Lineup for Team Philippines to the Homeless World Cup bared

Sabina Vogt and Myles de Ocampo

Team Philippines has named the players who will be competing in the 2012 Homeless World Cup in Mexico in October.

After conducting nationwide tryouts, the team will be composed of Eddie Alivio and Kalvin Panares from Don Bosco Boys’ Home and Training Center in Cebu; Jerwin Papiona and John Paul Cordero from the Leyte-Samar Center for Change; Raymond Intendez from Manila Boystown; fisherman Jacko Wapson from Dagupan, Pangasinan; farmer Nicho Jardin from Tayabas, Quezon; and construction worker Arturio Estuaria from Leveriza, Manila.

The squad will be coached by Mark Maravilla, who was also a member of the past Philippine teams in the Homeless World Cup, while Joselito Pimentel, an assistant coach in the 2009 team, will return in the sidelines for the squad.

Last July, the team’s stint to the tournament was put in danger because of lack of funds. But after luring several sponsors, the squad is now optimistic about its chances of playing alongside 53 nations in the 2012 Homeless World Cup, slated from October 6-14 at Plaza de la Constitución in Zócalo, Mexico City.

Previous members of the Philippine team to the Homeless World Cup made names for themselves in local football, such as Janrick Soriano, Abdula and Hammid Pasion, Revect Lagarto, Leopoldo Aragon, Mark Rosales and Lexter Maravilla, who all saw action in the United Football League.

The Philippines, which first joined the tournament in 2008, currently ranks 26th out of the 69 participating nations.

Established in 2003, the annual Homeless World Cup aims to bring change the lives of poor people through a worldwide football event.

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