Ballesteros brothers join forces

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

AFTER becoming a national team member and former Philippine Army Head Coach, 2nd Lt. Alex Ballesteros had been busy teaching football to kids in the Philippine Army Football Club in Manila.

Now that he moved to Cebu after retiring last year, younger brother Ricky Ballesteros, Cebu City Sports Center Manager, encouraged him that forming a football team here in Cebu would be a better idea to spend his free time.

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Indeed, the two are responsible for forming the Camp Lapulapu Elementary School Football team, which consists of kids 12 years old and below, mostly sons of resident soldiers in Apas.

As a start, the brothers wanted to develop another public school football team aside from City Central FB, but their long-time goal is to create a high school team that will compete with top private schools in the city.

“Nindot ang mga bata kay dali ra i-develop ang skills,” Ricky Ballesteros said.

Alex had been in the national team from 1985-1989 with Glenn Ramos and Mario Ceniza.

From 1990 to 1994, he served as the Philippine Army head coach where he had players Nestorio Margarse, Roel Gener and Edward Sacapano, now members of the national team.

He had always been willing to share his knowledge on football as a coach. Back in 2001, he was awarded as best coach in the Eutelco Cup and Globe Supercup.

Alex who is also an alumni of Camp Lapulapu Elementary school finds himself in a mission to pass on the skills to younger players inspired by his early career in the University of Cebu where he became part of the team that represented the Palaro Sportsfest.

The tryouts last month was personally facilitated by Alex with the help of his coaching staff consist of former football players whom he had trained.

A total of 20 players were shortlisted from the 100 kids who applied. Some players had impressed the staff with good ball-handling potentials.

While the players are complying with the necessary documents, the team is practicing every day after their afternoon classes as they plan to debut in the Milo Little Olympics on August 12 and also plans to join the Cebu City Olympics set on the third week of October.

“Most of them are really interested. The kids are very disciplined. The parents are just happy since their children sleep early,” the younger Ballesteros said.

“However, we will consider some other tournaments to give the players exposure and confidence,” Ricky said.

The players were provided with uniforms from Vice-mayor Joy Young and soccer balls from Milo. They will also provide spike shoes for those players who can’t afford.