Courtesy: Light the torch


Philippine Women’s Futsal Team Bags Bronze, 24th SEA Games

by Sasha Manuel

on December 29th, 2007

Here’s a good example of a positive unified effort, which can be said that is somewhat opposite of athlete mutiny. A relatively unknown sport, which can also mean that it’s not highly commercialised, ergo, no sponsors, ergo, no money. But how did the Philippines send a Women’s Futsal Team to the last 24th SEA Games in Thailand? Well, technically, they did at no expense.

Believe it or not, these women worked hard to get their arses to Games. And I don’t mean just the training here. I’m talking about raising the money and pooling funds they need in order to compete.


“Part of these sacrifices was the money we needed to raise to fund the participation fee for the SEA Games. The PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) informed us that there was no budget for our team. So we left no stone unturned in order to raise funds.”

And it was a reality that team members understood since futsal—an indoor version of football where each team fields in five players on court—is still perceived as a novel sport in the country.

“Sometimes you really have to prove yourself first before sponsors come in,” said Manny Batungbacal, team coach and Tiffany’s husband.

“In fairness to the PSC, they didn’t have any budget also,” said Batungbacal. “We’re a relatively new sport and it’s harder to gamble on us compared to boxing and all the other popular sports.”

But with funds still short a week before the SEA Games, the couple decided to sell their car.

“We’ve been really planning to sell it,” shared Batungbacal. “Days before we left for Thailand, we still lacked P250,000 and we sold the car for P220,000. But we had no regrets at all.”

Source: Inquirer, 23 December 2007

Bringing home the bronze medal didn’t just prove that these women are good at this sport, it showed heart, determination and pure passion for Futsal. Sponsors may now be lining up and the PSC will surely make room for them in their budget plans but I don’t want to forget this effort that they’ve put in. It makes me think of what it must have been like during the early days of the Olympics. I’m reminded of the first Jamaican bobsled team.

For me, these women have made history. I’m proud of them. I’m sure the rest of our countrymen are, too.

Congratulations!

Via Futsal Philippines (Thanks, Luis!)





Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com