Help push up national grassroots sports

There are bright developments that augur well for the long-stalled national grassroots sports development program.

A small sports item last week noted that Aeta athletes from Villa Maria Integrated School in Porac, Pampanga, competed in the five-kilometer obstacle course racing of the Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation.

The event was supposed to be the first of four national team qualifying events. After obstacle course racing was relegated as a demo sport in the coming Southeast Asian Games, the race was turned into a hunting ground.

The inclusion of the Aeta standouts in the event was very significant, also because of the involvement of Allianz Philippines, which says it’s giving these Aeta athletes chance to excel in the sport, improve their skills and help them discover new opportunities.

It’s not every week that an outfit makes an effort to scout the deep grassroots to weed out and help obscure competitors.

Allianz Philippines has announced it will support the pursuit of the young Aetas until they make it to the Philippines’ obstacle race national training pool.

That’s the big story. Unknown to many, Allianz Philippines is also involved in other sports endeavors.

An item on Monday said Allianz Philippines has been helping Filipino players fulfill their football dream through Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational (ANYFI).

The annual event aims to encourage aspiring football and futsal players in the country to excel in these sports and aim to play in international competitions.

“It’s proven across the world that futsal develops better football players, and our experience tells us that futsal is an appropriate approach in the Philippine setting,” said Danny Moran, chair of the Henry V. Moran Foundation, dedicated to helping the youth in public schools through football and futsal.

A futsal game easily fits into a gym, or a basketball court.

There’s the great challenge: to sell futsal to young aspirants who have been helplessly trapped by basketball and other insignificant distractions.

Allianz Philippines needs the guidance and support of the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Football Federation, Department of Education and local government units.

We all have to help it push the poor Filipino youth to reach out for relevance, away from the shallow,  senseless backyard basketball endeavors.