FIVE girl booters from Davao City, so young yet skillful players with different styles, get the chance to display their talents once more in a much bigger soccer stage when they play for the Philippine national team in the AFC U14 Girls Festival of Football in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam starting Wednesday up to June 15.
Janna Raizel Barcemo of the Ateneo de Davao University will lead the bunch of Davao girls playing for flag and country in the week-long tournament against the best teams in the region.
The 13-year-old Barcemo, a fearless striker who played for the Philippine squad that competed in the AFC Women's U16 in Manila last year, will be joined in the U14 team by her fellow players from Ateneo Nina Alexi B. Arrieta, Louise Gabrielle del Fierro and Joana Marie Adao, and Nina Ricci Yanto of Emar Learning School.
Aside from Davao booters, the national team is also composed of players from San Carlos City, Rizal Football Association and Negros First. The nationals went on a rigid training in Bacolod City before they were called upon to represent the country in Vietnam.
The team will be mentored by Robert Manlulo and Melissa Kris Marquez. Rafael Lizares Jr. is team manager.
Manlulo's wards will go up against Korea, China, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Laos, Myanmar and host Vietnam.
The team had trained at the Ateneo de Manila and was scheduled to depart for Ho Chi Minh Monday in time for the start of competition on June 8.
Like Barcemo, Adao and Yanto are also speedy players while del Fierro is a solid goalkeeper.
Arrieta is also an offensive threat for the PH team with her excellent passing ability.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on June 07, 2011.
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