Talisay City’s sports development program got a boost yesterday with the visit of Simon Greatwich, midfielder of the Philippine men’s football team, Azkals.

Greatwich assisted Mayor Eric Saratan in distributing shirts to members of the different barangay-based football clubs in the city and joined a 7-a-side match with the mayor playing on the opposing side.

Saratan said Talisay is strengthening its grassroots program in football and they have already given trainings to coaches who will be fielded to the schools and the barangays.

As one of the members of the Azkals, he said Greatwich’s visit in Talisaywill inspire the children to improve their game.

The mayor added that a budget has been allocated for the continuous development of football in the city and he hopes to see someday a Talisaynon donning the national colors as one of the Azkals.

Joining Greatwich in his visit in Talisay were his parents Clive and Carolina, with the elder Greatwich standing in as goalkeeper in the 7-a-side friendly game.

Carolina said Simon, the youngest of their three football-playing sons, has been noted for his skills and she was glad that he and his brother Chris, are members of the Azkals.

She said that her second son Philip, is also into football, and she feels proud that Simon was tapped to join the national team and represent the country in international competition.

Meanwhile, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Warren Concepcion, who supervises the football development program of the city, thanked the Teleperformance Bacolod for bringing Greatwich to Talisay.

Levi Trio from Teleperformance Bacolod said the company chose Talisay as its beneficiarys after seeing their young football players play in an open football field without any jersey or spike.

The TP Football Club, organized by Teleperformance Bacolod last year, was one of the teams that joined in the 1st Negros Open Football Tournament that was dominated by the Ceres team.*NAB

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