Before the goals, before the trophies, before the noise of competition — there is courage. Courage to try. Courage to fail. Courage to keep showing up. In Taguig City, that courage is being quietly nurtured on the training ground of Valiants Football Academy, where young players are taught that who they become matters just as much as how they play.
Established in 2023, the academy was born not from ambition alone, but from belief — a belief that football is one of the most powerful classrooms a child can ever enter.
A Vision Rooted in Purpose
At the heart of Valiants Football Academy is its founder and head coach, Chols Villarino, an AFC A License–certified coach whose journey in football runs deep. For Coach Chols, the game was never just about tactics or trophies. Football became his teacher, instilling discipline, resilience, humility, and courage. Those same lessons now form the backbone of the academy he built for the youth of Taguig and beyond.
Valiants was created to answer a simple but powerful question: What if football could be a safe place where children learn how to become strong, respectful, and confident human beings?
From that question, a community-driven academy was born.
What It Means to Be “Valiant”
The word Valiant speaks of bravery in the face of challenge. It speaks of choosing effort over fear, discipline over excuses, and teamwork over ego. Inside Valiants Football Academy, these values are not written on banners alone, they are lived in every drill, every huddle, every match.
Players are taught that skill makes you noticed, but character makes you respected. Win or lose, the expectation remains the same: show courage, show discipline, and honor the game.
Growing Skills, Building Character
Valiants Football Academy currently trains boys and girls aged 7–10 and 11–13, meeting three times a week at The Palms Arena Football Field in Circulo Verde. Each session is carefully designed, not rushed, not random — but intentional.
Under the guiding philosophy of “play with discipline,” training balances fun and structure. Young players are encouraged to express themselves, but always within a framework of responsibility and teamwork. The goal is not to rush success, but to build strong foundations, technically, mentally, and emotionally.
Positive reinforcement is central. Mistakes are not punished; they are studied. Confidence is not demanded; it is patiently built.
Leadership That Leads by Example
Coach Chols personally oversees the academy’s football direction, ensuring that every session aligns with long-term player development principles. His AFC A License is more than a credential — it represents a commitment to standards, continuous learning, and doing right by every child entrusted to the program.
In a grassroots landscape where quality coaching access can be uneven, Valiants stands firm in its belief that Filipino children deserve proper guidance from day one.
Beyond the Pitch: Football for the Community
Valiants Football Academy extends its impact beyond regular training. Through school-based outreach programs, the academy introduces football to children who may otherwise never step onto a proper pitch. These initiatives are about access, inclusion, and opportunity, opening doors for kids from different backgrounds and skill levels.
Football becomes the bridge: a way to teach discipline, teamwork, confidence, and respect while strengthening community bonds.
Learning to Compete, Learning to Believe
To give players real-game experience, Valiants actively participates in local tournaments such as Bata Liga 2025, Legacy Cup 2025, and Torneo Navideño 2025. These competitions are not treated as pressure-filled tests, but as classrooms — places where training meets reality.
Here, players learn how to win with humility, lose with dignity, and grow through every challenge they face.
Built by Families, Sustained by Trust
Like many grassroots academies in the Philippines, Valiants is largely supported by committed parents who believe in the program’s values. Their support keeps the lights on, the sessions running, and the dreams alive. A portion of these resources is also directed toward helping community children — ensuring that football remains inclusive, not exclusive.
This shared effort has created a culture that feels less like a club and more like a family.
The Road Ahead
Valiants Football Academy is honest about its challenges, limited funding, access to higher-level tournaments, and the constant need for better facilities and equipment. But challenges are not roadblocks here; they are reminders of why the work matters.
In the next three years, the academy aims to expand its grassroots reach, elevate coaching standards, improve facilities, deepen community engagement, and build clearer development pathways for talented players. The long-term vision is clear: a sustainable, respected academy that produces not just footballers, but leaders.
“Valiants, Be Brave”
The academy’s motto is short, but its meaning runs deep. “Valiants, Be brave!” is a call to every child stepping onto the pitch, to try, to fail, to rise, and to believe.
For the young Filipino footballer dreaming quietly in the corner of a field, Valiants sends a simple message: play with heart, learn with humility, and never be afraid to chase growth.
OneFutbol Salute
OneFutbol proudly salutes Valiants Football Academy for standing firm in its mission to grow the game the right way, through courage, discipline, and community. In a football nation still finding its footing, academies like Valiants are the pillars quietly holding the future together.
They remind us that football’s true power is not measured in trophies, but in the lives it shapes.
Be Part of the Journey
Valiants Football Academy welcomes players, parents, partners, and supporters who believe in football as a force for good.
Interested in joining, supporting, or sponsoring the program?
Want updates on training, matches, and community initiatives?
Follow Valiants Football Academy’s official page for the latest news and announcements, or get in touch directly:
📞 0960 210 4337
📧 valiantsfa@gmail.com
