editorial team
Inspired by MILO and FC Barcelona’s (FCB) shared values of humility, effort, ambition, respect, and teamwork (HEART), around 160 young players ages 10-12 took part in the second MILO FCB Road to Barcelona Philippines Invitational Camp last September 8 to 9 at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The weekend training saw young footballers from Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, Koronadal, Masbate, Negros Occidental, and Metro Manila gather to showcase their skills and embrace life values in sports through the prestigious training camp in football hotbed Cebu, all in the hopes of being chosen to represent the Philippine delegation in the FCB Training Camp and Ultimate Experience in Barcelona, Spain happening this November.
The MILO FCB Road to Barcelona Philippines Invitational Camp provided free world-class training to deserving young Filipino football players under the tutelage of esteemed FCB Youth Academy Coaches. The participating young booters were exposed to the Barca way of playing through the club’s signature theoretical and practical drills, while also getting the opportunity to make new friends among their peers from different clubs in the spirit of fun and friendly competition.
Through the prestigious local camp, MILO Philippines, the visiting FCB Youth Academy coaches, and the Cebu Football Association (CFA) will select seven standout kids who exemplify the skills and espouse the right values needed to become part of the 2018 delegation. They, along with other identified players from the other MILO markets worldwide, will get to go on a once-in-a-lifetime experience to train in the hallowed grounds of Camp Nou, the home of FC Barcelona, in November.
FCB Youth Academy coaches Jordi Aguilar and Albert Batalla, who’ve previously held similar camps internationally in other Asian countries, as well as Europe, North America, and South America, spearheaded the activities during the weekend camp. Jordi and Albert, assisted by top coaches from the CFA conducted their program which included football drills, theoretical lessons, and values formation, underlining FC Barcelona’s team system, culture, and shared values of HEART. Bannered by the message of #TEAMMAKESME, the young athletes were also taught the important role their fellow footballers, coaches, family, and friends play in their holistic growth as champions on and off the field.
“We are very impressed with the Filipino kids who have really great skill and discipline. We not only want to teach them the right way to play, but also want to teach them the right values to live by,” said FCB Youth Academy coach Jordi Aguilar.
“It’s been an enriching experience for the kids and also for us coaches. We learned a lot of new techniques which we can pass on to our respective clubs and teams. Football here in Cebu has been growing and growing, and we thank MILO and FCB for this great boost for the football community here” said Jinggoy Roa, CFA Grassroots Development Officer and one of the local coaches assisting in the camp.
“On our second Road to Barcelona, we wanted to extend this world-class opportunity to more kids in the country, particularly the football hotbed Visayas region. MILO and FCB both believe that it is through sports and the values learned through them that we truly become champions in life. We are very pleased and grateful to have had this chance to help advance the local football scene here through this global partnership” said Willy De Ocampo, Nestle Philippines Vice President and Business Unit Manager.
