FOOTBALLANTROPHIST RICKY YANSON GIVES THE BEST STRIKER AWARD TO KURT SARIF OF KIDAPAWAN, COTABATO DURING THE NOFA CUP 2018. WITH THEM ARE NOFA 2018 CHAIRMAN REV. FR. EMBER TIANGSON AND NOFA CUP 2018 TOURNAMENT COMMISSIONER DENNIS ESTANIEL.
I have been accused by the trolls in the social media of receiving cash or being a spokesperson some wealthy football friends like now Ricky Yanson Jr., who is running for PFF president this November.
I just would like to point out here that I have never made money from football and have never gotten any money from Ricky.
However, I am throwing my 100 percent support for Ricky’s candidacy for only one reason. We have the same vision, to develop the grassroots.
The only difference between us is that I do not have any money and I rely on my well to do friendsto help the young through the beautiful game.
Ricky is a multi-millionaire.Just like what Ricky said when he announced his candidacy in Davao last Saturday, football is my vice. I love to see kids develop, play and improve their skills. It makes me happy.
In fact I have spent a fortune for football. My former players in University of San Carlos-Cebu, Don Bosco Boys Home Cebu and Southwestern University Phinma Cebu can attest to that.
Even now with my Lumbia Raptors Club in Cagayan de Oro City, I have already spent a lot for these kids. Yes, I have asked friends for help but everything goes to the players equipment like footballs, socks, shoes, shin guards, uniforms, fare, gasoline and food. Never for my own pocket.
Like last Sunday I brought three teams, the Men’s Open, Women’s Open and the Boys 12 to Iligan City Diyandi Football Festival. Iligan is two hours away from Cagayan de Oro City so I needed money for transport, food and drinks of more than 40 players plus the girlfriends, parents and supporters.
There were more than 50 of us who went to Iligan and I have to spend for everything. All of them belong to very poor families from Lumbia and some of them live in the Xavier Eco Village, the relocation site of the victims of storm Sendong which ravaged Cagayan de Oro City few years ago.
Luckily, I have friends abroad who help me. For our Sunday Iligan trip, I managed to get help from my high school brother from Don Bosco Missionary Seminary (DBMS) in Lawaan Talisay Cebu, Philip Cañete who without any hesitation sent some cash to help the kids. Philip, a nurse in the US, is also a regularcontributor to our James Labay Memorial Trust Fund of our DBMS DBPPoL alumni group.
Then my former player at University of San Carlos Jim Akiatan (another Bosconian) also chipped in to finalise our trip. Jim, a brilliant midfielder during his college days, is also based in the US.
If I do not have friends like Philip and Jim I could not help these poor kids from Lumbia. I have many friends whom once in a while I approach to ask for donations to make the lives of these poor kids better through the beautiful game.
Most of these friends are based abroad like my pareng Carlito Simon in London, my pareng Ramil Alonso of Swindon UK, my best friend Weirner ‘Jong-jong’ Gacasan in Texas, Vingy Dobluis in San Jose, California, Joselito Dubluis in Roseville California, Charlote Muetter of New Jersey, Larry Fronda also from the US and Don Paradela of Las Vegas, Nevada,
I also have my local friends to call upon once I need help for the kids, Vince Manubag, Paul Sabio, Jeff Co Cascara, Menchu Dy, Charles Dy, Sally Paras Van Omeren, Darlene Limbo, and Marjou Borlongan are always around to give support to give cash or anything for the kids..
Without these friends my work for the Lumbia kids would not be possible. So, I thank them very much.
Me and Ricky are similar, football is our good ‘vice’. Our only difference is that I rely on my friends to feed my vice. Ricky has the resources to share to the entire nation. Lets support him to share his vice to us. (l.biantan@gmail.com)
