THE goal celebration on the wet pitch, punctuated by smiles, jumping and high fives, said it all.
Almost 50 underprivileged children had a day to remember on Sunday in a football clinic hosted by the One Meralco Foundation (OMF) and Meralco’s football club, the Loyola Meralco Sparks, in partnership with Holcim Philippines.
Matthew Hartman and members of the Sparks led the half-day training at the Emperador Stadium in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. They were assisted by the Meralco Football Club composed of the company’s employees.
The participants were a mix of kids supported by Holcim Philippines’ Foster a Child Education (FACE) program, a volunteer educational assistance program which focuses on providing children access to primary education, as well as children of Holcim employees.
Most of the kids, aged 11 to 14, have never played football before. They were grouped in four groups each led by a Sparks player supported by Meralco and Holcim employees.
Hartmann said it was fun for him to show kids how to play football for the first time in their lives.
“In England there is one eight-year old who hasn’t kicked a football and to see them here who haven’t kicked a football and for the first time to wear football cleats it was pretty incredible,” Hartmann said.
“As a youngster, to attend clinics gave kids a chance to see the professionals themselves - to learn from them and to strive who you want to be in the future, and I’m sure some of these kids would go home wanting to be a professional football player. It was overwhelming to see the kids enjoying themselves so much,” Hartmann added.
His teammate, Yves Ashime from Cameroon, was also pretty animated with his charges who won, 1-nil.
“It was good to share the knowledge I have with the kids. It was a privilege. I am really honored to teach these kids,” said Ashime.
Apart from the instruction and the drills, the kids were also given kits that included uniforms and a pair of Nike football shoes.
The foundation conducts several football clinics throughout the year. In April, it held its third 'Football for Peace' clinic in partnership with the Philippine Marines where it trained more than 150 young athletes from conflict areas in Mindanao and Palawan in preparation for friendly matches with pro clubs in Manila and nearby provinces.
A friendly match between Holcim employees and the Meralco Football Club capped the event.
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