Wednesday, November 22, 2006 What the RP XI victory means to Philippine football By Henry C. Villalva
NEVER since the 1991 Manila Southeast Asian Games when Negrense striker Norman Fegidero Jr. scored the lone goal that lifted the Philippines past Malaysia thereby eliminating the traditional powerhouse did RP football enjoy so much bashing and respect as it did last Monday.
On that day, the determined RP squad etched a milestone via a 4-1 mastery of Brunei at the Panaad Sports Complex.
With the victory accomplished before an adoring Negrense crowd of over 16,000, the Filipino booters ended their campaign in the five-nation ASEAN Football Championship 2006 Qualifier in second place and secured a berth in the final round of the biennial tournament formerly known as the Tiger Cup.
The Filipino booters are mentored by Aris Caslib.
But to many Filipino football diehards the feat is doubly significant.
First, it is expected to improve the country’s ranking in the official Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) ranking of footballing nations.
Second, never in the post-war era have the Filipino booters won three straight nor scored as many victories in an international tournament.
And, third, never has any RP squad tallied so many goals in an international competition as in the recent series where the host squad tallied a total of 13 and with Fil-Briton Philip Younghusband ending up the top scorer of the tournament with his total of 6 goals in four matches.
Against Brunei, the younger Younghusband booted in two goals in the 59th and 91st minutes but it was Fil-American right winger Anton Del Rosario, who plays varsity ball for the Notre Dame De Namur University in Belmont, California, who broke the ice for the RP team when he blasted in a 20-yard direct kick in the 25th minute which sent the Panaad crowd into a frenzy.
Also scoring for the Philipines was Emilio “Chipy” Caligdong in the 73rd minute.
The Philippines finished the qualifying event with 9 points, just 1 point behind top qualifier Laos’ 10.
Cambodia defeated winless Timor Leste in Monday’s last scheduled match, 4-1, went on to finish third with a total of 5 points on account of one win and two draws overtaking Brunei which had 4 points with 1 win, 1 draw and 2 losses.
Asked by Sun.Star to react on his being the tournament’s most prolific scorer, Philip Younghusband said he was just very glad to have done it for the country.
“I’m proud of our team’s accomplishment and happy for having played for the Philippines. I know my Mom will be happy,” he said.
Asean Football Federation (AFF) match commissioner Dato’ Yap Nyim Keong of Malaysia described the RP team’s feat as the “the Philippines’ finest hour.”
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