Allianz set for 2019 ANYFI for grassroots futsal

Rei Abrazaldo, Brand Communications and Digital Director, Allianz PNB Life (seated 3rd from right); Kevin Goco, Futsal Head, Philippine Football Federation (seated center); and Danny Moran, Chairman, Henry V. Moran Foundation (seated 3rd from left) during the launch of the Third Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao City. They were joined by Davao Football Association, PFF, and Allianz PNB Life officials

Allianz Philippines has remained committed to developing grassroots football in the last few years, with an emphasis towards futsal, which is played on an indoor court.

This year is no different, as they resume their partnership with the Henry V. Moran Foundation and the Philippine Football Federation through the Allianz National Youth Futsal Invitational (ANYFI).

The ANYFI aims to encourage youngsters to aspire for excellence in sports, particularly in football through futsal, with the hope and belief that it eventually lead to participation in international competition.

To launch the 2019 edition of the ANYFI, Allianz, PFF, and the HVM Foundation went to Davao to formally launch the program and at the same time help boost the sport no only in the city but also in the rest of Mindanao.

Allianz Philippines Brand Communications and Digital Director Rei Abrazaldo shares, "The sport of football has progressed a lot since we started our futsal invitational three years ago. We have sent our most talented Filipino players in one of the best if not the best football camps in Asia and Europe. Many of them have advanced in their careers getting into the national team and representing the country in games abroad. We have also brought them to train at the FC Bayern training grounds of Sabener Strasse in Munich, Germany, and they have shown that they can indeed play amongst the best young football and futsal players in the world."

Henry V. Moran Foundation Chairman Danny Moran says, "The Philippines is teeming with talents in football. We just need to give our youth the support and venue to further hone their skills and excel in the sport. In the Philippines, this can be easily achieved through futsal, a sport that can be organized and played in gyms. It’s proven across the world that futsal develops better football players, and our experience tells us that futsal is an appropriate development approach for the Philippine setting." The Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to help the youth in public schools across the country through football and futsal.

The Philippine Football Federation expressed full support for this particular private sector initiative, with its Futsal Department Head Kevin Goco remarking, "Our young players’ achievements will not only make their parents, teams, and communities proud; they can likewise make their country proud. We have seen it before and we hope we continue seeing it in the future as the popularity of the sport progresses in the coming years. Futsal is the world’s fastest growing indoor sport, and we feel it has massive potential in engaging more communities, creating world class athletes, and improving lives."

PFF General Secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes adds, "The PFF is always pleased to see private entities like Allianz and the Henry V. Moran Foundation in helping us grow the sport of futsal in the country.  Allianz’s support is a welcome act by the PFF and we hope that the children who join this tournament will have fun and display their skills and talents throughout the competition.

For the 2019 edition, the ANYFI will have different local and regional qualifiers spread all over the country, wtih the top two teams securing berths into the regional finals in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The schedule is as follows:

Luzon Regional Final Qualifiers (Regional Final is at Calamba on June 29-30)

April 23-24 at Lingayen, Pangasinan
May 8-9 at Muntinlupa
May 25-26 at Angeles City, Pampanga

Visayas Regional Final Qualifiers (Regional Finals is at Bacolod on May 25-26)

April 8-22 at Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
May 2-3 at Iloilo City, Iloilo
May 11-12 at Cebu City, Cebu

Mindanao Regional Final Qualifiers (Regional Finals is at Davao on May 18-19)

April 13-14 at Tubod, Lanao del Norte
May 8-9 at Davao City, Davao del Sur

May 11-12 at Koronadal, South Cotabato

Teams can participate in 14-under (born 2005) or 16-under categories (born on or after September 1, 2002), with each category having boys and girls divisions.

Interested participants can send their completed application form, team registration form, waivers, and supporting documents to futsalinvitational@gmail.com. For further inquiries, one can contact Jesus Montealto at 09950083924.

Aside from team competition aspect, the ANYFI also is looking for outstanding individual players that would be invited to the Allianz Explorer Camp, which is one of the most successful international youth football camps in the world. A select group will take part in the continental camp in Singapore with the opportunity to participate in the main camp in Munich.


Last year's ANYFI eventually yielded a select number of standouts that managed to participate in the Allianz Explorer Camp in Germany, with Juan Miguel Basmayor and Catherine Angelica Bradborn in particular securing medals. In addition, Ivy Tapiz also made the trip to Germany as one of the campers.