FILIPINO kids get to showcase their skills in the 2018 Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational (ANYFI), which will conduct tournaments in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao.
The event is a collaboration among Allianz PNB Life Insurance Inc., Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and Henry V. Moran Foundation.
“The focus of the tournament is really on the youth. This is a nice way of complimenting grassroots development,” PFF Futsal Head Kevin Goco told the series’ launch on Wednesday at the Century Park Hotel.
PFF President Mariano Araneta agreed.
“Futsal has produced some of the best football players in the World,” Araneta said. “The interest is there. The passion of the players are there. I’m pretty sure that we can get the players from there.”
Competitions will be in three age brackets for boys and girls in 12-, 14- and 16-under age groups.
The local eliminations kick off in Iloilo (April 27 and 28), Dipolog (April 28 and 29), Cebu (April 27 to 29), Baguio (April 30 and May 1), Naga (May 4 and 5), Metro Manila and Davao (May 5 and 6) and Cagayan de Oro (May 5 and 6 and May 12 and 13).
Eight boys and girls will be chosen to play with their counterparts from other Asian countries in the Allianz Junior Football Camp in July in Bangkok. Three from those eight kids will have a chance to train with Bundesliga champion FC Bayern Munich in September.
“We’re very pleased to be part of this worthwhile national initiative,” Allianz PNB COO Alex Grenz said. “Through the ANYFI, we’re giving kids the chance to get the best training possible with Bayern Munich and help them pursue their dreams of becoming professionals and national team mainstays someday.”
“This is very motivational for the kids. There is a lot of enthusiasm with the participants from nine regions,” said Danny Moran, chairman of Henry Moran Foundation.
