OLE, OLE, OLE! Azkals striker Ian Araneta (23) and co-captain Emilio �Chieffy� Caligdong (13) lead the national football team play against Central Philippine University mostly composed of South Koreans in an exhibition match at Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo Tuesday. The practice game for the World Cup qualifiers ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by Tara Yap)
By Tara Yap
BAROTAC NUEVO, Iloilo � The exhibition game of the Azkals Tuesday proved that football reigns in this town.
�Bisan wala kami inugsulod sa kaldero, basta maka lantaw lang kami football, ok na (We don�t mind our hunger for as long as we can watch football),� the stage announcer said halfway through the friendly game of the famed national football team against Central Philippine University (CPU).
The crowd, mainly natives of Barotac Nuevo, cheered on their very own townmates in the Philippine Azkals.
They proudly boast that star striker Ian Araneta, co-captain Emilio �Chieffy� Caligdong, Mark Ferrer, Roel Gener, Nestorio Margase, Joebel Bermejo, Yanti Barsales, and Ricardo Becite III are all natives of the town considered as the football capital of the country.
The open field in front of the San Antonio De Padua Church became a mute witness to jampacked crowd of 7,000 fans that came to support the practice game of the Azkals, who are preparing for the country�s first World Cup qualifying match since 1993.
Not even the 19th minute goal of Jovanni Sempron of CPU team can dampen their spirits.
They kept cheering for the Azkals and were rewarded when Becite scored an equalizer in the second half. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.
Caligdong has earlier said that as Ilonggo players, they are always putting their best foot forward as they are representing the essence of what it means to be products of the country�s football capital.
Caligdong and the rest of the Ilonggo Azkals played on the very same field as young kids prior to having the opportunity to represent the national team in several international games, most notably at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup last year.
Now, they are hoping to bring more pride to their hometown as the Azklas will face Sri Lanka on a two-leg qualifying match for the World Cup, considered to be the world's biggest sporting event, on June 29 and July 3.
The Tuesday exhibition match was made possible by two of the town�s natives�Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferj Biron and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano �Nonong� Araneta Jr.
Daily Guardian
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