THE Makati FC U12 team recently became the first Filipino youth squads to play against England’s top football academy clubs.
Ranged against the Cray Wanderers, Leicester City FC, Manchester United, Brighton FC and Arsenal, which is among the top 10 of England pro football clubs, the Makati FC girls gave good account of themselves during the series of matches from Oct. 5 to 13.
Selu Lozano, Program Director and Owner, Makati Football Club, said the U12 squad did well and going up against the finest English youth teams, the once in a lifetime opportunity that will help them in the future.
“Taking our Makati FC U12 girls to London was not just about participating in another tournament–it was a step forward in our mission to develop world-class grassroots talent,” Lozano said.
“Over the past three years, we’ve seen success on the international stage, winning the Gothia World Youth Cup and JSSL, Asia’s largest youth tournament. This time, we wanted to challenge ourselves even further, competing against professional clubs in England to see how we matched up.
“The girls exceeded all expectations, proving that not only can they play at that level, but they can also match the competitiveness of some of the best youth teams in the world. This experience solidifies our belief that Philippine youth football has a place on the global stage, and we’re just getting started,” he added.
Last July, Makati FC ruled the the Girls 12 (2012) in the Gothia World Youth Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden–the largest youth tournament in the world with over 1,500 teams from 80 different countries.
The Makati FC U12 players also had a chance to watch a Women’s Super League match-up between Everton and Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London last October 6.
