Football roundup: Man Utd & Clear announce youth camp plus other updates

One of the world's most famous and successful Football clubs has thrown their hat into the ring in an effort to boost Filipino youth Football.

On Monday Manchester United bared a partnership with Clear Shampoo of Unilever Philippines to create the Clear - Manchester United Football Camp which will take place from April 25 to 27. The three day camp will be conducted by coaches from the Manchester United Soccer School.

32 male amateur players aged seventeen and above will be chosen for the camp based on tryouts that will be held in Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Metro Manila.

Their curriculum for the camp will be based on the renowned Man U training program that has helped develop players for the club, which has won the English Premier League title a record thirteen times. It was also learned at the press conference that Man United, nicknamed the Red Devils, have a fan base of 659 million all over the world.

Also at the press conference in Makati Shangi-la was Jamie Reigle, the Managing Director of Manchester United Asia-Pacific, and officials of Unilever, like Dorothy Dee-Ching, Marketing Director for Hair Care and Gina Lorenzana, Unilever Philippines' VP for personal care. The UFL's Randy Roxas was also there. The league is also a partner in the venture.

Clear has previously sponsored the first two stagings of the Clear Dream Match, which pit teams chosen by Phil and James Younghusband together. Last year they also ran the Clear Aspirants Camp for talented youth players from all over the country.

Drew Copuyoc, the brand manager for Clear, says that apart from the Man U camp, there could be other Football-related activities in 2014 coming from Clear. He said fans can expect a “bigger and better” Clear Dream Match this year which will include the best six prospects from the Manchester United Camp.

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“This won't be a boot camp” said Reigle. “It is meant to inspire the kids. They'll learn about tactics, how to prepare for matches, the mental side of the game, health and nutrition, but it will also be a lot of fun. This is basically the same infrastructure that the first team benefits from.”

Certainly Clear has big aims for Football.

“Our dream is to make Philippine Football as big as Basketball” said Lorenzana.

Applicants for the Clear-Manchester United Football Camp can click on www.cleardreamfootballmatch.com.ph starting February 1, or by calling 0999-768-4551. Tryouts will take place on March 22 in Cebu, March 23 in Iloilo, March 29 in Davao and March 30 in Metro Manila.

Air Force draws Ceres

On Sunday I caught a clash of second-division unbeatens between PAF and Ceres.

The Airmen took the lead in the first half with a strike from Ian Araneta. The two Ceres centerbacks, both six feet tall or higher, decided to attend to Jimmy Vergara, who can't be more than 5'7”. The ball pinged off to an unmarked Araneta, who drove it low and hard past Ceres keeper Louie Casas.

Air Force dominated the start of the second half but Ceres got the equalizer against the run of play. Jayson Panhay poked past an onrushing Ken Dolloso for 1-1, which is how it ended.

I was impressed by new Air Force recruit Ryan Lirio, who played against his old club. Lirio has an attacking mindset and nearly came close to scoring a couple of times. He is also sturdily built whilst being speedy too.

Ceres centerback Lemuel “Dapal” Unabia looks like a PBA power forward who got lost on the way to MOA Arena and ended up in a Football game. He must surely be at least 6'3”. His height alone could get him Azkals consideration. Players who have played against him say he is solid defender.

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San Beda tops Benilde 1-0.

On Monday the San Beda Red Lions defeated College of Saint Benilde in the ASCOM pitch as part of the ongoing NCAA Football tournament.

I only caught the second half. The goal came in the first thanks to Miguel Caindec, who exploited a defensive mix-up by the Blazers to blast past Benilde's U19 NT goalie, Ronilo Vallies Bayan.

Bayan was sensational in the second 45 minutes, saving the bacon of a sluggish CSB defense with two terrific reaction saves. He was much better in this match than the first time I saw him.

Also in attendance was Kaya coach David Perkovic and Kaya manager Paul Tolentino.

Ateneo' grass pitch.

Remember grass? That stuff that Football fields used to be made of? Well on Sunday I also visited Moro Lorenzo Football Field in Ateneo (neé Erenchun Field), and this one is made of the green, natural stuff.

In Season 75 this pitch was newly laid in, and the UAAP competition completely ravaged it. It has since had the time to take root, and it looks beautiful. The grass is similar to what was in Rizal before the sod was trucked out to make way for an artificial pitch. It surely must be the finest grass Football pitch in Metro Manila right now, if not the whole country. The field dimensions look to be around 64 meters wide and perhaps 100 to 102 meters long.

The Bermuda-like grass is level and wear in the goalmouths minimal. The grass feels great underfoot, obviously it gets watered well. There are a few patches of other species of grass but they don't affect the play one bit. I really hope Ateneo strictly limits the use of the field to two or three matches a week.

I'm looking forward to upcoming UAAP matches there.

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.