Unbeaten Specials settle for silver

The ICTSI Philippine Specials never lost a game but settled for the silver medal after a 2-2 tie with defending champion Bangladesh in the finals of the 11-a-side men’s football tournament at the first Asia-Pacific Special Olympics for intellectually challenged athletes in Newcastle, Australia, last Friday.

The gold slipped away from the Specials who led, 2-1, until 10 minutes before the final whistle when what appeared to be a clear offside escaped the referee’s attention and Bangladesh knocked in the equalizer. But the silver finish was definitely something to be proud of. The consolation was like Bangladesh, the Philippines was unbeaten throughout the competition.

Philippine Football Federation (PFF) consultant Mike Moran, a former national player now based in Sydney, called it “a great result from such an amazing bunch of boys.” Moran is a director of the Henry V. Moran Foundation which partnered with the ICTSI Foundation to bring the Specials to Australia.

Midfielder Paul John Nicolas broke the ice in the first half then Bangladesh knotted it with a penalty kick on a 50-50 ball. “The referee’s decision was not appreciated and in fact, was booed by the crowd,” said Moran. “The Philippines continued to play good football and dominated the frustrated Bangladeshis. Soon after, captain Rommel Bautista, guiding the team with his leadership on the pitch, able defense and powerful free kicks, finally got on the scoresheet, giving the Philippines the lead, 2-1.” It was Bautista’s first and only goal of the tournament.

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Moran said the Filipinos held their own in the second half until the equalizer with the offside ignored by the same referee who previously awarded Bangladesh the penalty kick. “The match ended 2-2 with no penalty kicks awarded as is the football format of the Special Olympics,” continued Moran. “Bangladesh retained the championship due to a better goal average, having beaten hapless India, 8-0, in their first match. The boys all wept unashamedly on the pitch, feeling they were robbed. But coach Jess Landagan consoled the boys and told them they had done God, their country and families proud.”

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The Specials, made up of 15 players from 15 to 25 with an average age of 19, opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory over highly-touted Thailand. The Thais led, 1-0, on a penalty kick but the Specials levelled it just before halftime. After an inspiring pep talk from Landagan and assistant Abner Recacho in the dugout, the Specials came out smoking in the second half and booted in the go-ahead goal. Scoring for the Specials were Michael Jordan and Raymond Elona.

Next came the Specials’ thrilling 1-0 decision over Australia II with the lone goal booted in by Jovel Banunot. The Philippines made it three wins in a row with a 5-0 thrashing of Australia I as Elona accounted for four goals and Banunot one. In the semifinals, the Specials crushed India, 5-0, with goals from Elona, Nicolas and Banunot.

Henry V. Moran Foundation football director Ed Formoso said working with intellectually disabled athletes was an inspiring challenge and finishing second in the Asia-Pacific Special Olympics a gratifying accomplishment. The players were chosen from units supervised by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, namely, the Elsie Gaches Village, Nayon Ng Kabataan, Baguio City Special Education and Special Olympics North National Capital Region.

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“The boys have been playing with their respective teams in something we call ‘Football For Good: The Special League,’” said Formoso. “The Moran Foundation organized this once-a-month league starting last year and we used this to create the team we sent to Australia.” Five of the players came from Elsie Gaches, three from Nayon Ng Kabataan, five from Baguio City Special Education and two from Special Olympics North National Capital Region.

Last September, Formoso said the Moran Foundation arranged for specialized coaching in three centers – defenders in Baguio, midfielders in Nayon Ng Kabataan and strikers in Elsie Gaches. Then, for 20 days last month, Landagan set up a training camp in Baguio and brought the players from the three centers together with the goal of turning them into a “football family.”

Formoso said the ICTSI Foundation played a key role in realizing the dream of the intellectually disabled athletes to represent the country at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Special Olympics. Formoso said he isn’t at liberty to disclose the extent of disability of each athlete but admitted “they are all intellectually challenged, some in more serious cases but no physical handicaps … although several of them are not as agile or well-balanced or react slowly, they all play … they each have a soul of their own, they’re all beautiful people even if they don’t read or write or spell or count, I know they became a family, not just a football team.”

The Specials lineup – defenders Marlon Estares, Ricky Caridad, Rusto Mulle, Jeremiah Tundagui, Jerry Sanchez, Jr., Bautista and Andrew Milo; strikers Elona and Banunot; midfielders Nicolas, Delmer Tawatao, Marlon Lumokso and Jordan and goalkeepers Raymund Galiste and Leonardo, Limbaga, Jr.