Azkals popularity draws growing interest in football

AFTER draining at least 18 hours of training, some 125 enrollees in the Milo Summer Sports Clinics (SSC) are expected to receive certificates of training on Thursday, April 28, at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center in Cagayan de Oro City.

"This is a significant increase in enrollees (over that of last year) considering that we still have the second batch of trainees next month," said Milo SSC organizer Megdonio R. Llamera.

Llamera said this year's sports clinics will be undertaken in two batches, the first kicked off on April 11 and will wind up on Thursday. The second batch will start on May 17 and end on May 31.

"Noticeably, there is a growing interest in football. Thanks to the Azkals," the veteran sports organizer told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro, adding that football is the latest addition to the sports disciplines the summer clinic is into.

Other than football, the other sports disciples that attracted enrollees in the first batch are in dance sports, table tennis, taekwondo, swimming and basketball, admittedly the country's most popular sports.

Llamera said the best performing trainees will receive gold, silver and bronze medals, depending on the evaluation of the trainers.
By Uriel C. Quilingguing (Sun Star CDO)

He said he is thankful to the Misamis Oriental Provincial Government for providing the venue for the sports clinics, and to the parents for allowing their children to get engage in sports.

"They are aware that sports instill the values of hard work, discipline, patience and teamwork," he said.

"We must continue training the young if we intend to produce champions and ultimately capture the elusive Olympic gold," said the indefatigable sportsman and former pitcher of the Philippine baseball team.

Meanwhile, Adelina G. Barros, who heads the training secretariat, said that of the 125 enrollees in the first batch, swimming has the most number of students with 53.

Barros said training sessions in swimming, dance sports, basketball and football are being conducted inside the sports center while table tennis and taekwondo are being conducted at the second floor of Carmen public market and at George Arcenal's gym, respectively.