Team Philippines to the Homeless World Cup gets boost after friendly match

Javier Warleta (left), president of MAPFRE Insular, hands the Copa MAPFRE to Jeepney FC assistant coach Mark Maravilla. InterAksyon.com/Bernard Testa

Members of the Philippine team to the Homeless World Cup are now optimistic about their chances of pursuing their stint in the global stage after playing in the Copa MAPFRE Insular friendly match as part of the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day festivities last June 30.

Coach Rudy del Rosario said that MAPFRE Insular Insurance Corp. has already vowed to support the squad in the 2012 Homeless World Cup in Mexico in October.

“No concrete amount yet, pero andun na yung commitment,” del Rosario said, adding that they will be meeting with MAPFRE officials soon to finalize the details of the agreement.

Despite problems about funding their campaign for the upcoming 2012 Homeless World Cup, del Rosario and players of the Homeless World Cup team buoyed Real Jeepney FC in a charity match against La Roja de Manila, a team composed of members of the Spanish community, to a 6-5 victory at the Manila Polo Club.

The friendly match was organized by Fundacion Santiago and was sponsored by MAPFRE Insular, KIA Cars, and CeMex.

Since first joining in 2008, the Philippines has performed well in the Homeless World Cup, ranking 26th out of the 69 participating nations in 2012. Some members of the team also improved their lives after playing in the tournament, such as Mark Maravilla, who will be the coach of this year’s squad. Other former HWC players have also seen action in the United Football League, such as Janrick Soriano, Abdula and Hammid Pasion, Revect Lagarto, Leopoldo Aragon, Mark Rosales and Lexter Maravilla, who played with champions Global FC this season.

Established in 2003, the Homeless World Cup is an annual tournament that aims to change the lives of less fortunate children by gathering them in a football event.

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