Fil-British Gould lifts RP past Bhutan

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

“I’d rather be playing for the Philippines…” Chad Gould

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino-British striker Chad Gould took a break from a fledgling music career and dimmed his chances of making the England beach soccer squad when he decided to join the Philippine team in the AFC Challenge Cup.
But the decision started getting its desired result Tuesday night as Gould scored the only goal in the RP booters’ scrambling 1-0 victory over Bhutan on the first day of the group B qualifying tournament at the National Stadium in Maldives.

Gould, 26, whose acoustic rock band Redgrave inked a recording contract in England recently, headed home an inch-perfect cross from fellow Filipino-British winger James Younghusband in the 13th minute for his fifth international goal since 2003.

“I want it to be clear that my priority is to help the Philippines win,” Gould, who was also picked to the training pool of England beach soccer team, told the Inquirer via e-mail.

“The coach in England said that I will miss out on training that will hinder my chances of making the squad but in my mind, I’d rather be playing for the Philippines,” he said.

Younghusband focuses on football

This time, Younghusband focuses on football
By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:45:00 04/12/2009
Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines - When James Younghusband flirted with a a modeling career in the Philippines last year, there were doubts if the former Chelsea reserve will ever play football again-professionally and for the national team.

While endorsement deals were falling Younghusband’s way, it seemed that he was also taking a step back in resurrecting what was once a promising footballing career in London.

After getting waived by Chelsea in 2006, he was finding difficulty getting signed up by a club and was suffering from a hamstring injury that had bothered him the past four years.

“I never lost the love for the game but I wanted to take time off the stress of making it big in England,” said the 22-year-old right winger, one of five foreign-born Filipinos who have been recalled to the national team for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in the Maldives starting tomorrow.

The wave of foreign talent brought in by Chelsea in 2005 made Younghusband a surplus and it didn’t take long before his stint with one of the world’s richest clubs came to an end.

“It was a big drop coming from Chelsea, where you are treated well, to finding a club where you have to fend for yourself,” he said.

Left without a club, Younghusband was convinced to take up a career in modeling. But he found the urge to return to the pitch too hard to resist. And in October last year, he left the glamour of photo shoots and parties and flew back to London in October to work on his game.

“The time off helped me grow up,” said Younghusband, prone to openly expressing his frustrations and criticizing game officials on the pitch. “I think I’m more mature and calm this time.”

And though he hasn’t been playing club football for quite some time, James is optimistic that he can contribute immensely to the national team’s cause in the Challenge Cup.

“I think this is my fittest in a long while,” he said. “I am always injured because I wasn’t fit. Now, I feel fresher after every training session.”

James said having his younger brother, Phil, in the RP Team would have made his return to the squad “perfect.”

“I definitely miss playing with him because we’ve been playing together almost our whole lives,” he said of his younger brother, who was once linked to a move to Major League Soccer team Los Angeles Galaxy.

James, though, believes the RP Team is capable of pulling a surprise in the Maldives, despite the short preparation.

“We may not have time to jell but we’ve grown up together as a team,” he said.

Schuwerk resigns from CebuFA board, cites health

Sunstar Cebu
Tuesday, March 31, 2009

GERMAN national and Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) board member Manfred Schuwerk has resigned from his post less than a year after assuming it.

Schuwerk quit his position as the head of the Cebu FA’s referees committee for health reasons.

“I have already been in the hospital twice and I’ve called my doctor in Germany and he advised me to reduce my activities,” Schuwerk said in an interview with Sun.Star Cebu.

Schuwerk believes Cebu City will be fine without his services and that Lapu-Lapu needs him more to promote football in the area.

“I give my priority to the Lapu-Lapu kids rather than Cebu because Lapu-Lapu has nothing,” said the 65-year-old Shuwerk. “I want to uplift the quality of football in Lapu-Lapu and increase the number of football players here.”

Prospect

The Cebu FA already has a prospect in mind to replace Schuwerk. The board will still meet next Monday for the final decision on the German’s replacement.

Schuwerk is working on a summer program for Lapu-Lapu City and will also be hosting football and futsal tournaments this summer.

He has around 150 footballers in the city and he also plans to help the Lapu-Lapu squad for their next campaigns in the Cental Visayas Regional Athletic Association (Civraa) .

“I’m very much needed in Lapu-Lapu because the Cviraa team lacks experience,” he said.

Schuwerk said he will be also training teachers this summer so the teachers, in turn, can train their students.

The German national, who started teaching football in Lapu-Lapu City in 2004 and personally funding his programs, was awarded the Sportswriters Association of Cebu Orlacsan Award for his work in 2008.

Schuwerk was named one of the Cebu FA board members last year along with Cebu FA President Richard Montayre, Eleazar Toledo, Tony Moraza, Raffy Musni, Adonis Quitoy, Bro. Mari Aberasturi, Ricky Dakay and Rachel Genco.