STONEFIELD DAMAS FC OF OZAMIZ CITY COACH JAMES DELA VEGA HUDDLING WITH HIS PLAYERS DURING THE PINAY IN ACTION BULUA FIESTA FUTSAL FESTIVAL IN BULUA, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY.
CAGAYAN De Oro City— Ozamiz City in Misamis Occidental is changing its image now slowly becoming a powerhouse in Girls Futsal in Region 10.
Thanks to the efforts of a football coach whose love for the game of football is bottomless.
His name, James Dela Vega Jr., a Civil Engineer by profession but also a businessman and an AFC C Licensed coach.
James have been coaching football in his beloved Ozamiz City for a while now but since 2017 after attending the FIFA Futsal coaching course, he has focused on Futsal and the Stonefield Damas Football Club.
In three years of coaching the Girls of Stonefield Football Club he has started reaping his laurels as early as last year when they finished runner-up to the Cagayan de Oro team in the Northern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (NMRAA) in Tangub City.
This year, they have collected many titles. They won the CDO Xtreme Five title and were runner-ups in the Alicia Futsal, Imelda Futsal, Kinabayo 7-Aside in Capitan and in the Oktoberfest Futsal in Davao.
Last weekend, the Stonefield Damas, which is made up of players from Misamis University and Ozamis City National High School, have gone one step forward capturing the Girls 17 title and finishing third in the Women’s Open category of the Pinay In Action Bulua Fiesta Futsal Festival at the Bulua National High School in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City.
“These girls were just fresh from elementary when I started training them,’’ said James after they won the Girls 17 title by beating the Voltz FC of Iligan City 1-0.
The Volz FC team will also represent Iligan City in the NMRAA.
A lone goal by winger Julia Sabuero in the first half won the title for the Stonefield FC against the Voltz FC. The Voltz team of coach Emmanuel Judith tried to push forward for an equaliser but the strong defence put up by defender Micka Ella Dugaduga and goalkeeper Britzel Polinar saved the day for the Stonefield Girls.
Sabuero for her efforts, won the Best Winger award, while Edna Montecino was named as the Best Forward (pivot) of the tournament and Dugaduga as the Best Defender and Polinar as the Best Goalkeeper. St. Mary’s School-Higala FC top player Chantal Van Ommeren won the Top Scorer award.
Completing the Damas for the NMRAA meet are Trexie Alfeche, Mariel Fabriga, Angel Turado, Mae Claire Dela Cruz, Leah Reyes, Carmel Blado, Ma. Carmela Ampalayo, and Eva Joyce Matikas.
The Damas advanced to the championship when they won by penalty shootout over SMS-Higala FC 2-0 after the score was tied at 1-1 during regulation.
SMS-Higala FC finished third after they ripped the Lady Crusaders 4-1 in the battle for third place.
Van Ommeren, daughter of Edward and Sally Paras Van Ommeren, scored twice while Trisha Sostinto and Bianca Razon scored one goal each to insure the third place trophy. Nisa Lazo scored the only goal for the Lady Crusaders.
Stonefield advanced to the semis when they topped their group winning against D’ Millers FC 2-0, MOGHS 7-0, and drawing with Ginggoog team B 0-0.
Bulua Strikers defeated Higala FC 2-0 to bring home the Girls 14 trophy. Third placer was Iligan Medical Center College.
Bulua Striker also brought home all the special awards in the Girls 14 category with Stephanie Martinez winning the Top Scorer award. Jasmine Palarca won the Best Goalkeeper award, Norjean Palatis the Best Pivot award, Louiza Beatrice Lim the Best Winger award, and Mary Grace Lapinig the Best Defender
Winners won trophies, medals, t-shirts from Pinay In Action of lady Senator Pia Cayetano who was represented by PIA Project manager Ayra Malabayabas.
Official ball of the tournament is Sunsport while the official media partner is SunStar CdO. Other sponsors are RM Go Hardware, Cagayan de Oro Vice Mayor Joaquin ‘Kikang’ Uy, and Governor Yevgenev ‘Bambi’ Emano. (l.biantan@gmail.com)
