Sporty Christmas

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

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I have not been to many parties this Christmas due to the nature of my work, but the past few days I tried my best to be at celebrations with three groups of people, who I share the same passion with.

Last weekend, I was with my fellow sportswriters. It wasn’t really a formal Christmas celebration, but the visit of one of our dear friends, Al Mendoza and his wife Sol, gave us a reason to get together.

The other night, I had to run from one gathering to another. Well, not literally as my doctor says that I have to avoid such activity for now, but I did manage to be with my Cebu Volleyball Association (CEVA) family even for just a few minutes and my Queen City United/Cebu Amateur Football Club family later that night.

The CEVA officers were at the Capitol party held at Marco Polo Plaza Hotel. Our founding president Glenn Anthony Soco may have thrown his hat into the political arena, but this does not mean the organization will also just sit back and wait for the outcome.

We formed CEVA to elevate the status of the sport in Cebu and I believe that through the past decade we can see the changes in the sport from the interest that it is getting all throughout Cebu and in the standard of competitions and officiating.

From the quite formal set-up at the party that my fellow CEVA officers Jun San Juan and his lovely wife Marichu and Andrew Choachuy also attended, I headed down Nivel Hills and went straight to the compound of the Dakay Construction and Development Corporation.

There, I joined my teammates (putting former might be appropriate, but I am still hoping to get to play again) and my other friends from the football community.

The Queen City United FC allowed me to once again flirt with a sport that I enjoyed so much when I was in high school and college.

It wasn’t exactly just flirting, but the group allowed me to have an affair with football as I rediscovered some moves that still allowed me to play against teams of the same age or maybe much younger.

My few years back inside the field and not merely as assistant to my son, who plays the game, allowed me to appreciate many old friendships that we rekindled during tournaments and practices.

More importantly, it also allowed me to work hard on my fitness so I could run with the others and hopefully be fast enough to stop the balls as I played goalkeeper once again.

All that are just sweet memories now, but the friendship that bonds me with the members of Queen City United/Cebu Amateur Football Club will always be there.

Ricky Dakay, one of the men most passionate about the sport here in Cebu, told me that what makes the club tick is that fact that its members all have jobs and those who don’t have are being helped so they could find work.

The guys don’t really need a special night to feel the spirit of Christmas, because just being able to play and be with friends seems more than enough to keep everyone smiling.

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MILESTONES: I’d like to wish my brother Nereus David a happy birthday as he turns a year older today.

The same goes to my good friend Noemi King Jajalla of Toyota, Iris Marcelo, and designer Salvador ‘Sal’ Malto.

Tomorrow’s greetings go to Rommel Anthony Asuncion, my former squad leader now Lt. Col. Raul Jesus L. Caldez of the Philippine Marines, Jess Padin, Michelle Castro, my Tao brother Kulot Flores, and my cousin Kristy Iway Patigdas.

More power to all of you! I hope you also get birthday gifts aside from your Christmas gifts hehehe…   (FREEMAN NEWS)