Filipino teen football coach Marian Crisley A. Yman has won the 2020 Courageous Use of Sports Award in the Beyond Sport Global Awards.
The 18-year-old aspiring cardiologist and community coach of non-profit group FundLife International and Girls Got This program, has been hailed as one of five role models in the world who are using sport in taking a stand against inequality and injustice at such a young age, announced in a video presentation on November 30, 2020.
The global sports organization Beyond Sport in partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), chose the exceptional young leaders who use sports like rugby, basketball, soccer, and more to empower and break racial barriers in their respective countries. Yman is joined by Courageous winners from Australia, Iraq, Kenya, and Brazil.
The Filipino awardee, who started football coaching at the age of 17, also educates young girls on their rights as young Filipino women.
The inspiring young leader had her fair share of struggles after a traumatic experience on Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in 2013, but Yman didn’t let her advocacy and passion for teaching affect her.
“With this award I will be able to inspire more girls to continue educating themselves in order to find real opportunities later in life which helps them lift out of poverty (and a lot of other problems). I want girls to become more empowered, because just like boys, us girls need to be independent and strong to take on whatever problems we will face in life. I am a strong advocate for self love and self belief and have been discouraging thoughts of helplessness,” said Yman on her pre-nomination thoughts to Beyond Sport.
In the article published on December 4, Beyond Sport shared a glimpse of the Filipino awardee’s empowering actions that reads:
“After being severely impacted by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and having to separate from her parents, Yman was left with traumatic memories which she still works to overcome…”
“Yman first discovered her love for football after watching the Fundlife coaches in action, seeing them not only coaching players but also teaching them life skills that will stay with the young people for the rest of their lives. Yman has helped coach girls, not just in football but as a teacher, educating them about their rights as young women in the Philippines…”
“During the COVID-19 lockdown, Yman has been creating stay-at-home session videos, assisting with feeding programmes and organising girls empowerment classes where she mentors younger women.”
WWE is proud to provide funding to each winner and to team up with Beyond Sport in amplifying their exceptional work.
More award-winning Filipino teen athletes who have been recognized internationally include 19-year-old Raphael Trinidad, the first Filipino ranked World No. 2 in Cable Wakeboarding, and 15-year-old Alexandra Eala who climbed to World No. 2 Tennis Juniors rank after her historic French Open run.
WATCH the 2020 Courageous Use of Sports Awardees here and SEND CHEERS in the comments below to Marian Crisley A. Yman for winning in the Beyond Sport Global Awards.
Want to know how to be a Proud Pinoy? Like, Follow, Subscribe to GoodNewsPilipinas.com, and our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Good News Pilipinas! TV on YouTube, for new good story notifications and e-mail newsletters for updates on more Filipino Pride stories
