A total of 33 teams from 13 youth clubs will compete in this year’s Mama Sita’s Football For All tournaments which began last Saturday, May 24, at Atleta63 Football Field in Bridgetowne Pasig.
The Football For All program features the following age groups and categories: Mixed 10 (born 2015 & younger), Mixed 12: born 2013 & younger, and Girls 14 (born 2011 & younger). The matches will be held every weekend.
The participating clubs are Alab FC-Los Baños, Blueguards Miguelitos FC-Quezon City, Bilibid FC-Muntinlupa, ERES-EMBO FC-Taguig, Gawad Kalinga-Mandaluyong, N23 FC-Las Piñas, Navotas FC, PAF Youth FC-Pampanga, Pasig Laban FC, Payatas FC-Quezon City, Quezon City FC, SLES FC-Taguig and Stars United FC-Makati. All 33 participating teams from 13 different clubs are playing for free and proudly wearing their own uniforms provided by the program.
During last Friday’s press conference, Mama Sita’s Football For All reaffirmed its belief in the inherent talent of Filipinos — and the importance of nurturing that talent to reach world-class levels.
The main vision of the Football For All program is to provide regular and accessible competition for less privileged but passionate football clubs in Metro Manila and its neighboring areas.
The National Capitol Region Football Association and the Philippine Football Federation believe that regular competitions are essential for the development of youth football players. This initiative aims to be a consistent and sustainable endeavor, developing players’ skills and instilling values gained through sports and competition.
The Football for All program aspires to be a stepping stone for players towards greater opportunities such as school scholarships, playing professionally, and representing the country.
Overall, the program aims to engage with local communities by recognizing the cities where the clubs are located, promoting local support and pride.
The key feature of the Football For All league format is that all teams compete in a round-robin throughout the season, with no knockout stages, semi-final, or final. The team with the most points at the end of all matches is crowned the champion.
This format encourages consistently high performance throughout the season, with every match being important.
During the tournament, a unique set of Football Development Rules are in place to prioritize the development and safety of young players. These rules modify standard football regulations to encourage skill-building, fair play, and reduce the risk of injuries, which is a core focus of our league to aid the development of kids.
Expect some exciting rivalries.
In the Mixed 10 division, teams like FC Bilibid and ERES, which were at the top of the standings, are likely to have competitive rematches.
Not to be outdone is the Mixed 12 division, where ERES and PAF Youth are expected tough opposition from Stars United, Gawad Kalinga, and Navotas FC.
The debut of the Girls 14 category also adds a new element of excitement, and the tournament looks forward to seeing which teams establish themselves as frontrunners in this newly-formed division.
The Football For All program also has Anytime Fitness, Prime Infra Foundation, Greenfields, Sports & Play International Incorporated, Studio 300, Davies, Atleta63 and Victory Liner, Inc. as its partners.
