For the love of the game

MANILA, Philippines — Nico Bolzico’s earliest memory of playing football was when he was two or three years old.

“I remember kicking the ball with my Dad every afternoon after he’d come back from the farm,” he recalls. The Argentinian and better half of Solenn Heussaff is an avid fan and frequently plays with his friends every chance he gets.

“Football was the first sport I enjoyed because I grew up playing it everyday in Argentina,” he says.

Along with other football enthusiasts Chris Greatwich, Jason Dejong, Roxy Dorla and Mike Reyes, Bolzico is part of the Philam Life 7’s Football League, a tournament started last year by former Azkals and Philippine national football team member Anton Del Rosario who has dedicated most of his life to developing the country’s passion for football whether on or off the field.

Compared to the usual football game, 7’s is played at less than half the pitch using smaller goals, with seven players each instead of the full 11 per team in a regular football match, making it a faster-paced and more exciting game.

Anton del Rosario is the Philam Life 7’s Football League founder and plays for the Delimondo Laro FC. Photo Release

This 2019, the league is partnering with Philam Life, which shares Del Rosario’s advocacy of encouraging Filipinos to strive to live a more active lifestyle.

“I have always believed in partnerships, especially when it comes to building programs for the youth. The fact that we have Philam Life and AIA on board, a company with international influence when it comes to football, shows we are going in the right direction,” Del Rosario says.

“They are not only supporting the dreams of the youth, but also fulfilling dreams of players who never got the opportunity to play at the highest level. I hope this is the beginning of something that will last a long time,” he adds.

For Bernadette Chincuanco, Philam Life’s head of Branding and Communications, she says, “Philam Life has been looking for a way to get into football, as AIA, our Hong Kong-based parent company, has been the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club’s Global Principal Partner since 2017.”

The UK-based Spurs, as they are more commonly known, competes in the Premier League.

“We’re happy to partner with the 7’s, and support such an exciting football league that allows us to encourage Filipinos to live healthier, longer and better lives,” Chincuanco says.

Fit and healthy

Football is an intense sport which requires you to stay focused and alert at all times.

“You need to be fit in order to play. It’s not about running 20 km or 30 km—it’s about doing your first three steps very fast because that’s when you take advantage of having the ball,” Bolzico says.

Aside from having strong legs, you’ll need brain power too. “You need to understand positioning. The challenge is how to react based on your skills,” Bolzico says.

In order to stay fit for the game, he works out five to six times a week. He also runs, sprints, does pushups, signs up for races like Spartan, and tries to eat healthy.

“Football motivates me to be fit. Health should always be a priority. If I want to perform well on the field, I have to be active and not lazy,” he says.

He admits he may not be the most skilled player on the field, but whatever he lacks in skill, he makes up with his naturally competitive nature, boundless energy, and keen understanding of the game to push his team to win.

The most important part of playing football is loving the game.

“You really bond with your friends, you learn to support each other, which eventually applies even off the field,” he says. “You give it all for your team, you try to defeat your opponent, but after the game, you shake their hand and hug them. There’s a lot of honor and respect in the sport, a very good way to learn life’s lessons.”

Catch Del Rosario and Bolzico go head to head at the Philam Life 7’s Football League with games held at McKinley Hill Stadium, Taguig City. Admission is free. 

For more information, visit the league’s Facebook page at 7sfootballleagueph.

To find out how Philam Life helps Filipinos live healthier, longer and better lives, visit philamlife.com, their Facebook page at PhilamLifeAIA, or contact them through [email protected] or (02)528-2000.