Zero to hero, baby!

The Raya Razkals joined the 7-under division at the Zobel Football Festival in Alabang yesterday. We weren't really expecting anything. For us parents -- and I guess for the kids too -- it was just one of those tournaments the kids join to gain experience.

As we watched the games and saw how the team had improved, though, we started getting excited. And a teeny tiny pinprick spark of hope started growing... maybe they're going to do well, after all! They played against some of the teams that had defeated them before, and their performance was almost at par with these more experienced teams. They even beat the varsity team of DLSZ. How about that?

First game: Raya FC 0 - Alabang FS 2
Second game: Raya FC 2 - DLSZ 1
Third game: Raya FC 2 - Manresa FC 0
Fourth game: Raya FC 1 - Makati FS 1 (resulted in a penalty shoot out where Raya scored 2 and MFS scored 3)
Semi-final game (for 3rd place): Raya FC 1 - Atletiko Diliman 0

They were all so happy to get a medal!

When they placed third, us parents (and even Coach Sims) could hardly believe it! Maybe just a couple more years and they'll be playing like a well-oiled machine.

Posing with his medal

Yes, it was a tiring but happy day in the south yesterday.

Game day

The Philippine Azkals played with the 2011 MLS champion LA Galaxy yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. My friends and I excitedly made plans to watch it together when it was announced, then they released the ticket prices which were just too steep. So we'd resigned ourselves to watching it on TV instead.

Fast forward to lunch time yesterday, my son's school director sent me a text message saying co-parent Mr. Dan Palami (Azkal team manager) was giving each Raya Razkal (that's what they call the players of the school's football team) 2 tickets each. At first I was hesitant because it was raining, but then I realized that this was a once in a lifetime chance to see David Beckham play! And so we found ourselves taking the train to go to the stadium.

The game was scheduled at 7:30 pm, but we were in the vicinity by 6:30 -- which was a good thing because the line going to the entrance was already long. When we were finally ushered in it was around 7:15, and you could feel the electricity in the air.

Look how sweaty my boy is

It was a pleasant surprise when we found out that we got good seats, plus the kids' friends and classmates were just seats away! They played and ran around while their parents focused their binoculars and cameras on Beckham.

The kids having fun tooting their vuvuzelas

Getting ready to do a corner kick

In the end, the LA Galaxy won 6-1, but this is one game Philippine football fans will not soon forget. And for me, being there and watching it live made the sweaty commute and the long lines worth it.