How a grassroots club in Gingoog City is shaping generations and redefining the true purpose of Philippine football.
As the New Year dawns, Filipino football once again looks to its roots, not to stadium lights or scorelines, but to the quiet places where futures are shaped. In Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, one such place has been doing this work faithfully for nearly twenty years. It is not famous for glamour. It is known for something far more powerful: impact.
Youngsters United Football Club is not simply a team. It is a promise kept, year after year, to the youth of its community.
Founded in 2006 by Rubio S. Lopez and Jerome N. Dela Peña, the club emerged at a time when talent was abundant, but guidance was scarce. Young players had fire in their feet and dreams in their eyes, yet lacked direction, structure, and belief. The founders saw football not as an escape, but as a compass — something that could point young lives toward discipline, confidence, and purpose.
Nearly two decades later, that vision stands tall.
A Name Born from Youth, Carried by Generations
The name Youngsters United did not come from a branding exercise or a marketing boardroom. It came from lived experience. The founders and early coaches were young themselves—brimming with ideas, unsure of the road ahead, but certain of one thing: they were stronger together.
“Youngsters United” captured that truth perfectly.
What began as a reflection of age soon evolved into a philosophy. Over time, younger players looked up to the club not just as a team, but as a standard — something to aspire to, something to belong to. The name became a banner passed from generation to generation, each group adding its own chapter to the story.
Where Competition Builds Character
From its earliest days, Youngsters United Football Club stepped into competition not to chase medals, but to shape mentality. Every match became a classroom. Every loss, a lesson. Every win, a reminder to stay humble.
Participation in local and regional tournaments hardened the club’s identity — teaching players how to fight with dignity, lose with grace, and win with responsibility. This culture allowed the club to grow sustainably, expanding into U13, U16, U17, as well as Men’s Open and Women’s Open teams.
Longevity in grassroots football is rare. Youngsters United achieved it by evolving—without ever forgetting why it started.
Training with Intention, Coaching with Heart
Five days a week, the rhythm of training beats steadily — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. But what happens on the pitch goes far beyond drills and formations.
Under the guidance of Banjo T. Clemena, AFC C Licensed Coach, General Secretary, and Head Coach, Youngsters United embraces player-centered development. The philosophy is simple, yet demanding: develop footballers by developing people.
Technical sharpness, tactical intelligence, and physical conditioning are paired with confidence-building, decision-making, teamwork, and respect. Coaches are mentors. Training grounds are safe spaces. Mistakes are allowed — because growth requires courage.
Here, players are taught not just how to play, but why values matter.
Football for All, Not Just a Few
True grassroots football leaves no one behind.
Youngsters United actively champions inclusivity through Girls’ and Women’s Football, Futsal, school-based outreach, and special needs inclusion programs. The club believes football belongs to everyone — regardless of gender, background, or ability.
Free clinics and outreach programs bring the game to schools and barangays, breaking down barriers of cost and access. Adjusted training methods, patient coaching, and a culture of respect ensure that every participant feels seen, safe, and valued.
In a country where opportunity is often uneven, Youngsters United chooses fairness — every single time.
Competing with Pride, Progressing with Purpose
Representing Gingoog City in tournaments such as the Del Monte Cup, Rosevale Cup, Batang Pinoy, and the Kadayawan Festival, Youngsters United has consistently stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the best.
Championships followed — City Meets, local leagues, invitational titles — but trophies were never the end goal.
The real victories came when players advanced to PFF pathways, professional clubs, and national representation. These milestones prove what grassroots football can achieve when done with patience, structure, and heart.
A Community That Lifts Its Own
Behind every training session is a village that believes.
Parents offer unwavering support. Schools collaborate in balancing academics and sport. Community partners help create stability. Together, they form the unseen backbone of the club.
One moment captures this spirit forever: a shy young player, often quiet and overlooked, scored his first goal in a community tournament. His teammates rushed to him, lifting him into celebration as the crowd erupted. Later, he said it was the first time he truly felt he belonged.
That is the real scoreline.
The Road Ahead
In the next three years, Youngsters United aims to elevate further — better facilities, expanded programs, clearer pathways, stronger competitive performance. The challenges are real: funding, equipment, volunteer sustainability, and infrastructure.
But so is the resolve.
With continued support from partners, schools, local organizations, and football stakeholders, the club remains steadfast. Because its foundation was never built on convenience — it was built on conviction.
More Than a Club, A Life Lesson
Youngsters United is family-oriented, supportive, and purpose-driven. Excellence is encouraged, but never at the expense of joy. Discipline is demanded, but always with compassion.
Their guiding belief says it all:
“Play with Heart, Grow as One.”
To every young footballer starting the year with a dream: stay committed. Embrace the grind. Learn from every step. And never forget — your journey matters.
At Youngsters United Football Club, football is not just played.
It is lived.
OneFutbol Salute
OneFutbol proudly salutes Youngsters United Football Club for nearly two decades of unwavering service to grassroots football and youth development in Gingoog City and beyond.
Your commitment to inclusive programs, values-driven coaching, and community unity proves that football can change lives — one player, one family, one generation at a time. You are not only building footballers; you are shaping confident, disciplined, and responsible individuals.
We stand with you. We celebrate your journey. And we believe in your future.
Call to Action: Be Part of the Journey
Whether you are:
- A young player seeking growth
- A parent looking for a positive environment
- A supporter who believes in grassroots football
Youngsters United Football Club welcomes you.
📩 To join, collaborate, or support the club:
📧 banjo.tclemena@gmail.com
This New Year, let us all rally behind clubs like Youngsters United — because the future of Philippine football is being built right here, from the ground up.
