IT WAS a scintillating match pitting speed against muscle at the soccer football final for the 2013 Kanga Cup crown in Canberra, with the Philippines’ visiting Carranz FC trumping the muscle of Australia’s Capital Football Senior NTC, 1-0, at the Australian Sports Institute track stadium on Friday, July 12.
By JAIME K PIMENTEL
Despite Capital’s superior muscle and height, Filipino midfielder Valentino Calvo out-jumped a pair of defenders to slam a header over Capital’s goalkeeper and into the net halfway into the first half for the first ~ and winning ~ goal. Jan Clarino had lofted the ball from left wing to set up Calvo’s moment of truth.
In a show of defiance to Capital’s superior ball skills and robust defensive tactics Arnel Amita (No 3), a pocket-sized dynamo, ruled the midfield as a hustler to terrorise anyone and his shadow who dared cross his territory.
Indeed, Amita manaced forwards in the back field, opened opportunities in the midfield, and taunted defenders in attack. It made him a marked man to the Capitals, who took Amita down twice from crushing tackles aimed at intimidating him.
Capital’s physical approach to the game intensified in the second half. Frustration set in as the home side’s counter attacks were thwarted by the safe hands of Carranz’s goalkeeper Raphael de Guzman.
De Guzman bore the brunt of Capital’s volleys for the full game because Carranz’s alternate goalkeeper Enzo Cheng had been sidelined after suffering a hip injury in the semi-final 6-0 win against John Paul College the day before.
A spectacular save by de Guzman late in the first half was a heart-stopper. The sizzling blast from a Capitals forward went bullet-straight and high, but the lanky goalkeeper took a mighty leap and deflected the ball over the crossbar.
Imagine the euphoria when the final whistle blew, especially with a number of resident Filipinos and Filipino-Australians in the stands.
”We have won our very first U18 championship, and that makes the team and our country very proud of the feat,” said coach Marlon Maro.
Team manager Alvin Caranza was just as ecstatic: ”Our opponents were much superior in height and strength physically, but our team had more speed. I think Filipinos are faster in this game.”
Carranz FC completed the 2013 Kanga Cup with a clean sweep. Interestingly, the team defeated the Capitals in the first round by the same score of 1-0.
It had a bye in the second round.
Carranz defeated Gosford City, 5-2, in round three; Taylor Lakes, 2-0, in round four; Woden Valley, 2-0, in round five; and John Paul College, 6-0, in the semi-final.
The Philippine playing squad comprised: Enzo Cheng, Raphael de Guzman, Valentin Calvo, Arnel Amita, Daniel Gadia, Yoshiharu Koizumi, Jan Clarino, Mark Besana, Nikko Benedicto, David Diamante, Nicholas Bollier, Doug Caranaza, Rey Diaz, Amani Aguinaldo, Kevin Hartmann, Raphael Resuma, Junell Bautista, and Harold Alcores.
Team officials were: head coach Marlon Maro, manager Alvin Caranza, goalkeeper coach Noel Marcaida, assistant coach Tomasito Hilig, and assistant manager RamonManuel.
After a barbecue celebration in Canberra, the Carranz FC contingent was scheduled to drive to Sydney Airport the next day for a flight to Manila.
The team’s next tournament stop is in heads for Indonesia.
