Munich on young booters’ minds

Long before Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Pele became global football stars, the indoor event futsal was their sport of choice.

The second Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational (ANYFI), which opened Friday in Iloilo and Cebu, is giving teenaged players the same chance to hone their skills and realize their dreams—like taking part in an FC Bayern Munich training camp in Germany.

But first, they have to play for their local teams in the 12-, 14- and 16-Under divisions for boys and girls of the ANYFI.

After the Iloilo and Cebu legs and the Dipolog elimination over the weekend, the ANYFI will go to Naga and Baguio on Monday, Metro Manila (May 5 and 6), Naga, Cagayan de Oro and Davao (May 4 and 5), back to CDO (May 12 and 13) and Bacolod (May 16 and 17).

Five Filipino boys were sent to the four-day Allianz Junior Football Camp (AJFC) in Bali, Indonesia, last year. Of the 49 participants from the Philippines, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Singapore, 15 were picked to go to Munich, including Filipinos Jan Meir Mitra of La Salle Zobel, and Aeron Tenollar from Baguio City.

Bayern greats Giovane Élber and Klaus Augenthaler led the selection process.

This year, the Philippines will send three girls and five boys to the Bangkok AJFC in July, all culled from the ANYFI organized in partnership with the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and The Henry V. Moran Foundation (THVMF).

“Through the ANYFI, we’re giving kids the chance to get the best training possible with Bayern Munich and help them pursue their dreams of becoming professionals and national team mainstays someday,” said Allianz PNB chief operating officer Alex Grenz during the media launch at Century Park Hotel Manila.