City booters to try for national team

By Roderick Osis

Sunday, March 25, 2012

FOLLOWING their impressive win in the Philippine Football Federation 14 under Luzon Selection tournament, nine players from the Cordillera Goshen Land Football Club were handpicked to try out for the national squad.

The nine members where part of the 23 strong 14 under squad being trained under the Cordillera Goshen Land Football Club, which won in the tournament after edging power house Laguna, 3-2, Mindoro, 7-1; Tarlac, 6-1; and Rizal, 8-1.


Off to try out for the national 14 under team are James Mansueto, Reggy Ubfan, Mike Arbela, Kleiu Mangaoang, Spencer Galasa, Carlo Conde, Jacob Gomez, James Ariola and Jason Escara.

With the nine players and the big win to boot, the Baguio boys proved they can hold their own against Luzon’s top football team delivering an outstanding performance in the tournament, displaying hard work, humility, fair play and supportive teamwork.

"Yung Tarlac, maingay at nagsasalita na parang nanalo na sila," Arabela said, the former elementary CAR football team captain after delivering a 6-1 victory.

"Yung isang player kasi dun buwakaw, hindi niya pinapasa ang bola," added James Mansueto, defender, freshman at Baguio City National High School and scholar of Goshen Land Caring Hands.

The team also scored the most fulfilling win in the tournament where Rodrigo "Pepe" Gango, a 14-year-old mute street kid whom the Cordillera Goshen Land Football Club brought along for the tournament fired the last winning goal that set off a pandemonium of celebration among his in-school team mates in the field.

"Grabe, lahat sila binuhat nila si Pepe," coach Nestor Udan said.

Laguna was the toughest assignment for the Summer Capital so far as it eked out a 3-2 decision with the home team scoring the first goal but Baguio tied the score after five minutes with a goal coming from central midfield Reggy Ubfan in a 20 yard outside the box shot.

Laguna then returned the favor to enjoy a one goal advantage but Jacob Gomez tied the score anew before Arabela scored the winning headshot.

The Cordillera Goshen Land Football Club also brought along much younger players from the elementary level who were willing to join and were available for the tournament.

"This is for their exposure because players in Baguio may have some football skills but they sorely lack the exposure for them to develop and mature as football players," the Cordillera Goshen Land Football Club coaches said.

The elementary football players who also joined the tournament and saw action were Samson Cabforo, 11, defender; JR Nuval, 12; Ezra Olosan, Jimwell Cumafay strikers and wingers ; Jon Shadrach Bangsoy and Kleiu Mangaoang goalkeepers.


Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on March 26, 2012.