“THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN BE TODAY. This is who we are”.
Eleven (11) Cities heeded our call for support and one (1) of them – Mandaluyong City/PDAD – eventually became the ‘Official City Partner & Host’ as CP Football Philippines went out in search of persons with Cerebral Palsy (CP) who wanted to play football… were willing to learn it first… and then willing to train hard and represent the country in the 2020 ASEAN Para Games. It takes more than just guts and determination to pursue this idea. And it’s been no less challenging and no less grueling for both the players and coaching staff to make it a reality.
Binan, Carmona, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Muntinlupa, Makati, Taguig, Pasig, Marikina, San Juan, Pangasinan, Quezon City and our Official City Partner & Host: the Mandaluyong City PDAD Office joined us on this journey.
PWD Officers, Leaders, Heads, Social Workers, SPED Teachers and/or Representatives from the Cities mentioned supported us in our search-teach-&-train program to create a first ever Philippine Cerebral Palsy Football Team. This is what the Philippine Sports Association for the Differently Abled (PHILSPADA) wanted…this is what the International Federation of CP Football (IFCPF) wanted… and for the Moran Foundation, this miracle team is what CP Football Philippines sought out to create.
This is our ongoing version of ‘Mission Impossible’, and it is nearly done. In a matter of days, this team will start playing. They are nicknamed the CP Rascals. From a final pool of 18 players, we’ve decided on this 12 to wear the colors: Aldren, Billy, Edgar, Glen, JayR, Jeffrey, Joselito, Joseph, Martin, Spencer, Victor, and Vince.
As we grind into the last moments of preparation, let this be the expectation —-“this is a team of beginners who only know how to play with their hearts. They know no other way. When these Rascals get on that grass field in Clark City this January, surely a bit of history will be written – they will be the first ever and official ‘Filipino Cerebral Palsy Football Team’ to represent our country
…and their promise? To be the best that they can be each day of competition. It’s not about winning, drawing or losing games. It’s about showing up proudly in a Philippine Team uniform – the one proof that they’ve made it all the way. Imagine them in a REAL Philippine Team uniform. These 12 boys have done it. They’ve trained hard, yes, very hard… they deserve to wear our country’s colors.
From ‘Zero’ Footballers to ‘Philippine Team’ Footballers in six months. How can one even think of a medal or a trophy that might be won? This squad has already done it. The fact that they can run and kick the ball — “that is their greatness”. They are footballers with Cerebral Palsy– they are the CP Rascals— and they are our Philippine Football Team for the 2020 ASEAN PARA GAMES.