Baguio football club reaches national finals

THE rising Goshen Land Baguio United Football club here recently qualified for the Smart National Football Championship, which will be held in Barotac Nuevo this August, following its superb performance in the recently-concluded all-Luzon championship in Laguna.

With no decent pitch and consistent 11-a-side tournaments, this arguably is a major milestone for Baguio football history.

Previously, Goshenland Baguio United FC went to Laguna for the Northern Luzon Qualifying Rounds of the Smart Men's Open Championship.


The group faced the teams from the following football associations: Laguna, Quezon, Tarlac and Rizal.

Baguio won 3-1 versus Laguna, breezed through Quezon with a 9-0 thrashing, had a come from behind win of 3 1 vs Tarlac, then lost to Rizal. With the 3-1 record, the team qualified to the All Luzon Qualifying Rounds.

Even before reaching the Northern Luzon leg, the team had to eke out a tough win of 1-0 versus the Benguet State University FC to earn the right to represent the Baguio City Football Association (BCFA) in this current tournament.


Headed by playing team manager, lawyer Homer S. Alinsug and playing coach Ariston Bocalan, the following are the team members: JC Kraker - Goalkeeper, Arvin Ogbinar - Right Defender, Zau Ring Jat Augustine Ma-Le - Central Defender, Goodwin Pugong Jr. - Central Defender, Arnel Carbonnel - Left Defender, Aly Ymana - Right Midfielder, Marked Lusung - Center Midfield, Rykart Neri Jr. - Center Defensive Midfield, Nestor Udan - Left Midfield, Mohanad Farah - Attacker, Leopoldo Telcagan - Attacker, Raymond Ramirez - Reserve Defender, Marlon Pineda - Reserve GK/Defender/Midfielder, Ariston Bocalan - Midfielder15, Gatan Dalang - Midfielder, Ramon Bocalan Jr. - Defender, Hmun Thawng Ling - Left Midfielder, Homer S. Alinsug - Reserve Attacker.


The successful performance of the local football team in the stiff competition has served as inspiration to the youngsters to join football clinics and become part of the historic accomplishments of the team which will be joining various local competitions in order to hone their skills. (Dexter A. See)

Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on May 23, 2011.