THE High5 Futsal Men’s and Women’s Leagues will continue their mission to discover and develop new talents who could someday represent the country in major international competitions.

High5 chief organizer Daniel Moran assured futsal fans that they remain committed to serve as the premier platform for those who aspire to improve their skills by playing against the best futsal players in the country.

“The High Five is actually the highest level of futsal competition in the country today. If we trace back a little bit, the Moran Foundation has been involved in futsal development throughout the country for the last 10 years,” said Moran in a press conference at the Amici Italian Restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan last Wednesday.

“When we started 10 years ago, we started with only 11 public schools. By the second year, we had 60. By the third year, we had thirty public schools from elementary and high school participating in a tournament called League Escuela for futsal development for kids,” Moran shared.

“And that went on for about five to six years. And the last couple of years, we’ve already expanded this League Eskwela nationwide,” added Moran, also the chairman of the Henry V. Moran Foundation.

“And so four years ago, we felt that we wanted to increase the level of competition of futsal in the country.”

Moran emphasized that, given the success of the High5 Leagues in advancing the country’s futsal program, they are seriously considering expanding to major cities such as Cebu City, Pangasinan, Cagayan de Oro City, and Davao City, with the competition culminating in a grand championship in Metro Manila.

“The development of the best players in the country has to start from the ground up,” said Moran.

“We have noticed that all of our best players came from underprivileged families while some were from various provinces. We will serve as their base where they will grow and get all the opportunities in life through futsal.” added Moran.

Aside from Moran, also present during the press briefing were Dutch coach Vic Hermans, who serves as Director for Sports of the Henry V. Moran Foundation, as well as key players Demely Rollon, Agot Danton, Isabella Bandoja, Jada Bicierro, Lanie Ortillo, Mykaella Abeto and Kaycee Nañola.

Tuloy FC, a club composed of less-fortunate players, has dominated the women’s division after winning the titles in the first three editions while Gawad Kalinga FC ruled the men’s side in the previous staging of the High5 Leagues last year.

Now, the Pinay5 has been dominating the early stretch of the women’s division that started last February 22 with three of its players making it to the pre-selected national squad that will compete when the country hosts the 2025 FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup this November.

“Everybody in this tournament wants to win,” the 71-year-old Hermans, a well-respected figure in international futsal, said, adding that the powerhouse Pinay5 is determined to go all the way and win the title.

“This team is formed after December and we know that all their players are of international-caliber.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya