SPORTWATCH: KAYA NATIN FOOT

I've always rooted hard for underdogs, and not just the sports teams, but the entire lesser-loved local leagues kind of 'dogs. Which is why at Washington I followed D.C. United over the formerly-known-as-Redskins, and why I've watched more Azkal than Gilas back home.  Whether in the States, in the Philippines or here right now in Australia, soccer's kinda saling-pusa, which only makes me love the sport (and my cat-dog crossover metaphor) even more.

Happily, I was recently able to support two underdog soccer scenes in one go, when Ilo-ilo's Kaya FC visited Australia and played Sydney FC in an Asian Champions League qualifying match.  It was a wonderful experience from start to finish, one which can be told as A Tale of Two Halves (i've got this footy-speak down pat)  

First Half : Pre-match    

Kaya FC paid a courtesy call on the Consulate and gifted its allegedly match fit Acting Head of Post with a tight jersey who reciprocated by carbo-loading the team with pizza so that everyone would share the same body-type anyway the team also produced an HBO Sports doc-type of video that captured almost all of the good energy...                    

...and I say almost because the video did not show that the team also took their time at the Consulate as an opportunity to happily initiate their new members and trainers and coaches...  

As I inspirational-speech told the team right after, "If you lads show the same skill and coordination and teamwork at the match as you just did with your performances, then, uh, yeah..."

Second Half : Match-match

(i don't got this footy-speak down pat)

Game time.  Stadium was good but weather was wild.  Crowd was small but spirits were high.   Sydney FC had home-field advantage, but Kaya FC...had THIS BLOKE

I never really got his full story, but apparently he was once a tourist in the Philippines who stumbled on a Kaya match in Makati and fell in love with the team and now took it upon himself to single-handedly cheer and chant them on without fear of opponent or La Niña conditions.

But while Kaya FC played really well and held their own in the first half, as the weather worsened, so did the scoreline...

Everything had turned cold...except for THIS BLOKE

...who NEVER STOPPED singing "Score a Goal!" until the bitterly wet and windy end...and Kaya almost did! 

Which was more than enough for THIS BLOKE

Muntik na kinaya!  Well done all you footie-dogs!