Achance to represent the country abroad doesn’t come that often.
That’s why Eric Rafael Orale and Pietre Dakay vowed to give their all when they don the country’s colors in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-19 Championship 2018 qualifiers in Cambodia.
The Philippine Under-19 team was playing against Myanmar in the international tournament as of press time.
Both were selected to be part of the Philippine team after getting the nod of coaches from the Philippine Football Federation.
The 18-year-old Orale, the best defender in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. secondary football tournament who helped Don Bosco Technical College win the title, will be representing the country in an international tournament for the first time.
“I promise to give my best, to play with my heart because this is not only for myself but for my country,” said Orale, the son of Cebu Football Association (CFA) board of director Rodney Orale.
The grade 12 student added he feels great to represent the country in the AFC U-19 qualifiers. “I feel excited and pressured at the same time because we are facing the best youth teams in Asia.”
The 17-year-old Dakay of Paref Springdale will be playing for their second time abroad with the national team. But he believes this tour of duty is something special since only a few were called up after the tryouts.
“It feels great playing for the country. I’ve been preparing for this for so long,” said Dakay.
Just like Orale, Dakay promised to put up a good fight in his stint in Cambodia.
“I am willing to give blood, sweat and tears for the country. It has been my dream to play for the younger team of the Philippine Azkals since I was a kid. I am so happy that I am one step closer of fulfilling my dream, and I’m also happy that all my hard work was awarded because I am here in Cambodia again.”
The Philippine team will next face China on Oct. 26 and host team Cambodia on Oct. 28.