CMORFA U19 BOYS DESERVE THE CREDIT BUT WHO IS THE BEST OF THEM ALL?
CAGAYAN de Oro City— CMORFA U19 coach Ivan Caiña gives starting goalkeeper Raffy Reyes a ‘special credit’ for their victorious run in Group G of the PFF Boys U19 Championship 2022 elimination tournament which ended Tuesday morning at the Pelaez stadium here.
Coach Ivan believes that his starting goalkeeper Raffy Reyes from Ginggoog City deserves a special credit. “If he conceded a goal against BANFA we would be talking a different story right now, or me probably sacked.’’
Reyes did not concede a goal in the two matches he played, a 1-0 win vs BANFA and a 6-0 victory over Agusan del Sur-Surigao del Sur RFA (AGSSURFA).
He was rested in their 2-1 win over Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Island RFA (SNDIRFA). They conceded an own goal courtesy of Pedro Tagara.
Of course the team deserves credit for their hard work but there is always one person who stands out from the rest.
Coach Ivan said, “For me everyone was the best, the players trusted and followed the game plan. We prepared and trained for 10 weeks.”
That game plan worked and coach Ivan’s hard work in forming a hard working and winning team deserves a bonus or even just a pat on the shoulder.
Coach Ivan also pointed out that his defenders JL Cascara, Ino Butaslac, John Gementiza, Paulo Ladaga and Josh Go performed equally well at the back. “Skipper John Gementiza did a good job pacifying direct attacks and also Kinsey ‘Kid’ Yañez did well in defending the midfield.’’
He added that Luigi Awayan, Rafi Rubio and Patrick Mendoza also did well in delivering the balls necessary to the front three who did the scoring.
But for me the best player on the pitch all the time was right back Josh Go of CMORFA. He was relentless, tireless running up and down defending and attacking.
Of course many would disagree with me but many would also agree that Rosevale School and Corpus Christi School striker Josh Go is the Best Player of the tournament. Remember that is only mine.
Although coach Ivan has his own thinking. He thinks as a coach. Me, I think like fan first then a journalist.
The former RP U16 player Go as I mentioned earlier has been a striker all his life with Rosevale School and Corpus Christi School. However, everything changed when he became a member of the Philippine U15 team that competed in Indonesia in 2018.
The national coaches saw a different player. They moved Go to the right back. Now he has kept that position and he could even tryout for the Azkals and become their permanent right back.
I would compare Josh Go’s game to Gary Neville, the former England’s right back or Roberto Carlos the former Brazilian left back.
Neville gave stability to England’s right side of the pitch while Roberto Carlos was a constant pain on the left for their opponents.
Go just have to improve his shooting skills if he wants to reach the level of Roberto Carlos.
Go’s fitness was great, he played the entire three matches without any complaints. If he gets bumped or tackled by an opponent he would just brush it off and focus on the match.
I hate players who do the ’Neymar’ once they get touch by a defender. The ’Neymar’ thing is not in his vocabulary.
He is strong as if he never stopped playing even during the pandemic. And his skills? Remember he was a striker. He grew up as a striker. He has ball control, his passing skills are excellent and he is fearless.
I sound like an agent of Josh Go. But if any professional team are interested on him just watch the coming National Group stage of the PFF U19 National Championship 2022. The exact dates and venue are still to be announced. (jackbiantantambok@gmail.com)
