'Friendly' tiff vs Germans part of rehab for Puzakals

MANILA, Philippines - Organizers of the football friendly between the Bilibid Puzakals, a group of medium security inmates, and German Club Cranes, a “social team” of German nationals this side of the globe, expect a “fun yet worthwhile match” on Jan. 14 at the New Bilibid Prison’s sunken garden.

“It’s not a match against the Puzakals but it’s a match with the Puzakals. We’re not competing for any trophy here but we’re looking forward to a fun game because we believe in this (Puzakals’) program,” Michael Scheile, German Club Manila’s president said during Monday’s press conference.

The Puzakals team, whose members are former players in various school, provincial, regional and national football tournaments prior to their imprisonment, is part of Bilibid’s “rehabilitation” and “resocialization” programs. The football team is some sort of incentive for attending school in various levels while serving their sentences.

“This is worth supporting. For the inmates, it’s very difficult to participate in football activities (so we’re giving them this opportunity to play with the German Club Cranes),” Hanns Seidel Foundation’s Paul Schaefer, whose group is supporting the Bureau of Correction’s efforts to reform prison system in the Philippines.

The game is set at 10 a.m. with GC Cranes sending in 21 players with ages ranging from 28-72, some coming from Thailand and Germany. Azkals coach Michael Weiss, a German national, will be refereeing the match, made up of two 30-minute halves with the second half featuring a mix of the two teams.

“The Puzakals are very excited to play their third game against a foreign team. Also, they’ve always wanted to meet the Azkals and it pleased them that the coach of the Azkals will be there,” said Assistant Solicitor General Karl Miranda.

The German Embassy in Phl, through Press and Cultural Section Officer Carmina Barcelon, also expressed full support for the event, admiring how football has been integrated into the program for prisoners as they strive to change.