Ilocos Football Association (IFA) Website

by Fel Gorospe

IFA has been busy since the day of its creation.  We have gone a long way. Continue to support us and the game of football.  Get all the IFA news at our official website.

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The Genesis of IFA
(As published in the IFA website)

Nearly three (3) years ago, in 2009, one man saw the vast potential of football in the Philippines and decided to do something about it. This potential is multifaceted in nature and encompasses athleticism, ethnocentric competitiveness and global tourism. This man assured a positive impact of football here in the Philippines. With such vision, commitment and passion, this man, Chairman Emeritus Mr. Felicisimo P. Gorospe of VGent Group of Companies, began football initiatives throughout the country especially in the Ilocos Sur region, and the rest as they say is history.

Futbol Revolution was conceived January 2010 by ProTrade Consultancy Services, Inc., the newest member of VGent Group of Companies. On February 2010, VGent Foundation, Inc. (VFI) started scouting for schools with strong sports program in football.

In June 2010, the VGent Group of Companies continued it’s commitment by strengthening Futbol Revolution in the country and showcased it in the global football arena. With this in mind, VGent Group made it possible for the Philippines to be represented in Fragaria Cup 2010 in Slovak Republic, for the first time in cooperation with Don Bosco Philippines Football Team. Fragaria Cup is arguably one that can be considered as the youth equivalent of World Cup with over 200 teams participating from various parts of Europe for various ages and categories, specifically 10 years old below (U10 category).

Organized by ProTrade Consultancy Services Inc., the selection process was held by Gasmonta, S.R.O. (a Slovak partner of VGent Group of Companies) and Don Bosco Philippines on April 26-30, 2010. Twenty (20) out of one hundred (100) football soccer players who participated in the selection event were handpicked to be part of Don Bosco – Gasmonta Football Team (VGent Football Team). Two (2) football coaches from Slovak Republic through the coordination of Gasmonta, S.R.O. headed by their CEO, Mr. Joseph Plancar assisted in the knowledge transfer as well as training drills and exercises to provide tips and pointers for the young Philippine athletes.

Ten (10) players were confidently selected based on their performance and was finalized by their Slovak coaches Mr. Josef Dudic and Mr. Ladislav Dvorscak. As a preparation for their first international exposure, the 10 selected players underwent 2 months training under the guidance of two (2) veteran Don Bosco coaches.

On July 03-07, 2010 in Presov, Slovak Republic, Fragaria Cup transpired. It was heavily supported by the VGent Group of Companies through its subsidiaries such as Vgent Europe, s.r.o, ProTrade Consultabcy Services, Inc., Trademakers Business Solutions, Inc., and Phil-Slovakia Tours, Inc. together with partners Gasmonta, s.r.o. and Don Bosco Makati, the Philippines was able to play a part and get into action.

Nearly a month later, on August 7, 2010, Mr. Felicisimo Gorospe decided to celebrate his birthday in a form of giving. For him, this selfless, noble and socially-valued cause would mean him having generativity over the youth and his fellow townsmen in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur. Through VGent Europe, S.R.O. and ProTrade consultancy Services, Inc. a sports outreach in the form of a football clinic was organized to athletically inspire the youth of Magsingal. To make it more sportive, VGent Foundation Inc. held an inauguration ceremony of the future VGent football field subsequently with the football clinic. All of these were undertaken to further set in motion football across the nation and suit the needs of the planned VGent football association and academy as it takes on enlivening sports literacy and uplifting the lives of the next generation.

VGent’s commitment of football revolution and transformation, part of the process was to formalize what was envisioned. Through VGent Foundation, Inc., Football Academy of the North (FAN) and Ilocos Youth Football Association (IYFA) were constituted and are based in Ilocos Sur. VGent can finally say, “The Philippine nation is becoming a football nation.”

And on March 12, 2011, the launching of the Ilocos Youth Football Association (IYFA) and Football Academy of the North (FAN) in the newly inaugurated IYFA Football Field in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur was unstoppable. Newly elected Congressman of 1st District of Ilocos Sur and former Vice Mayor of Vigan City, Ryan Luis V. Singson graced with his presence and even inducted the officers of both FAN and IYFA.

Futbol Academy of the North (FAN) officers includes Chairman Mr. Angel R. Tovera, President Mrs. Zosima G. Friala, Vice President Mrs. Myrna C. Manzano, Secretary Mrs. Eva P. Tadique and Treasurer Mr. Gilbert G. Preza. Furthermore, Ilocos Youth Football Association (IYFA) officers include President Mr. Edgar Robert O. De Jesus, Vice President Dr. Antonio P. Agustin, Secretary Mr. Glenn P. Taneza, Treasurer Mrs. Angelina G. Barroga and Auditor Mr. Mario U. Gorospe.
The efforts of IYFA and FAN are concentrated and focused on investing in the youth being the future generation. With a lot of football clinics systematized the making of the football nation can be materialized by making excellent and competitive football players for the future.

On March 25-27, 2011, to bestow more pinnacle of football empowerment, the 1st Ilocos Youth Football Association (IYFA) Seminar for Coaches and Referees were held at the IYFA Football Field in Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur.

The seminar was participated by coaches, referees and instructors from Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan Region. Mr. Fernando Flores, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) representative and Department of Education (DepEd) tournament director, together with Mr. Edgar Robert de Jesus, IYFA president and accredited Asian Football Confederation Licensed B coach, served as resource persons.

IFA held its 1st much anticipated Football Festival on May 6-8 at IFA Football Field, Brgy. Miramar, Magsingal, Ilocos Sur as a validation to the commitment of promoting football awareness and enriching competitiveness to the northern region of the Philippines. 150 players of 27 teams from different location across Luzon vied for gold and showcased their athletic prowess in the 3-day festival.
In July 2011, the name of Ilocos Youth Football Association was amended and changed to Ilocos Football Assn or IFA as it edifies not just the youth but the whole nation as well.

Moreover, our country participated in the 10th internationally-acclaimed youth football tournament Fragaria Cup 2011, from July 3-7, 2011 in Presov, Slovakia through the collaboration efforts of Ilocos Football Association (IFA) and Futbol Academy of the North (FAN). The football players of Magsingal were able to put into test the results of active training and hard work in U13 category for boys and A15 for girls.

Today, Ilocos Football Association (IFA) continues to strive to produce world class football players from the grassroots level up, to help the Philippines and specifically, the Ilocos Youth, to be aware, appreciate and master their football potential.