Darlene Regis
In pursuit of developing the skills of the Filipino youth in Sepak Takraw (kick volleyball) sports, the Filipino Expatriates Sepak Takraw Association (FESTA) Qatar, donated 100 Sepak Takraw balls to 30 public schools and clubs across the Philippines.
The donation drive is also FESTA-Qatar’s way to celebrate and give thanks to the Sepak Takraw National Team that bagged two bronze medals in the recently held Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
To date, Team PH gathered four gold, two silver and 12 bronze medals.
“We will continue to reach out to schools without Sepak Takraw equipment, and those facing lack of funds and financial support to purchase the needed tools for this sport,” said FESTA-Qatar President Janno Rhey Soriano. Soriano has faith that the Philippine Sepak Takraw national team has the potential to take the gold medal in the next Asian games. “Our goal is to help them start playing on it and to achieve their dreams,” he added.
The initiative commenced in September and concluded this month. Among the beneficiary schools and clubs include Negros Occidental, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Zambales, Sorsogon, Bulacan, Negros Oriental, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Cebu, Bohol, and Davao.
Since its inception in 2014, FESTA-Qatar has been using sports as a platform to reach out to more Filipinos by extending support to partner communities in the Philippines by holding various initiatives.
“Here in Qatar, our goal is to teach Qatari local residents to play the Sepak Takraw sport as it has similarities to their favorite sport, which is football,” he disclosed.
