San Juan City, long known for its compact urban landscape, has found a new way to embrace the beautiful game.
Without the luxury of sprawling football pitches, the city is turning its wooden indoor gymnasiums spread across its barangays into fertile ground for futsal, or indoor football.
On a rainy Saturday afternoon, the Philippine Sports Commission, the City Government of San Juan, and the Philippine Football Federation formally launched the city’s first-ever Futsal Developmental Program, opening the doors for thousands of young San Juaneños to discover and develop their potential in the sport.
Leading the ceremony were San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio, and PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez, who together turned over futsal goals and balls to jumpstart the grassroots initiative.
The PSC donated 20 sets of goals and 120 futsal balls, ensuring that all 21 barangays of San Juan will benefit from the program.
“This is what we want: LGUs collaborating with PSC and the NSA. Stronger partnerships mean stronger programs. Kung tumataya ang PSC, gusto naming tumaya rin ang LGU. Mas stronger ang collaboration kapag ganyan ang usapan,” said Chairman Gregorio.
“My vision is to establish dedicated sports clubs for every sport, in close collaboration with local government units and the Department of Education.”
(C) PSC
The launch drew 125 kids who participated in clinics and friendly competitions under the guidance of Rafa Merino Rodriguez, head coach of the Philippine Women’s National Futsal Team.
“We don’t have land for football fields, but we have plenty of wooden basketball courts spread across 17 barangays. With the help of the PSC and PFF, we can now transform these spaces into futsal venues,” said Mayor Zamora, emphasizing the city’s unique advantage.
“This is our first futsal program, and we are excited for the youth and even adults who love football.”
The milestone comes on the heels of the Philippines’ successful hosting of the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup last November, an event that earned the PFF dual honors at the 7th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards: National Sports Association of the Year and International Event of the Year.
(C) PSC
“This is the pilot program to make futsal popular and get more kids to play the beautiful game. Thanks to Mayor Francis for embracing this initiative, and to Chairman Pato of PSC for making it possible. We hope other cities will follow San Juan’s lead,” said Gutierrez.
Also present were San Juan officials, including Vice Mayor Angelo Agcaoili, councilors Macky Mathay, Herbert Chua, and Francine Gil, special assistant to the mayor Rocco Zamora, and PFF technical consultant coach Bob Salvacion.
“Walang elite athlete, walang national athlete kung walang grassroots athlete. Perfect ang futsal dito sa San Juan. Football and futsal are sports Filipinos can excel in. Hindi mo kailangan ng height, liksi at bilis lang ang kailangan,” said Chairman Gregorio.
San Juan’s initiative opens the door to an inter-barangay futsal tournament, with ambitions to eventually expand into inter-city competitions and further embed futsal into the grassroots fabric of Philippine sport.
