Mizuno Ilonggo Unity Games for national football development

WINNING TEAM. Midtown F.C., Champions of the recently-concluded Mizuno Ilonggo Unity Games

MANILA, Philippines—Mizuno and U.P. Diliman’s Sunken Garden United Football Club, organizer of the annual World Cup Pilipinas (WCP), in cooperation with the Guimbal Football Association of Iloilo, recently held the Mizuno Ilonggo Unity Games at the municipality of Guimbal near Iloilo City.

This project aims to further strengthen Iloilo’s renown for creating some of the country’s best football players as well as encourage grassroots football development in other regions throughout the country.  Recent events have shown that home-grown Filipino players have performed stellarly alongside other foreign-trained teammates on the national team, the Azkals.

Objectives include discovering new football superstars and encouraging the youth to consider the pursuit of a career in football as a viable profession.

The recent games are under the umbrella of WCP.  WCP is an ongoing advocacy to aid Philippine football development in general as well as create public football fields throughout the country.

The Unity Games, a 1-day, 7-a-side open football tournament was kicked-off by Guimbal Mayor Kristine Garin and participated in by a total of 24 teams from the island of Panay.  Midtown F.C. emerged champion, besting La Paz F.C. 3-1 in a penalty shootout.

Following the successful launch, the project will now be mounted as a total football sports weekend camp, dubbed the National Unity Games, scheduled from April 6 to 8.  A triple-header attraction will include field, indoor, and beach football.  An all-star Iloilo vs. The Philippines exhibition match will also be held.  All participants will be accommodated at Sunrise Beach Resort in Guimbal, Iloilo and special discounted airfares for all players are being targeted.