PHILIPPINE Men’s Football Team – Azkals co-captain Emilio "Chieffy" Caligdong told the 206 participating teams and hundreds of Negrenses who witnessed the opening of the Mayor Doc Eric 7-A-Side Football Festival last Saturday that height doesn’t matter in football.The 5’ 5” Ilonggo booter said that in football, height won’t affect one’s performance provided he has the will to excel. “You’ve seen me played. I’m short but I played hard to help the team wins. Look at Argentinean football icon Diego Maradona, he’s short like me but he carried his team to several World Cup appearances.”
“The importance is hard-work and perseverance that will help us in attaining our goals as football players. Aside from dedication, we must also be disciplined to succeed,” he said.
He likewise expressed his appreciation to the City Government of Talisay, headed by Mayor Eric Saratan for inviting him in to the opening of the football festival.
“I was amazed with the number of participants. This showed how Filipinos got their hearts into this game,” he stressed.
He also thanked the Negrenses for their overwhelming support to the Azkals, stressing that they will continue to do their best to make the country proud of the national team.
Two hundred-six teams from the cities of Dumaguete, Cebu, Iloilo and province of Negros Occidental are competing for the 8-category event simultaneously played at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College and Talisay City football pitch.
On the other hand, Mayor Saratan said that having this annual event is part of his commitment to football as he believed that this is the sports for Filipinos.
The event also coincided with the city’s celebration of its annual fiesta in honor of Saint Nicholas de Tolentino.
Games will resume on Saturday, September 10. (JSG)
Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on September 06, 2011.
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