Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) is representing the Philippines at the 2019 Soong Ching Ling Cup China-ASEAN Youth Football Friendly Matches to be held in Hangzhou, China, from August 1 to 8, 2019.
Head coach Noel de Oca leads a 20-member delegation composed of five mentors and 15 players (aged 12 years old and younger) Team NOFA-Philippines’ participation is endorsed by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).
The Soong Ching Ling Cup is an annual Under 13 eight-a-side football tournament hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, the Chinese Football Federation and the ASEAN-China Center, to promote friendship and understanding between China and ASEAN countries.
Team NOFA-Philippines is included in Group A with China, Malaysia, Singapore and Laos. Group B comprises Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and Cambodia.
This year marks the third time that NOFA-Philippines is taking part in the prestigious ASEAN youth football tourney. NOFA is eyeing to top their fourth-place finish last year when they beat China in the elimination round, 3-0, but lost to the hosts for the third place spot.
NOFA President Mr. Ricky Yanson has high hopes for his squad. “Team NOFA-Philippines has always looked forward to joining the Soong Ching Ling Cup since our first time in 2017…. Being a China-ASEAN football tournament, we get to have a glimpse of the level football for Under 13 in these countries.” He also said that the experience that the NOFA mentors gain from the SCL Cup also contributes to the improvement of NOFA activities. “Opportunities for interaction with other coaches and organizers can also bring about ideas essential to our own grassroots development program.”
The NOFA-Philippines players are standouts from the recently concluded NOFA Cup 2019 that was held last summer in Bacolod. These boys who come from different parts of the Philippines— Bacolod, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete and Manila — are ready to face their ASEAN counterparts.
“They will be travelling to China after weeks of training camp that included tune-up games against older age groups and participation in out-of-town football festivals… With the help of the boys’ parents and their respective schools, we were able to come up with training arrangements best suited for the team,” said Mr. Yanson.
Team NOFA-Philippines will have their first game against Malaysia on August 3; to be followed by a match against China on the same day, and against Singapore on August 4. Their last game in the elimination round is on August 5 versus Laos.
For updates, visit the Negros Occidental Football Association page on Facebook.
Delegation:
Team NOFA Philippines to the 2019 Soong Ching Ling Cup China-ASEAN Youth Football Friendly Matches
Coaching Staff:
Noel de Oca – Head Coach
Leo Ernest Linda – Assistant Coach
Angelica Regina Jochicho – Assistant Coach
Ronald Allan Treyes – Technical Consultant
Andrew Infante – Team Manager
Players:
Mark Jason Apostolero
Luke Apuhan
Kian Klent Catoto
Aaron Nathan Dionaldo
Andres Gabriel Dumlao
Renzo Angelo Enriquez
Frankie Andrei Felia
Franz Derek Liansing
Kian Terrence Niu
Elijah Raj Pabalate
Christian Rendon
Rey Allen Rico
Ethan Jacob Roxas
Mark Anthony Talingting, Jr.
