SOLITO GALOYON OF CULIANAN FC SCORES FOR ZAMBASULTA FA AGAINST ILIGAN LANAO RFA (ILRFA) IN THEIR GROUP F MATCH.
CAGAYAN de Oro City — Zamboanga Sulu Tawi-tawi Regional FA (ZAMBASULTA RFA) is the team to watch after surprisingly topping Group F in the elimination tournament of the PFF Boys U19 National Championship 2022 at the Mindanao Convention Center (MCC) pitch in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
They drew with the highly favored Iligan Lanao Regional Football Association (ILRFA) 3-3, defeated Misamis Occidental Ozamis FA (MOOFA) 3-1, and then downed Pagadian Zamboanga de Sur-Sibugay RFA (PAZSSRFA) 2-0 to advance to the next stage.
Jhon Ray Bundajon of Resto Del Mundo FC scored two goals against ILRFA in the 5th and 38th minutes while Vincent Angelo Abucay of Redcorals United FC equalized in the 81st.
Bundajon scored another goal against MOOFA while skillful striker Solito Galoyon of Culianan FC completed the rout with two goals in the 61st and 88th minutes.
Galoyon scored one more goal in the 25th minutes against PAZSSRFA and Jhon Ray David added one goal in the 73rd to complete their charge to the Vis-Min stage.
When asked how they managed to be successful in their matches against highly regarded teams, Reynan Marzan quipped that they controlled the midfield and then they adjusted to every transitions.
Marzan is one of the few coaches responsible for the current rise of football in Zamboanga City. He is the head coach of the Redcorals United FC.
Redcorals United FC is based at the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School along Gov. Ramos Avenue, barangay Sta. Maria Zamboanga City near the Edwin Andrews airbase and the Zamboanga International Airport.
They have 12 players playing for the ZAMBASULTA RFA U19 team. Aside from the the 12 boys, Redcorals United FC have hundreds of active members that train on their pitch at the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School.
Six other players are from Culianan FC, four from Ateneo de Zamboanga University FC (ADZUFC) and one from Allian FC.
The Redcorals players are Jul-Andrie Anigalan, Jhallen Anigalan, Derrick Perez, Vincent Angelo B Abucay, Rhey Archel Marzan, Samuel Barsanas, Jose Miguel Delos Santos, Nicola Jhon L. Mesa, Rhey Benedict Marzan, and Joshua Manug.
Jhon Ray Bundajon and his cousin John Luis Bundajon play for Resto Del Mundo FC. Jhan Ray sometimes play for Redcorals. Both of them started at Sta. Maria FC and played for coach Raynan Marzan during their Junior High School at the Don Pablo Lorenzo Memorial High School. EJ Modillas also plays for Resto Del Mondo.
Completing the casts of the ZAMBASULTA RFA team are players from Culianan FC Ulysses Froile Guevara, John Rey David, Sylvester Papas, Laurence Fernandez, John Lyon Petarte, and Solito Galoyon Jr.
Players from ADZUFC are John Ashley Yamongan, Ermyl Esperaguera, Prince Abdurahelm Atun, and Rey Inigo Napao while from Alia FC are Alnasharif Tadjae, and Sum-un Aguilian.
Raphael Jokko Conception of Allian FC is goalkeeping coach while Crisanto Cipriano of Redcorals United FC is assistant coach.
Assistant coach and acting team manager Roy M. Bansalan of Calianan FC has a lengthy story to tell on the success of their team.
According to Bansalan the team is actually managed by Carlo Jose Rodriguez, a football mad Zamboangeño businessman based in Manila.
He is the father of Camille Rodriguez, a member of the Filipinas National football team that is now participating in the ongoing AFF Women’s Championship in Manila and Laguna.
Since Rodriguez can not join the team in their competitions here in Mindanao, Bansalan, a DEPEd teacher, is tasked to take care of the needs of the team including the search for sponsors.
He is now trying to get the support of newly elected Zamboanga City officials Mayor John Dalipe, Vice Mayor Josephine Pareja, and 1st District Congressman, Khymer Olaso and 2nd District Congressman Mannix Dalipe.
They are also knocking on the doors of the entire members of the Zamboanga City Council for support.
Bansalan said that he is trying to get sponsors for the team because the PFF and the local FA does not have enough funds to support the team in this kind of tournament. “Networking is very important as LGU’s and private companies should be involved too. It is very difficult to sell football unlike basketball,” he said.
He added that this tournament is very important because it is a good way of scouting players. “It allows players to showcase their talents, skills not just locally but also on a higher level.’’
Coach Bansalan, who is the head coach the Culianan FC also stressed that this tournament is a motivation for coaches to take up coaching courses offered by the PFF as only Asian Football Confederation (AFC) licensed coach are allowed to coach the teams.
In general, coach Bansalan gave credit to all the players, coaches, parents and ZAMBASULTAFA president Dr. Justin Ian Elfred Paber and FA General Secretary lawyer Wendell F. Sotto.
Coach Bansalan is also proud to mention his player Solito Galoyon Jr. who scored three goals in the tournament.
Galoyon is a multi-skilled player who lives in Guisao, Zamboanga City. His parents are farmers and he helps them sell their goods to the market.
In spite of this hard work, he finds time to train football and improve his skills. This writer personally saw him play against ILRFA and was impressed. He has impressive dribbling, passing and shooting skills.
His only problem is that he is tiny and short. But remember the two ‘small Argentines’ are among the best players in the world.
They formed the team when they held trials at the Sta. Maria Central School grounds from April 3-5 and announced the final 25 players in April 6.
The coaching staff then started their mobile type of training from April 8-May 20 and then held their training camp at the Culianan Learning Center pitch from May 21-June 15.
With that long preparation, there is no wonder they topped Group F of the elimination tournament at the Mindanao Civic Center (MMC) in Tubod, Lanao del Norte from June 18-22.
Of the four teams which qualified for the coming Visayas-Mindanao stage of the PFF Divi. 2 National Boys U19 Championship 2022, ZAMBASULTA is a team to beat.
For sure the other three teams, Camiguin Misamis Oriental Regional Football Association (CMORFA), Golden Davao Football Association (GDRFA) and Central Visayas Regional FA (CVRFA) have started their preparations.
The PFF has already announced that on Aug. 23-27 will be the final dates of the Vis-Min stage of the tournament but there is no venue yet.
The PFF are still are still busy hosting the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship at the Rizal Memorial stadium in Manila.
But despite of the delay, the teams are presumably preparing for the tournament that will determine what team will move up to division 1 next year.
As of the moment, the ZAMBASULTARFA boys are ready. I have seen them play. If you have not, then watch out for them. (jackbiantan@yahoo.com)
