THE “love of the beautiful game” is keeping members of the Marawi City Football Club hopeful in spite of the extended fighting between government forces and extremists that is destroying Marawi City.
It is now more than 100 days into the fighting and much of Marawi City lie in ruins but, instead of worrying, the lads from the summer capital of Mindanao bravely competed in the first ever Davao Aguilas FC Cagayan de Oro Fiesta Football Festival held from August 26 to 27 at Westridge Sports Park in Barangay Carmen.
“We came to play, to participate and tell the people that we have not lost our hopes,” team captain Esperidon Bingay said.
They were supposed to send two teams in the Men’s Open category but Bingay said they managed to put up only one team.
"We were supposed to bring two teams but other players did not come. Some of our members are evacuees from the war while others are IDP’s based here in CdeO," he said.
Bingay said the team is composed of players with different backgrounds from students to working men. He said most of them hail from Marawi City.
He said they took part in the competition not just for themselves but also to show everybody that they can play in spite of their shared difficulties.
"Dula lang gyud ang naa sa among huna-huna aning panahona," Bingay said.
Out of 27 teams that competed in the men’s open category, Marawi City FC ended the tournament at eighth place.
He also said that as long as they have money for transportation and payment for registration, they will be glad to join again next year.
“The values that we have inculcated in our team are companionship and sportsmanship,” he said.
The Marawi City FC team was made up of players from MSU-FALC, Lanao del Sur, FC LnCat, Dansalang College Football Club and Matampay United FC.