Pacquiao backs RP booters in Street Child World Cup

The Philippines versus Brazil in football. The improbable match-up takes place when youthful football-playing Filipino street children get to play their Brazilian counterparts in the Deloitte-Street Child Word Cup scheduled March 14 to 23 in Durban, South Africa.

Bracketed in Group B with the two squads are Tanzania and Ukraine, while Group A has South Africa , India, Nicaragua and the United Kingdom.

A side event to the World Cup finals kicking off in July, the Deloitte-sponsored soccerfest is a seven-a-side indoor football competition for street children organized by Amos Trust, a London-based private group that promotes justice and hope to “forgotten communities.”

What is unique about the contest, team co-manager Ed Formoso said, is that one girl must be on the pitch during the match and, assuming she scores, her goal will be credited for two points.

Team sponsors of the 1st Philippine National Street Children team are Deloitte, Angus Lawson Memorial Trust, Deutsche Bank, Mitre, Whitehouse Scientific, Amos Trust, Bayanihan National Dance Co., Tesoro's, Amici pizza pasta, and close to 20 individual supporters, or “Ninongs” and “Ninangs.”

The most prominent among them is world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, who always has had a soft spot for the poor and needy, considering his own rags-to-riches story as a former bakery helper, overcoming the odds to be where he is now.

The team is composed of Erica Inocencio (team captain), Mario Titoy, Roberto Orlandez, MonMon Elona, Blueshark Gaerlan, Noriel Pineones, Jayson Simangan, Lorelyn Cabanayan, and Ladylyn Ampe.

Source: Author Unknown  | Manila Bulletin