There will be football training this Saturday, August 2, 7-9AM in HEdCen for the Midgets A team. I encourage the other teams to train as well. Please confirm with your coach if it is possible for Saturday training.

Last Saturday, I was in Cagayan de Oro where I had to meet some people. It was on this day that HEdCen visited Ateneo for a practice game in the college fields. According to Coach Sugar, the game ended in a draw. Ateneo scored the first goal, a grounder that slipped past our goalie’s hands and into the net. Coach Sugar said that despite the goal, HEdCen did not lose its composure and showed maturity in the field dominating the wings which later resulted to a spectacular effort by co-captain of Midgets A James Condat, who weaved through two Ateneans before blasting the ball over the goalie for the equalizer. Ateneo took control of the middle. This gave them opportunities to attack though HEdCen controlled the game overall.

Skie was in bad condition due to stomach problems. Skie couldn’t function well but the outstanding performance of the other HEdCenites made up for that.

Coach Sugar is confident that the team will continue to grow and develop before the start of their first match against neighbor La Salle Antipolo.

Tomorrow’s training will be focused on endurance and player-ball movement in the field.

Coach Sugar arranged for a practice game against Ateneo but only Ateneo’s Midgets A team is ready to play on Saturday. Last time Ateneo and HEdCen met in this age group was in the Midgets B RIFA games where the match ended in 0-0. Skie almost won it for HEdCen when his shot which cruised past the keeper bounced of the post.

HEdCen Midgets A may have the edge in this match if they maintain the momentum they’ve had in the past 2 weeks improving a lot on combination plays along the wings, playing through passes to cutters in the middle, and a never-before-seen teamwork which got them past Marist 3-1 last week. Ateneo players are bigger and if they manage to often get a body on HEdCen players, this will benefit them a lot. HEdCen’s defense will have to hold. Hopefully, HEdCen will maintain its team play and even improve it some more with better timing, better decisions on the field, and more hardwork.

Vinz in HEdCen’s brown uniform was always a cute boy…2004? 2005?

I think this was 2 to 3 years ago in a RIFA Cup festival…

Here’s Edward dela Cruz and John Condat, the dynamic left wing combo of HEdCen Midgets A. John played left forward and Edward played left halfback. Not only did they deliver in offense but in defense as well, trapping opponents on double-team effort.

Zach Riskin tries to decide what he’s going to do with the ball as pressure is applied from behind (Marist practice game, July 19, 2008).

I think this shot was taken 4 or 5 years ago… The small field looks the same but the kids… major changes…

Angelo Frejas and his team stretches before the practice game against Marist last Saturday, July 19, 2008.

Coach Sugar gives reminders to the highschool team before playing against Marist last Saturday, July 19, 2008.