THE 56-YEAR-OLD COACH FROM SAN CARLOS CITY RECENTLY LED NEGROS OCCIDENTAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (NOFA) TO A 1-0 WIN OVER NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION TO CAPTURE THE PFF BOYS U19 2022 DIVISION 1 TITLE.
His insertion of substitute Mark Joseph Alipoon during extra time in the chanpionship match against National Capital Region was a stroke of a genius as Alipoon scored the winning goal for Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) to defeat National Capital Region 1-0 and capture the PFF Boys U19 Division 1 title at the PFF training center in Cavite, Laguna.
Without Alipoon on the pitch, the match could have ended in penalty shootout which was a 50/50 situation and NCR could have snatched the win from them.
Alipoon, an attacking midfielder from Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, delivered the winning goal in 118th minute of the thrilling match watched by thousands live audiences on social media and hundreds of traveling fans at the PFF training center.
The 56-year-old Villarino described the victory in his FB post as a”Miraculous Victory, we played 11+1.”
It was indeed a miraculous win for the Negrenses as they were not expected to win as NCR badly beat them during the elimination match 1-5. Despite of the loss they managed to enter the semis against the depleted SOCSARGEN.
SOCSARGEN played minus key player Agiel ‘Cano’ Rojo who was suspended for his previous yellow card during the elimination round. Rojo is one of the few remaining members of the then ‘Little’ Azkals National U11 team which trained in England in 2014 who are still active.
NOFA finished second in Group B in the elimination round with three wins and one loss. The NOFA boys won over Masbate 3-0, Laguna 3-1 and Benguet 1-0. They also won three special awards with target man Rhoderic Rodriguez from Sagay City, winning the MVP award, John Rey Mark Marcella the Best Midfielder award, and Jude Valderama the Best Midfielder trophy.
According to Villarino they prepared the team for one month got support from San Carlos City Mayor Rene Gustillo, Vice Mayor Christon Carmona, Congressman Gingo Valmayor, Negros Governor Bongbong Lacson, NOFA president Ricky Yanson and General Secretary Cocoy Treyes.
The victory could have been Villarino’s best performance in his long coaching career. He used to coach the Pasargad FC in the now defunct United Football League, he also coached Kaya FC to the AFC Cup in 2016 and the Philippine Women’s National team in 2008. Villarino played for the Philippine National team in 1996.
The PFF is forming the National U19 team for the Asean Football Federation U19 Championship in Indonesia next month. They have not yet announced the exact date of the tournament and the line-up of the Philippine team. The PFF has announced who will coach the team and one name is missing, Joel Villarino.
Coach Joel deserves a slot in the coaching staff. (jackbiantan@yahoo.com)
