. Libertad, Butuan City.

Kids as young as 6 years old participated in the 1st leg of the Kasibulan Grassroots Football Festival

The football clinic, which is aimed at introducing the game of football to about 3,000 kids ages 6 – 12 years old, is organized by the Butuan-Agusan Norte Football Association (BANFA) and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). According to BANFA President and Butuan City Vice Mayor Lawrence “Law” Fortun this grassroots development program is patterned after the very successful football program of the Federal Republic of Germany. “Since this program is offered for free, I urge the public to take advantage of this opportunity and entice their kids to participate in this worthwhile event. It is hoped that the next Azkals Team who will compete in the Asian Football Cup on 2018 will come from the participants of this program, and hopefully someone will come from our area as we have already proven in the past to produce high caliber football player,” said Fortun. Not all major cities had the chance to host this kind of football festival and Butuan City and the province of Agusan del Norte is lucky to be included owing to the very active local football association headed by Fortun.

Butuan City Vice Mayor and BANFA President Lawrence “Law” Fortun

Apart from the football clinic, a Basic Coaching Course will also be offered to interested football enthusiasts. To entice more participants to the clinic, BANFA and the PFF have partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) for this leg’s staging.