Monday, July 30, 2007 Boljoon kids troop to Gould’s clinic
THE overwhelming response of young local football players joining the day-long football clinic in Boljoon last Saturday has inspired Fil-Brit football player Chad Gould to turn the program into an annual thing.
Last Saturday’s clinic had attracted football players from all over, including four teams that came from the most far-flung mountain barangays of Boljoon.
“They live so high in the mountains that they traveled for four hours to get to the town proper to take part in the free clinic,” said event organizer Iste Sesante-Leopoldo. “He was so overwhelmed to have an audience from those places that he is keen on having a sequel to this.”
Gould, a member of the RP team, was assisted by fellow Fil-Brit Michael Sharpe, who is a stalwart of Cebu International School, and is also a member of the national U21 squad.
“Chad and his dad Stu are very much interested in spreading the interest in football to these kids. Continuing this program will boost the interest for the sport,” Leopoldo said.
Leopoldo also said that in the next clinic, they will be inviting more members of the national team to help teach the kids.
In the absence of the promised assistance of Cebu Football Association (CebuFA), the competition after the clinic was almost scrapped.
It was CebuFA president Jonathan Maximo’s idea to hold a tournament after the clinic and he also promised to send officials to take charge of the competitions. But the officials never came.
When Leoplod suggested that they skip the competition because of the absence of CebuFA’s referees, Gould refused. Instead, he, his dad and Sharpe took turns in officiating the matches.
The Sacred Heart School-Jesuit won the tournament over Boljoon Central School, 4-3, via shootout.
“He (Chad) had so much fun. He did not mind the heat. He was so sun-burned and he even had a concert that night,” said Leopldo of Gould, who is also a rising recording artist in the UK.
Ten footballs, courtesy of CebuFA, were handed to the top five players with the most potential, while the other five were given to the team from mountain barangays of San Antonio, Lunop, Visrel and Panduhan. (MCB)
