COACH Norman “Nonoy” Fegidero is a legend in Philippine football. He was a prolific goalscorer during his prime.
Unfortunately, during his prime and his tenure with the Philippine national men’s football team from 1989 to 2001,
very few were interested in them. They did not even have any monicker like the Azkals of today.
His scoring record was not even kept as the national team then scarcely played abroad to compete.
But what stuck in the minds of few football fans was his winning goal against Malaysia during the SEAGames in Manila in 1991.
His goal sent the national team to the semis for the first time in the SEAGames. I was watching with some diehard football fans officemates the live match on a Nevico black and white TV at the SunStar editorials office.
I shed a tear a little bit when Nonoy found the back of the net in the 84th minute to send the Philippines to the semis against Thailand.
There was no internet yet during that time so there were no Filipino players based abroad playing for the team except for Elmer Bedia who was based in Australia after he was signed by a professional team to play down under. All the players were homegrown.
Nonoy was among the youngest of the group which included Bedia, Rudy del Rosario, Rodulfo Alicante, Judy Saluria, Nonoy Carpio, Melo Sabacan, Marlon Maro, Rolando Piñero, and Filamer Rossel. The team was then coached by German Eckhard Krautzun.
Thailand eventually mowed the Filipinos in the semis 6-2. The Philippines then lost to Singapore 0-2 in the battle for bronze.The fourth place finish still remains as the most decent finish of a Philippine’s men’s team in the SEAGames since it started in 1959.
Less than amonth ago, Nonoy was appointed as coach of the Philippine U23 team that will compete in the SEAGames in Vietnam on May 12. As part of their preparation, the team is entered in the ongoing Philippine Football League (PFL) Paulino Alcantara Cup as the Azkas Development Team (ADT).
Only U23 players are alowed in the SEAGames plus two overaged players. Nonoy has assembled the best U23 players of the country and signed some Filipino players based abroad for rhis ADT squad.
Ironically, as the Azkals bombed out at the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) Tri-Nation tournament, the ADT team is flourishing in the PFL after their impressive 3-0 win over Mendiola FC in their debut.
Goals from Scot Wood, Sky Guerrero and Lance Ocampo assured ADT’s first win in the seven-team Cup competition won by Kaya FC-Iloilo last year.
The youngsters, most of them coming from UAAP and the NCAA, were a joy to watch on the pitch of the PFF Training Center in Carmona Cavite. Mendiola were not match to their fitness, quickness and skills.
Nonoy’s timely substitutions in the second half proved to be the turning point as substitutes Guerrero and Ocampo, scored one goal each to cement their victory.
Back in 2008, Nonoy had a forgetable stint with the Azkals. He was then appointed by then PFF president Mari Martinez to replace Juan Cutillas for the AFC Challange Cup elimination tournament in Iloilo.
It was the start of the Azkals era where the PFF has started to inject Filipino-Foreign bloods to the national team.
The Azkals were full of stars whose egos carried on their big heads. Nonoy tried to lead the Azkals to a decent finish but top management did not support him.
Instead, they undermined him and interfered in his decisions. So expectedly the Azkals faltered and failed to qualify for the proper Challenge Cup.
It was painful for Nonoy. It so frustrating for me who covered the event for Pinoysoccer.com at that time. I could taste the bitterness and the disappointment of Nonoy.
He was so angry that time that he turned away from national team coaching and just concentrated in coaching schools and clubs in Bacolod.
After more than a decade, Nonoy who is an AFC A Licensed coach, is back. He just passed his first assignment with flying colors.
It will still be a long way for Npnoy but if he succeeds with ADT and in the SEAGames in Vietnam, he could make a great comeback for the Azkals someday. (jackbiantan@yahoo.com)
