Global Force: Supporters Above All

Fellow Atenean Mark Malcampo manning the bass drum while Julian Isleta leads the cheers. Evan Mercado in the back wearing black beats on the snare.

Global Force: Supporters Above All

by rick olivares

There was an air of desperation.

It was close to full time and Global had not yet scored against Air Force. The two great rivals had battled to a stalemate. Well, it wasn’t exactly a stalemate as Air Force, now a wholly different club as the mainstays of yesteryear that had led them to many a championship were gone, had stayed mostly on the defensive.

Global’s frustrations were out in the open. Desperation breeds such. Teammates were arguing. Plays were botched. And on the few occasions that Air Force had a shot on goal, hearts and blood pressure palpitated and shoot up.

Yet the Global faithful, Global Force as they have come to call themselves, never let up in their cheering, haranguing, and applauding every step of the way.

Mark Malcampo, who leads Global Force, says that he started out as an Azkals fan. “They were my introduction to football,” he admits. “Because of that, I followed the players in their respective clubs. Most of the national players are on Global so that makes it easier for me to root for them.”

They live by their club’s creed of “Above All” that translates into “country first, club second.”

“We know that Boss Dan (Palami, owner of the club and national team manager) has spent a lot just to keep our national players in the Philippines so that it is easier for them to train with the national team,” explained Malcampo. “We know it’s expensive but he does it for the country. So we support him all the way.”

To the collective members of the booster group gathered for the Thursday match between Air Force and Global, they make no bones about being newcomers to the sport. They do not feel slighted one bit when they hear of accusations of being fangirls first and football fans second.

Mia Narvas believes there is nothing wrong with that. “We have grown to love the sport. Hindi ba ganun ang dapat mangyari – to create new fans?”

Claudine Ulita was first a basketball fan. And she remains one. But there is room for her interests when it comes to football. She recounted how officemates would wonder about her new beau that is football. “Kung hindi sila basketball fan mga walang hilig sa kahit anong sport,” she tells with a tinge of pride. “Now sila sila na rin nanonood at fan din ng football.”

Global Force was never organized from the beginning. Mark Malcampo says that the fans of the club simply gravitated towards one another. “We noticed that we shared a common passion for Global then we began to sit next to one another. The cheers just started out as natural lang. We came up with cheers and chants as we went along.”

Jaycee de Guzman admits to being torn. He roots for both Air Force and for Global. On occasion, he also cheers for Kaya. “Football fan kasi,” he sheepishly admits despite my jokes about him being ‘balimbing’. “Agree din ako kay Mark (Malcampo). Fan ako ng national team at maraming Azkals sa Global.”

Air Force or Global, I press at the match gets heated between the two sides.

De Guzman gulps. “Global.” As if on cue, he joins the rest of his brethren in cheering as they go on the attack.

Their devotion is fanatical. On the rare occasion the club loses such as the recent elimination at the hands of Ceres in the PFF Smart Club National Championship, they feel – “heartbroken” throws in Julian Isleta who leads Global Force in their cheers. “But we know that the team will bounce back. They always do.”

The Global supporters to date have about 10 different cheers. Time was they would cheer their lungs out but now with their official recognition by the club, have been given a pair of snare drums and one bass drum that they lug to every game. “Kahit Rizal Memorial Stadium, UMak, Nuvali o dito sa Emperador, nandito kami,” emphasized Kay Jenkins who lives in far off Bulacan but always make the long trek to the games.

“Yung club (Global),” emphasized Evan Mercado who pounds the skins for the supporters during games. “it’s in our blood.”

Global Force has become one of the more louder and forceful support groups in the United Football League. They currently number about 30 with some 20 regularly going to all the games.

“Marami naman fans na sumasama,” clarifies Malcampo. “Siguro kapag na prove na loyal sa siya club at lagi siya nandyan then talagang kasama na siya sa Global Force.”

In the 85^th minute, an errant Air Force pass finds Global on the quick counter. Midfielder Jeffrey Christiaens who has been zigging and zagging from one side to another to confuse the Air Force defense sends a diagonal pass from the middle to a streaking Misagh Bahadoran on the left flank.

Before an Air Force defender can close him down, he unleashed a cross to the center of the box. Christiaens timed his run and when Bahadoran’s well-placed cross dropped in the middle of the box, the Fil-Belgian headed the ball past Kenneth Dolloso for a 1-0 lead.

The fog of uncertainty had been lifted. Global Force went ballistic as the Global players saluted them for their faith.

Six minutes later, left back Delon Patrick Yao, who nearly gave up a bad pass that could have led to an Air Force goal, lofted a shot to the far post from the left edge of the box. The ball evaded the outstretched arms of backup Louie Sobrevega who had come in for Dolloso who was sent off for incurring a second yellow card. Two-nil, Global.

The game was in the bag. The winning and undefeated streak preserved. Yao ran over to Global Force to salute them.

“Another day. Another game. Another win. Good day for us,” smiled Malcampo at the final whistle that declared full time.

Declared De Guzman: “Masarap ang kain nito.”

Next up: The supporters of the Loyola Meralco Sparks. Followed by the AIr Force supporters!