28/04/2025
Breaking Barriers: Sikat Alab Football All Girls Team on Struggles of Boosting Girls’ Grassroots Football in Davao South
Right in the heart of South Mindanao where sports have been a popular scenery is where the young girls of Davao who dream of playing football face an uphill battle in the male-dominated field. Despite the current success of the Philippines in qualifying for the Women’s World Cup and the rising popularity of the said sports in media and digital platforms, the luxury of resources, facilities, information, infrastructure, and sports education hinder the young girls' commitment to what they always say, “the beautiful game.”
Sikat Alab Football Team - Recreational comprises an all girl players from ages 7 to 30 that aims to empower girls from the south of Davao region in creating a journey in football and explore potentials from their grassroots and youth programs. As for now, they are the only all girls football team in Davao Region. Its goal is to embark into training quality players across the city and building a strong foundation of football in women.
Most youth programs in the southern part of Davao City focus on mixed-gender or male-dominated. This has come to the attention of Jan Responso, father of two football players, Verra and Jared. He enumerated that the limited access to football programs for girls, few tournaments or leagues for grassroots women, and lack of promotion for women’s football compared to men’s division contributes to the degradation of women’s football in the city.
One of the parents of the Sikat Alab Football Team (SAFT) encountered similar experiences. Elena Evangelista, mother of Kassey, a nine-year-old player on the team, said that the shortage of football pitches in school, financial issues, beauty standards, and lack of promotion and influence are the main reasons why other parents do not prefer football for their daughters.
Upon these issues arising from parents of girls playing football, Jessie Gravino, the Executive Secretary of Davao South Regional Football Association and also the head coach of SAFT insisted that the unavailability of sports facilities and the personal preferences of each individual are the issues why there are only a few women in football communities in Davao City despite of numerous programs and sports clinics simultaneously happening in the city.
“DSRFA and Davao City offer numerous avenues for young girls to engage in football.There are Barangay-Level Clinics, CSDD conducts year-round sports clinics across various barangays, making training accessible to girls from all backgrounds. These clinics are led by experienced coaches and athletes, ensuring quality instruction. Schools like Ateneo De Davao University and Rizal Memorial College actively participate in tournaments like the Acosta Cup, encouraging female students to engage in competitive football. Local clubs such as Sikat Alab Football Team and CR7 FoodTruck Football Club provide structured training programs and participate in local leagues, offering girls regular competitive play and skill development. Through programs like Aktibo Dabawenyo, talented young athletes are identified and provided with scholarships and further training opportunities, paving the way for potential national representation,” Gravino stated.
He added,“DSRFA’s commitment to fostering women’s football is evident through various initiatives like the Acosta Cup has evolved from a simple football clinic into a premier women’s tournament. It provides a platform for female athletes to showcase their talents and fosters community camaraderie. The tournament has been instrumental in empowering women and promoting their participation in sports. The Aktibo Dabawenyo Program spearheaded by the City Sports Development Division (CSDD), this program offers free sports clinics, including football, targeting underprivileged youth at the barangay level. It aims to identify and nurture young talents, providing them with opportunities to excel in sports. The Girls Football Development Project, in collaboration with the New Zealand Embassy, UP Mindanao, and local NGOs, focuses on empowering young girls through football. It includes festivals and sports psychology sessions, emphasizing holistic development.”
“These initiatives reflect our unwavering dedication to nurturing female football talent in Davao City. By providing accessible training, competitive platforms, and holistic development programs, we aim to empower young girls to pursue their passion for football and achieve excellence both on and off the field,” Gravino highlighted.
At the present times, the football fields are shared amongst all the players regardless of gender preferences. The hopes for more developments for sports venues, campaigns, building of fields whether turf or natural grass in Davao City is more than an advocacy but a strong desire to reintroduce football to grassroots girls and women. Not only for the equality of rights among all genders in Davao City but also improving the vision of women in industries, including sports like football. (Jessa Sumagaysay)
