This is a long time coming. We planned to do this podcast about two months ago? But better late than never. With former national football player as well as current Pachanga striker and club owner Freddy Gonzalez. Interview done at the Coffee Bean @Burgos Circle.
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Just to give a little perspective from my end here in the US. It is very impressive that during his college days that he was able to walk in and get a spot in the U of Portland team, even though it sounds like he never played for them in the NCAA season, because of his commitments to the Philippine national team at that time.
ReplyDeleteU of Portland, especially during the time when Clive Charles was still coaching(Clive is now deceased because of cancer) was considered one of the most professionally run(football wise) and well coached university teams here in the US, consistently, recruiting national team players from at home and abroad and because of his connections to Europe(he played for West Ham United in England) sending many of his best players to Europe to play professionally where they excelled, including the aforementioned US national player Steve Cherundolo who is a captain(unusual in Bundesliga since he is American and not German) and one of the most respected players of Bundesliga side Hannover 96 FC where he has played his entire professional career(nearly 13 years now). He also coached and sent US national team goalkeeper and all time great Kasey Keller to England, where he was considered one of the best goalkeepers in Europe. This was at a time when MLS did not yet exist or was just starting, and US players who had at that time had no professional experience whatsover, were not well respected and therefore did not get a second look in Europe.
Too bad Freddie couldn't commit to playing football professionally and try to make it in Europe. If there were a UFL in the domestic scene back 5 years ago and a national team like we have today, I think he might not have retired and stop playing football and he probably still would have been on the national team today.
Now though, I think it will be difficult for him today at his age, to commit to the national team because of his business and family commitments and can't even play for his own professional UFL team on a regular basis. Still by forming and investing his own money in Pachange, you can see that he has reignited his passion for football again and is committed to helping Philippine football develop locally, even if he can't play full time anymore.