Winners and more winners during the Arsenal in the Community Cup 2019!

Team Highbury emerged on top out of 6 strong mixed teams of girls and boys from Sagkahan National High School (SNHS), San Jose National High School (SJNHS), Sagkahan Central School (SCS), Palo National High School (PNSH), Tanauan School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries (TSCHI) and communities in Brgy. Anibong and Brgy. San Isidro.

Team Emirates snatched 2nd place and Team Anibong came in 3rd place. The winning teams were awarded medals from Arsenal in the Community (AIC). Meanwhile, Daniel Ocenar was awarded player of the tournament for his exemplary performance as a team captain and positive attitude towards other players, both on and off the field. 

Unlike typical tournaments, the players did not solely represent their own teams from the regular Football for Life Academy (FFLA) programme. Instead they combined with other players to form a different team to ensure skill was less important and good commnication and teamwork was needed for game success.  Each of them played with other children whom they usually play against in the regular FFLA programme.

Through friendly taps on the shoulder, team cheer and thumbs up signs players showed positivity and encouragement even to their teammates who made mistakes during their games. All teams showed the willingness of each player to adjust for their teammates. The older boys and girls stepped up for each of their teams and gave opportunities for the younger ones to play more.

“It was a perfect way to end the experience with the kids. The players showed great commitment, resilient attitudes, and excellent teamwork. I was impressed with the cohesion between the older kids and the younger counterparts whilst playing in mixed teams. However I also commend the bravery of the younger ones specifically to join different teams and to meet new people. All of these things combined to create a wonderful Arsenal Cup,” AIC Coach Al shared after the tournament.

AIC Coach Oscar agreed on coach Al’s assessment and expressed how proud he is with the kids and how everyone worked together to make a great tournament.

It was a fitting way for the Arsenal coaches to end their time in Tacloban after spending three months with the players. The tournament communicated to all players that in sport you don't just do well through good skill, you often win when you are able to work as a team and help each other become better. A lesson that everyone can benefit from.

Since 2016, FundLife International has partnered with Arsenal in the Community, which sees two coaches from the club’s Gap Year scheme join the FFLA programme in the Philippines for three months. Arsenal in the Community, the charitable arm of Arsenal Football Club, started in 1985 as a platform to engage children in positive practice through sport. 

The FFLA programme was designed  as a post-disaster play intervention for children affected by Typhoon Haiyan and has evolved into a holistic education programme that seeks to restore hope, purpose, and identity to children from vulnerable communities.

Aside from FFLA, Fundlife is also running a programme which promotes girls football, the Girls Community League (GCL). The league aims to protect, educate and empower girls from vulnerable communities by giving them equitable participation to sport and on-going mentorship.