Pascual, Sacapano plan to put up goalkeeping school

By Cheska D. Geli

Monday, December 12, 2011

CEBUANO goalkeeper Paolo Pascual’s 11-month experience of being in the national team is a blessing the Cebuano football star is most thankful for.

As a way of giving back, the young keeper now plans to put up a Goal keeping Academy in Cebu with fellow goalie Eduard Sacapano.


"We’ve planned this for a long time and when I told Eduard about it, he was very excited about the plan," said Pascual.

The course will be open to all—grassroots and elite players—and will be launched tentatively after the AFC Challenge Cup.

After making it to the national team in time for his 20th birthday, Pascual since then made use of the opportunity to play against the best players and the tough countries.

Pascual said he wants to pass it to the younger ones.

Pascual is in Cebu for a five-day break and visited his former school Paref Springdale yesterday, where he conducted a clinic for 30 kids.

Beginners and some members of the Paref Springdale Fooball Club in the Boys 12 and Boys 14 got excited when Pascual arrived along with teammates Chieffy Caligdong and Ian Araneta.

Pascual shared his secret to making it in the professional football league—to train hard, practice more and follow your coach always.

"I've been there before. I used to complain when the trainings were hard, but now I realize that they are for our own good," said Pascual.

Pascual said he gained confidence in his last four games in the United Football League, where he impressed the crowd with impressive saves.

"It feels good to know my hard work is paying off. It was a good way to end the UFL," said Pascual.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 13, 2011.