FOOTBALL and batted ball skirmishes will never be banned at the Melvin Jones football grounds.
This was assured by Mayor Mauricio Domogan during his weekly Ugnayang Panlungsod on Tuesday after a group of football players were barred by alleged city hall employee from practicing.
Domogan assured to athletes the Melvin Jones will remain as venue for sports training particularly for local football and batted ball athletes as no orders have emanated from his office barring the use of the area for practices.
But despite the assurance, football groups in the city has shied away from using Melvin Jones and instead transferred to the newly renovated Baguio Athletic Bowl.
“Dito na lang kame magpractice. Kahit na magtangal kami ng damo basta walang magbabawal sa amin,” said the football coach.
The football coach added it was not the first time they were shooed away by the same city hall employee.
But despite the setback and lack of a decent pitch, football continues its rise in the city following the recruitment of two local players to the national U-15 and U-16 squad.
Just recently Courage Nissi Dumpayan of the Baguio City High School and Junuel Fianza of the Benguet State University represented the country and won a bronze medal in the 2016 Borneo Football Cup held at the Likas Stadium in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia.
“Me and my fellow Cordilleran are very grateful to be part of this victory. It was a wonderful experience,” Dumpayan said told Sun.Star Baguio in an earlier interview.
Former City High goalie Nelson Gasic is also making waves in the professional ranks who plays for the JP Voltes V was at one time named as goalie of the week earlier this year.
From a little known baseball pitcher back in his younger days, Gasic was lured to playing football after seeing regular practices of City High’s football team.
“Nung nakita niya kaming nag-eenjoy sa football, parang naenganyo and then dirediretso na hangang sa ilipat namin dito sa City High from Guisad Valley National High School,” relates former coach Aries Bocalan.
Also recruited to play in the national squad is 16-U squad is Kara Alinsug who played in the AFC U16 Women’s Championship 2017 Qualifiers – Group B from August 28 to September 05 in Weifang, China.
