PALARONG Pambansa standout Konrad Soilurin is going places.
He is among five kids who have been chosen to train and possibly attend the 9th edition of the Allianz Junior Football Camp (AJFC) in Munich, Germany.
The opportunity for the 14-year-old Soilurin came his way after Iloilo, representing Region VI, took the silver medal in the elementary boys division of the 2016 Palarong Pambansa in Legazpi City Albay.
“Excited po ako, masaya at kabado kasi hindi ko alam kung sino ang makakalaban ko, sino makakasama ko duon,” said Soilurin, who earned the best defender honors at that time.
Soilurin, whose dad is a mechanical engineer and whose mom is a retired teacher, will be joined by FC Malaya’s JM Mitra, Tuloy sa Don Bosco’s Michael Antillo and Archie Dela Cruz and Cordillera Goshen Land’s Aeron Tenollo.
These talented kids, who are between the ages 14-16 are part of the initial stage of the selection process from seven countries in Asia.
They will first go to Bali, Indonesia for the final camp, which will be held between July 31 and Aug. 4.
Then, they will train with youth coaches of longtime Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich.
From the Bali camp, two of them will be chosen to represent the Philippines to the AJFC to be held in Munich, Germany also in August.
“This is a historic event. This is the first time that the Philippines will be represented in the AJFC. First time ito na ito na meron tayong contingent,” said Gay Martinez, Allianz chief market management officer.
The camp involves a four-day football training program on fitness workshops, footwork techniques and tactical skills by trainers from FC Bayern Munich.
They will have an exclusive opportunity to train with Bayern Munich youth coach Maximilian Knauer and Giovane Elber.
Their coach Jess Landagan said it is a privilege to work with kids, and after having helped underprivileged teens learn football as an advocacy.
“Ito ang tamang pagtuturo sa mga bata. Iyung mga batang dapat tulungan at mabigyan ng libreng training,” said Landagan.
The program was started in 2009 by German insurance company Allianz in partnership with the Die Roten as part of their advocacy for youth development.
The program in Asia is led by Giovane Elber, who has scored close to 100 goals for Bayern during his six-year stint with them.
He will hold special coaching clinics during the camp.