Comeback kids

WHILE Hiroshi FC didn’t push through with its comeback in the men’s open division of the Aboitiz Cup, there are three other teams who are making the competition an exciting affair. Before, it’s usually Leylam and Erco who’d be the last two teams standing, but this year, Erco decided to take a leave. But it doesn’t mean the title is Leylam’s for the taking.

Crazy Horse, Hiroshi’s rival during its peak a decade or so ago, is making a comeback, winning its first game against DB Alumni, 4-0, but losing its second, 4-2, to another bunch of comeback kids, the aptly named DonSacreDale-Queen City United. I caught some of the action during their encounter and it didn’t disappoint. Crazy Horse scored on a lovely free kick courtesy of Lawrence Colina, but DonSacreDale answered minutes later through Nikko Villacin--a central defender now playing as forward--for their 4-2 win. Leonard Tan, formerly of Don Bosco, the University of San Carlos and Stallions FC of the PFL, also pulled out some impressive saves to preserve DonSacreDale’s second straight win.

The next game featured an even more impressive rout, with Southwestern University-Phinma FC Erco (whew, what a long name) handing Real Galaxy United a 14-0 rout, marking the former football giant’s return to men’s football after a long while. And in charge of SWU’s football team? The guy who brought the school its last major title--Glenn Ramos.

I remember the last finals of the Cebu Amateur Athletic Association football, before it became the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. SWU defeated rival University of San Jose-Recoletos via shootout in a first of many finals meeting for the two that year. The guy on goal for SWU? Ref Cuaresma, now the starting keeper for Kaya FC-Iloilo.

Coach Glen said SWU Phinma vice-president Gilbert Braganza organized the team, which is culled from the standouts of the school intramurals. And with a large population of foreign students, there’s no shortage of standouts from the school.

I hope SWU’s foray in the men’s open will also signal its return to college football. SWU has been slowly forming its football program, sending young teams to the various age group tournaments. SWU joining the Cesafi competition can only improve local football, as more teams mean more options for players who are going to college. And the timing is perfect too, now that Cesafi has added an elementary division, SWU can start with that and maybe form a high school team in a couple of years, then a college team. There’s also girls’ futsal in Cesafi and that could also be an option for the school, which has a strong program for girls’ volleyball in high school and college.

The sport is just a demo event in the Cesafi this year and I’m hoping that by next year, it’s going to be part of the Cesafi calendar. But to do that, there has to be four or five teams joining the competition. The University of San Carlos can easily form one, and I know there are enough players in Cebu Doctors’ University, University of Cebu and the University of San Jose-Recoletos.

With SWU in the mix, perhaps futsal in college in the Cesafi will finally be a reality? I hope so.