FC Barcelona may open Football school in the Philippines.
“Next year we will decide, but it's a big possibility.”
This was the answer of FCBEscola director Xevi Marcé last Friday when asked about the chances of a branch of FC Barcelona's Football School sprouting in the Philippines.
“We are studying the possibilities and checking the level of the players here. We're excited about the development of Football here” he added at the press con in Rockwell Club to launch the program's upcoming Philippine camp.
FCBEscola is the place where kids can learn the game and perhaps follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Neymar in wearing the fabled red and blue shirt of “The Blaugrana.”
Marcé says that Barcelona has scores of schools all over the world, and not only in Footballing hotbeds like Rio de Janeiro. FCBEscolas can also be found in the Dominican Republic, Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, India, Egypt, Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Poland even has four FCBEscolas.
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Recently one Japanese wunderkind emerged from FCBEscola Japan to catch the eye of Barca's scouts.
Marcé, an experienced trainer and also a licensed sports psychologist, says there are over 200 coaches in the FCBEscola system teaching kids worldwide.
While the Philippine school may not yet be a sure thing, FCBEscola is definitely holding its second Philippine camp from December 18 to 22 in Emperador Stadium. It follows on the heels of the first camp last April, which attracted 148 kids aged six to fourteen at the Alabang Country Club.
Just like in April, the UFL's newly-promoted Team Socceroo, represented by siblings Michael, Paulus and Nicholas Reyes, will help in the staging of the camp.
In last summer's camp youngsters from as far away as Cebu, Iloilo, Australia and Cambodia turned up. Plus some talented kids from economically depressed areas like Tondo and Payatas were able to join.
While the roster of coaches for December has yet to be finalized, Marcé says they will be top-notch. In April one of the two coaches was Josep Moratalla, who played alongside Diego Maradona during his playing days.
Marcé gave an insight into the training philosophy of Barcelona when he bared what the kids can expect in the camp.
“Our methodology is the same everywhere: control the ball, pass the ball, and think of what you will do before you receive the ball.”
The director also added that Football isn't the only thing the kids will learn in the five-day event.
“We want the kids to develop into good players and good persons.”
This is a sentiment echoed by renowned Filipino economist Bernie Villegas, who also spoke at the press con.
“Football is one of the most effective means of fostering virtues and values” affirmed Villegas. "Kids who play Football learn the values of team spirit, cooperation, and modesty."
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Villegas admitted that he beacme a big Barcelona fan when he lived in the city a few years ago. From his apartment near the club's Camp Nou stadium he would often catch Messi and his mates in action with the use of his binoculars.
The co-founder of Opus Dei in the Philippines also explained that he loves Football because it mirrors the inclusive growth that he has longed to see happen in the country.
“Football is very inclusive because the poorest of the poor, like the street kids, participate.”
Villegas then proved himself to be a real Barca fan by singing the team's anthem along with Marcé.
Villegas is a part of the task force that will plan the Philippine National League that could kick off as early as 2016 with 12 to 15 teams scattered all over the nation.
It is hoped that the Philippines could one day produce a kid so talented that he will make it to La Masia, the club's elite academy for the brightest prospects. La Masia has already produced Blaugrana legends like Messi, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez, Gerard Pique, Victor Valdes, Carlos Puyol, and Andres Iniesta, who scored Spain's World Cup-winning goal against the Netherlands in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
When asked if any members of the current squad would grace the December camp with their presence, Marcé, smiled and said sheepishly, “we'll try.”
For information on how to join the FCBEscola December Camp, visit fcbescolaphilippines.com or send an email to fcbescolaphilippines@gmail.com. Follow Bob on Twittter @bhobg333.
