NEGROS Occidental Football Association (Nofa) president Ricky Yanson, chairman of the Grassroots Committee in the Philippine Football Federation, admitted that they have been facing a tough challenge in promoting football in the grassroots level.
Despite the programs that they have presented to the community, Yanson said that it's not only football that they love.
"We have the popular basketball and volleyball is going up. It's really very challenging but for the love of this sport and our passion, we will continue to work hard for it. And we will try to improve and expand it in other age-groups," Yanson said.
Describing the ongoing 3rd Nofa Under 13 Invitational Cup at Sta. Maria Football Field, Yanson said that the event doesn't only promotes football in the Negros Occidental but in the entire country since there are five teams each from Luzon and Mindanao while 8 from across the Visayas region.
Yanson also lauded the Negros-based elementary football team for winning the gold medal in the recent Palarong Pambansa in Vigan.
"They are the product of the Dynamic Football League and some of them were part of the team which went to China to compete last year. The success of our elementary football in the Palaro justified the efforts that we do here," he added.
Meanwhile, quarterfinal matches are ongoing as of press time at the Sta. Maria football fields as the semis and finals will be played today. (HGD)