Philippine Homeless World Cup Team bound for Paris, France with coach Rudy Del Rosario (Photo by PINGGOT ZULUETA)

MANILA, Philippines -- Football has been known to be a universal sport that unites nations. This time though, aside from gathering thousands of screaming fans and chasing for glory, football is being used to rally people to battle a common adversary, homelessness.

Since 2003, the Homeless World Cup has invited nations to participate in a street soccer tournament which aims to answer the worldwide problem of homelessness. Our country shares the same ideals and has been sending contingents to the tourney since 2008 through the efforts of Urban Opportunities for Change Foundation, an organization dedicated towards providing solutions for urban poverty.

This year is no different as the foundation gathers supporters like Cortal SQR, to continue the program’s success of developing young football talents, providing opportunities to the less privileged and representing the country’s colors with pride.

Last year’s team took home the Host Cup from the tournament held in Rio de Janeiro and plans to do better with a different set of players in Paris later this month. With new players come new stories of struggle. But their goal remains the same; improve themselves and bring honor to the country. “Their situation is not a hindrance for them to represent the country and become successful,” team coach Rudy Del Rosario shares.

Janrick Soriano

Position: Team Co-Captain

A native of Talisay, Negros Occidental, 22-year-old Janrick Soriano is arguably the most experienced player in the team. Janrick started playing football at a tender age of three years old under the watchful eye of his father Janelo, who also happens to be the coach of the Minuluan-Talisay Football Club.

Along with his two older brothers, Janrick used their talents in football to make their way through school. Janrick, however, took a break from his Criminology studies to provide for his family by doing tricycle rounds. Janrick’s talents did not go unnoticed as he had recent stints in the Union Football League as well as the Suzuki Cup Under-23 tourney as a defender for the Ceres-Negros Squad.

As the skipper for this year’s Homeless World Cup Team, Janrick shares that it will be crucial for him to listen to the coach and communicate with his teammates in order to do well in the tournament. He also believes that if they do their best in their games, the team will surely be successful in representing the country.

Jeffrey De Castro

Position: All-around

Jeffrey owes his success to the pastors Matthew and John Amargo who encouraged him to play football when he was younger. In the beginning, his primary reaosn in playing the game was to while away his time.  Eventually, the game became his passion.

“I would never forget how pastors Matthew and John patiently taught us how to play football,” the 23-year-old Cainta-native said in Filipino.

Jeffrey's luck has now turned after being included in the team which according to him, has taught him a lot such as discipline, the value of time, even doing his own laundry.

John Celiz

Position: Striker 

John is the first man from Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo City to join the Homeless World Cup Philippine Team.  Quite ironic for a town known to be the country's football capital.

He fell in love with the game in 2004 and this ignited his passion to join different football leagues.   One of them was Palarong Pambansa in 2009. Within the same year, a rigorous try out with Coach Rudy was held and as fate would have it, John got in.

"Football is already part of my life.  It honed my skills, disciplined me, and nurtured me. It proves that even a vagrant kid can reach for his or her dreams just like what I did,” he said in Filipino.

Ricardo Padilla

Position: Goalkeeper/All-around

This 23-year-old Pangasinense was once a street urchin with no permanent place to stay. However, poverty did not deter him to pursuing his dreams of becoming a professional football player. He grew up playing street soccer.

Armed only with strong will and determination, he went to Manila and stayed a couple of weeks in his cousin’s place to join different amateur football games. His talent was recognized by Coach Rudy, who drafted him to become a member of Philippine Team to the Homeless World Cup during the try out. He said football has already his passion since he was a kid, so he expressed optimism that this is just another stepping-stone for a bigger career in his life.

Aljhonn Loui Matulac

Position: All-around

Aljohnn is one of the two youngest players who joined the Philippine Team to the Homeless World Cup at the age of 18. He was picked by Coach Rudy during the try out held in Iloilo City because of his speed and dedication.

He said that football is one of the popular games in his hometown where he already played in different amateur football leagues. “Since I was a kid, football has been our favorite past time in our province,” he said in Filipino.

However, Aljhonn's childhood was not that innocent.  Looking for means to earn money, Aljhonn went as far as peddling illegal substances just to scrape out a living.  Despite storms of his life in the streets, Aljhonn never lost hope and continued the fight.

Young and talented as he is, Aljhonn now has a perfect opportunity to reach his goal and become a professional football player.

Micheal Rojo

Position: Goalkeeper

Also part of the football club where team captain Janrick Soriano is part of, Michael started paying football at the age of 12 in his hometown of Talisay, Negros Occidental. Having a football field just a stone's throw away from where he lived, it was natural for Michael to grow attached to the sport. That and not being vertically gifted to excel in basketball gave him the reason to focus his talents on football, which he continued to play competitively up to the collegiate level.

However, due to financial problems, Michael was forced to drop out of school and make a living. He then frequented billiard halls to offer help as a table setter and also made some extra cash hustling unsuspecting pool players.

When friends Michael Quinlat and Tonie Mark Arinal, fresh from the Homeless World Cup victory in Rio de Janeiro, informed him that the team was recruiting players for the next tournament. Michael jumped at the opportunity and tried out. Now that he’s part of the team, the 26-year-old is hopeful that success will be waiting for them in Paris.

Jeffrey Guelas

Position: Team Co-Captain

Jeffrey used to play football at 14. Together with his friends, they would play beside the Manila Zoo Park which for years, became their makeshift soccer field sans the goal posts. However, these same friends led Jeffrey to play a part in "gang wars" on the street.  Thanks to an amateur footbal tournament organized by former Manila mayor Lito Atienza, things changed for him.From then on, he never looked back.

"My life changed.  Everything changed!," the 23-year old said.

Bert Anthony Sienes 

Position: Goalkeeper

If a hard life is prerequisite to joining the team, then 18-year-old Bert Anthony Sienes is more than qualified. Bert was brought to Manila by her mother from his hometown of Bayawan, Negros Oriental. In Manila, Bert ran away from home eight years ago when he felt he was being mistreated.

Since then, Bert has been in and out of Manila Boystown getting rounded up by social welfare volunteers from the streets every time he escaped the facility. However, it was inside the Boystown complex where Bert learned how to play football. And when Coach Del Rosario went looking for players to be part of the Homeless World Cup Team, Bert tried out and was fortunate enough to earn a spot in the final line-up.

Bert’s stint not only gave him an opportunity to represent the country, it also reconnected his family as it paved the way for them to finally reunite after eight long years. The experience has not only touched the young booter, it also gave him the inspiration to give his best for the coming tournament.