Phl skipper unfazed by Group of Death

Azkals co-captain Chieffy Caligdong, the newly named �ambassador for sports� of Globe Telecom, is hardly alarmed by the tough group of the Philippine men�s football team in the coming AFF Suzuki Cup.
�They are again saying we�re in a Group of Death (Vietnam, Thailand, and the winner of the Qualifying Round). For me, it�s the same situation as the AFC Challenge Cup (last March) wherein we�re underdogs in a so-called Group of Death so it�s a challenge for us to duplicate our performance there,� Caligdong said in Filipino.
The Azkals defied the odds in the Challenge Cup in Nepal and won a milestone bronze medal, making them a dangerous opponent in the Nov. 24-Dec. 1 Suzuki bootfest in Bangkok. For the ASEAN tilt, Phl XI is looking to at least duplicate their semis stint in the previous edition.
�They are wary of us now because they know we have a strong team. It�s actually a two-way street � they are as cautious of us as we are of them. But I�m comfortable with our group, I�m confident of our chances,� he said in Filipino.
The pride of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo formally accepted his new role as Globe�s sports ambassador during a launch hosted by execs of the telco giant, led by Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu.
�Chieffy embodies the type of person Globe wants to be associated with � he�s played a sort of challenger to the big guns and won, he doesn�t overstate his capabilities, as Globe does as well in the marketplace, unlike others, and the good thing about it, truly he�s an excellent player, the best homegrown player in the country,� said Cu.
As Globe ambassador, Caligdong will assist the company in its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, such as the TEN MOVES, a campaign to raise enough resources to build 10,000 classrooms in public schools all over Phl with a main strategy of getting two million people to donate P10 per day for 10 months.
�As CSR champion, we will tap Chieffy to lead and conduct football clinics and engage a bigger group of stakeholders to help raise awareness in the hope of generating more pledges for our The Entire Nation (TEN) MOVES campaign,� said Globe CSR head Rob Nazal.
Caligdong will join hands with another Globe partner, the Green Archers Globe FC, in conducting football clinics while also �providing mentorship support� to the United Football League club.
This new role may play a factor in Caligdong�s career decision-making post-Suzuki Cup. The Air Force wingman�s family is set to migrate in the US and Caligdong is considering several options, including staying behind while his wife and kids are in the US.
�I have a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C. Perhaps we can make work something out,� he said while assuring his commitment to the Azkals for the rest of their campaigns this year.


philstar