In a surprising but much welcome development, former Filipinas team manager and Davao Aguilas FC owner Jeff Cheng was the main guest in the press conference organized by Stallion Laguna FC earlier this week.
On the opposite side of the pitch during the domestic leagues, Cheng is joining forces with Filbert Alquiros and Ernest Nierras in backstopping Stallion Laguna FC’s women’s team.
Cheng’s Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions (PAGSS) will be the main sponsor of the distaff side, which will be bannered by Filipinas mainstays Liv and Chandler McDaniel, Bella Passion, Jessica Miclat and Sofia Harrison-Wunsch. Cheng’s familiarity and close connection with these players also played a key role in why he is supporting the team.
Ernest Nierras, head coach of Stallion Laguna FC, says Cheng’s support probably summed up what football is all about.
“Even if we are on opposing teams, it shows that we can work together. This is the most important thing when it comes to Philippine football. It’s too small a community to start drawing and dividing lines. We have to help each other,” he explained, noting that Stallion Laguna FC’s heart is in women’s football too.
The partnership between the Stallions Laguna FC and PAGSS was met with excitement and gratitude, knowing that the women’s league also needs support not only from fans but from people who can provide moral and especially financial boost. And having the former Filipinas team manager openly declaring his support and his bank account to the opposing side says a lot and more.
Cheng is now a ‘Ninong’ to more players outside his Filipinas family and he doesn’t mind crossing team colors and geography to boost morale and inspire more girls to play the sport. He is also hoping that more sponsors will pitch in to make the women’s league a permanent fixture in domestic football.
“I think one of the main drivers to improve the women’s game is to have a strong domestic competition. In line with this, getting more opportunities for the local based players and local teams matters a lot. It is important to have quality competitions,” he said.
Cheng is also happy that some of his former wards are coming to play for Stallion Laguna, with more suiting for other teams as well.
“This news will generate more interest because our heroes in the World Cup will be playing. Fans can expect better competitions between and within clubs,” he added.
Aside from formally introducing the players for its women’s team, Stallion Laguna also presented its men’s squad which has undergone massive changes with the acquisition of several foreign players that will help the team go deep in the domestic and even in international competitions.
“Last year our biggest problem was that a lot of our local players got opportunities to play overseas. So now we are trying to come and reinforce that and at the same token, bring in a whole bunch of new recruits and new signings that at the end of the day will bring great football matches regardless of who we’re playing against,” Nierras said.
But more than the launching of Stallion Laguna’s men’s and women’s teams, the gathering of support for the team brings so much hope and excitement on and off the pitch.
Even former Azkals’ team manager Dan Palami was also present during the Stallion Laguna event. It is no secret that Palami supports One Taguig FC and the Philippine Azkals 7s, but he was also on the sidelines cheering for Stallion Laguna FC’s teams.
And from what The Designated Kit Man has heard, a future collaboration between Cheng and Palami, the two titans of Philippine football, once a no-no is now a big possibility. A year ago, this idea would have been an impossibility, but then football is indeed a sport wherein ties are established regardless of colors, views and other reasons. And now here we are — Cheng, Palami, Alquiros and Nierras — bonding together to help and promote the sport they love.
Mga taga third floor na lang ang kulang!
Cheng also continues to spread his support not only on and off the football pitch. The other day, Cheng provided the spark and inspiration in an otherwise rainy morning to members of the country’s team to the Paris Paralympics 2024.
Cheng extended his gratitude and gave modest sums to paralympians Cendy Asusano, Agustina Bantiloc, Jerrold Mangliwan, Ernie Gawilan, Allain Ganapin and Angel Otom in recognition of their sacrifices in bringing honor to the country that differently abled athletes can also excel even in the biggest sporting event in the world, especially with the right support and program. Even the coaching team got their share of support from Cheng.
With this kind of generosity and passion not only for football and other sports as well, I’m just wondering what really made Cheng leave managing the Filipinas?
Meanwhile, good friend Rey Joble shared a concern regarding unpaid salaries owed to people who worked for the Philippine Super League. Joble says his friends who were really affected by the sad development only want to have an audience with the principal or league owner. “They just want to get what is due to them,” he added. Here’s hoping that this issue will be settled soon.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat
