For flag and country: the Armed Forces players on the RP Men's National Football Team

From left to right: Nestor Margarse Jr., Yanti Bersales, and Ian Araneta. At the back looking on in Ed Sacapaño. Photo taken before we boarded the bus for My Dinh for the match versus Singapore.

For flag and country: the Armed Forces players on the RP Men’s National Football Team

story and pic by rick olivares
This also appears in the December 6, 2010 edition of the Business Mirror.

“Kapag natalo i-assign sila sa mga delikadong lugar,’ joked national team assistant coach Roy Piñero of the military contingent to the men’s national football team that is competing in the 2010 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has long been a supplier of players to many a national squad. Aside from serving the country, it has allowed those who love the beautiful game to extend their collegiate careers since there isn’t a real professional league to speak of.

The national’s roster includes seven Air Force personnel in Ian Araneta, Yanti Barsales, Joebel Bermejo, Emelio Caligdong, Mark Anthony Ferrer, Peter Jaugan, and Rey Mark Palmes; and three Army soldiers in Roel Gener, Nestor Margarse, and Eduard Sacapaño.

Being on both the national team and in the military at the same time has its benefits and its challenges. “Nakukuha din namin yung mga benefits ng government employee tulad ng medical, bonus, pension at marami pang iba,” said Caligdong. However, when the players aren’t on loan to the national squad, they are on duty depending on which branch of the armed services they belong to.

“Minsan galing ka ng laro tapos pagbalik mo duty ka na agad,” revealed Margarse.

“Problema yun kapag pagod ka o inaantok ka,” added Bermejo. “Kung ano yung regular na trabaho ng sundalo ganyan din kami. Mas mahirap yan para sa mga Army kesyo sa Air Force.”

“Pero no questions asked yan,” said Caligdong. “Nung nag-take ka ng oath nauna ang serbisyo bago sa pamilya o sa football.”

In times of disasters or red alerts, all the footballers must be back with their units. During Typhoon Ondoy, the players were sent out to different areas to help with the relief and rescue efforts. “Sa football sabi nila para sa bayan yan,” explained Sacapaño. “Pero sa pagtulong sa kapwa tao, yan ang totoong serbisyo. Hindi madali. Lalo na sa una. Pero ngayon sanay na at kung baga second nature na sa amin to.”

Playing for the Azkals, the nickname of the national squad, has given them the opportunity to travel to other countries that they might not normally visit unless for deployment. They also receive extra allowances while on national duty something that Roel Gener admits is quite helpful for one’s family. “Malaking tulong para sa amin.”

For some like Ian Araneta, it was simply following his father’s footsteps as a national player who was also with the military. “Nung bata ako sinasama ako ng tatay ko sa mga laro. Nung nahilig ako sa football at nakita ko rin na nasa national team siya habang nagse-serbisyo sa armed forces, sabi ko gusto ko rin gawin yun.”

Suiting up however for the Azkals isn’t that easy. The request for their inclusion has to be done at the very least 20 working days before the team begins training or leaving for abroad. “No paperwork. No transfer.” Succinctly explained Caligdong. “Hindi pwede yung verbal request. Sa military kailangan may paperwork, may katibayan kung di AWOL ka niyan. Kaya hindi kami nakasama sa Thailand para sa training (where half the team was encamped before the 2010 Suzuki Cup in Hanoi, Vietnam).”

In a team loaded with Fil-foreigners, it can be easy for the homegrown ones to get lost in the shuffle. But right back Anton del Rosario believes that players like Araneta and Caligdong are just as well known or even more popular. “Ian’s one heck of a player. Chieffy is an icon. His enthusiasm for the game is well known and outside Aly (Borromeo who has a billboard for his promoting GNC products), it’s only Chieffy who has a big billboard at the Mizuno store in Megamall.”

Said Borromeo of the military players on the team, “Those guys are tough. No one is tougher I’d say and it’s good to know they are on the team.”