Bukidnon lad living his dream

by Jack Biantan

AZKALS coach Thomas Dooley just this week surprised everyone when he named Ceres-Negros FC newbie Joshua Dutosme from Malaybalay, Bukidnon, to the 23-man Azkals that will play against Nepal in Kathmandu, the capital city of the Himalayan country on Nov. 14. The 21-year-old midfielder is just new with the Ceres-Negros FC but despite of his very few exposures with Busmen, coach Dooley might have seen something from this young lad. Joshua got his professional contract with Ceres-Negros FC just this August after impressing the coaching staff with his stellar performances for the University of St. La Salle-Ceres Bacolod in the local leagues. He could have joined other professional clubs in the Philippine Football League but he preferred Ceres as the club is also the sponsor of his school, USLS-Bacolod, where he finished his Marketing degree last March. Joshua started to play the beautiful game in Malaybalay at age 10 after his family moved from Kisolon, Sumilao Bukidnon. In Malaybalay, he learned to love the sport after being challenged by his classmates.

Today, he is looking forward to play for the Azkals. He has already travelled with the team in Kathmandu and they are preparing for November 14 match. A win in this match will put them on top of the heap in the ongoing AFC Asian Cup 2018 Group F elimination tournament and an outright qualification for the 2018 tournament in UAE. "I am living in my dream. I grew up idolizing the best football players in the Philippines and now we’re teammates already. I can’t really express my feelings with words. Words are not enough," Joshua said in an interview with SunStar CDO. He added that it is in every Filipino football player’s dream to be part of the Azkals. "Becoming an Azkal is a gift for me after losing three chances in the past during my younger years because I chose my education and keeping my scholarship with USLS," he said. Joshua is untested yet with the Azkals. We are just hoping he will get a chance of playing on November 14.

Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/sports/2017/11/11/bukidnon-lad-living-his-dream-574238