PFF FUTSAL OFFICIAL KEVIN GOCO (TOP RIGHT) GREETS THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE HISTORIC CMORFA ONLINE REFEEING COURSE. WITH HIM ARE INSTRUTORS DR. PORFERIO BARLAS JR. (ABOVE) AND REY RITAGA.
CAGAYAN DE ORO City —Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Futsal official Kevin Goco praised the officials of the Camiguin Misamis Oriental Regional Football Association (CMORFA) for organising the historic Online Basic Futsal Refereeing Course for the region’s young and potential Futsal referees and veteran coaches.
“I would like to thank CMORFA specially its president Mike Batiles and its Futsal Committee for organising with the PFF referee’s department PFF’s first ever Online Basic Futsal Refeering Course,’’ he said during the online formal opening ceremony.
He added that this pandemic has put a stop to almost all non-professional football and futsal activities yet CMORFA and the PFF still looked for ways to develop future referees, a key foundation pillar for any development program.
“Without quality referees you can’t have quality competitions that develop quality coaches and players. I am very happy that CMORFA saw this as a key step to Futsal development,’’ he said.
CMORFA president Mike Batiles for his part welcomed the 26 participants from the different clubs and schools from Camiguin and Misamis Oriental.
“This is the very first in the history of our association to be afforded this privilege as beneficiary of this futsal program. It is gratifying to look at the monitor and say hello to everyone around,” he said.
He added that they are no strangers among the participants, but only friends and colleagues that some are yet to meet. “This is a rare opportunity that you can continue to participate and build-up coherent contributions in order to institutionalise and strengthen the foundation of CMORFA,’’ he said.
CMORFA FUTSAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS (l-r) RONALD TABLANG (Chairman) DHON LAZO (VICE CHAIRMAN) KITH VILLORENTE (Member).
He also thanked the CMORFA futsal committee chaired by Ronald Tablang and vice chaired by Dhon Lazo and member Kith Villorente for the preparations.
Batiles added that on behalf of the CMORFA board of governors he welcomes the PFF Basic Futsal Referees Instructor Dr. Porferio Barlas Jr., and Rey Ritaga.
According to Goco the participants are very lucky as they have world class instuctors who are mentoring them.
“We are fortunate to have Dr. Perry Barlas and Rey Ritaga as instructors of this course. Dr. Barlas is an AFC Futsal Referee instructor who usually teaches and develop Futsal referees in Asia. He is a top notch instructor,’’ Goco said.
He added that Rey Ritaga is the first Filipino to ever be appointed to officiate at the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
“Barlas and Ritaga show that Filipinos have talent and ability to be world class official and I hope that their experiences, knowledge and example can inspire the course participants and the next generation of Filipinos to be world class referees,” he said.
The second day of the course resumes Sunday morning.
Here is the list of the participants: Junieto Actub (Bulua Strikers), Mikyla Andrea R. Albarico (Lumbia Raptors), Dan Rowena Severina D. Aquino (Lumbia Raptors) , Kevin Mark D. Babia (Hibok-Hibok United Camiguin), Jazon Bantilan (USTP FC), Jasper James S. Bartolaba (Naawan National High School), Joen Cabana (Galica Football Club-Ginggoog), Paul Kenneth Cabio (Higala FC), Arnold del Pena (GCC Vikings-Ginggoog), Jerome N. del Pena (Galica FC-Ginggoog), John Milbert Fernandez (GAFC), James Michael Gabe Lubilan Elem. School, Naawan, Walter Galarroza (Initao-Limunda Intergrated School), Jeremy Z. Jablo (Higala FC), Nino Lazo (Magis FC/Xavier Univesity High School, April John Luz (Malangka FC, Arsenio Magto (Lumbia Raptors FC), Jerney John Miaco (Higala FC), Christian Gem C. Pimentel (Regional Science High School), Cornelio C. Pol (Carmen National High School), Rabi Jose H. Remigoso (Camiguin United FC), Reneo Lpourdy H. Remigoso (Camiguin United FC), Rey June G. Tablang (Monte Carlod FC), Mark Angelo Vallar (MMK AMSDOG), Andrea Coleen L. Vallejos (USTP FC), Xerxes June B. Waga (Linangkayan Elementary School Naawan) (l.biantan@gmail.com)
