The official representative of the Philippines for the 2012 Homeless World Cup have already left the Philippines for the annual tournament to be held in Mexico.
The Homeless World Cup which is an annual tournament aimed to change the lives of marginalized people worldwide through football.
The Philippine Team delegation to the Homeless World Cup was led by Coach Mark Maravilla, also part of the previous Philippine squad.
The team were composed of Eddie Alivio and Kalvin Panares from Don Bosco Boy’s Home and Training Center in Cebu.
Other members were composed of Jerwin Papiona and John Paul Cordero from the Leyte-Samar Center for Change; Raymond Intendez from Manila Boystown; a fisherman Jacko Wapson from Dagupan, Pangasinan; a farmer Nicho Jardin from Tayabas, Quezon; and a construction worker Arturio Estuaria from Leveriza, Manila.
The Philippine Team will try to break their previous records in the competition. Last year they placed 26th out of 69 international teams and the only team from Asia who made it to higher rounds.
The team first joined the competition in 2008, right now they were in a dangerous groupings in Group C. They will face tough European side and 2009 champion Ukraine, two-time finalist Poland, Switzerland, Finland and Bosnia Herzegovina.
The 2012 Homeless World Cup will be played from Saturday until October 14 at the Plaza de la Constitución in Zócalo, Mexico City.
