MANILA, Philippines—The Rizal Football Team recently bagged gold and the coveted Norway Cup for their age division at the Baekkelagets Sportsklub, Ekeberg in Norway, besting seven other teams from and outside of Norway with a seven win -zero lose record.
A dispatch from the Philippine embassy in Oslo said the team, composed of young boys aged 10 to 12 from Colegio de San Agustin and Southridge School in Manila, competed on July 31, 2008.
The team was composed of John Michael Drilon, 11, from Colegio de San Agustin (CSA); Seth Patrick Isay, 12, CSA; Jose Paolo Jacob, 12 (midfielder) from Southridge; Rafael Lorenz Labos, 12 (goalkeeper), CSA; Aldrin Junick Malvarosa, 10, CSA; Matthew Laurence Osit, 10, CSA; Laurenz Carlo Salindong, 12, (team captain and striker) from Southridge and two guest players, Kenneth Gjende and Steion who are Filipino-Norwegians from Oslo.
They were accompanied by Emma Fernandez, head of the team, Coach Potenciano Fernandez Jr. and Team Physician Dr. Julius Drilon.
The embassy said the young footballers came fresh from their quarter-final stint in Denmark and were “all but happy to reach the finals and clinch the gold at the Norway cup.
Another Philippine team, the Manila Soccer Academy, composed of older school-age players, won two games but got eliminated after losing two other matches.
Embassy officials, along with members of the Filipino youth community such as Bantay Bata and the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Christian Youth for the Nation, welcomed the young Pinoy players at the embassy building with a short program and some Filipino snacks.
Embassy officers and staff were also present at the final game of the Rizal Football Team and the subsequent awarding ceremonies.
The Norway Cup is an annual event started in 1972 to promote camaraderie and sportsmanship among Norway’s youth. Today, some 1,500 teams or 30,000 participants from 50 nations converge in Oslo, Norway every summer to compete in the world’s largest football tournament for the youth.
Proceeds from the tournament benefit The Norway Cup Project which supports development projects of the Norwegian Agency for Development and Cooperation in least developed and developing countries.
The embassy said it was only the second time that Philippine teams have participated in the tournament.
It said that both teams were keen on returning next year with the Rizal Football Team determined to defend and keep its title.
Tags: Competitions, Rizal Football Team, Sports
