Source: GMANEWS
“Di nga ako nakatulog kagabi," Ian Araneta says and shakes his head.
It’s the day after the Azkals' bout against Mongolia. He missed all his goal attempts; one almost went in but bounced back on the crossbar.
“Nung Indonesia, poste din. Akala ko kahapon mapuputol na yung malas. Baka sa Mongolia maka-chamba. Malamang di na naman ako makatulog nito mamaya," he adds.
The 28-year-old has gone a long way from his humble beginnings in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo. He’s one of the “local Azkals," as people put it. The eldest of four kids, Ian was born to a teacher and a retired soldier. His dad also used to play football.
“Siguro nasa dugo ko na talaga yung football. Tsaka kinukulit din ako ng daddy ko dati. Nung nasimulan ko na, masaya pala. Gusto mo na yung ginagawa mo, wala pang pressure," he says.
Ian got hooked on the sport when he was already in fourth grade, a bit late compared to his teammates. His natural skill compensates for lost time, though. He’s already been with Air Force Riders for ten years. He’s also played for the country’s U-16, U-19, and U-21 squads.
“Nananaginip ng gising"
“Di pa rin ako makapaniwala na nasa FIFA website kami, tapos tinalo namin yung Vietnam. Eh dati di naman kami pinapansin," he says.
When the Azkals played against Indonesia in the Suzuki Cup, they experienced what it was like to really be underdogs.
“Sa Indonesia, hinahampas yung bus namin. Yung mga fans nagdi-dirty finger sa amin. Yung iba nga binabato pa kami ng water bottles," he shares.
This is exactly the opposite of the warm welcome they received in Bacolod during the AFC Challenge Cup. Fans hounded them wherever they went; some went as far as stalking. Winning against Mongolia that day wasn’t the only achievement for Ian; meeting the President was, too.
“Sobrang saya talaga. Para akong nananaginip ng gising," he says.
Foreigners stealing the scene?
Although he’s one of the full-blooded Filipinos, he doesn’t have anything against the half-foreigners – even if that means less exposure for him.
“Di kasi nila naiintindihan na kaya naman kumukuha ng foreigners para din sa ikabubuti ng team. Iba yung turo sa kanila abroad. Nung first time dumating nung recruits, sobrang mas aggressive sila, mas magaling. Pero balanced na ngayon yung team," he explains.
Ian is even roommates with Fil-British Phil Younghusband. The forwards have been partners since the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. Ian says they both like staying up late (and it’s become a habit to sleep with the TV turned on). If not watching TV, they talk about football and share their frustrations on why Filipinos never grew fond of the sport. Ian and Phil with his Brit-accent would make for an interesting show.
“Dati, dumudugo ilong ko, pero ngayon tina-Tagalog ko na lang yon. Marunong na siya!" he laughs.
Araneta family affair
While Ian took up football after his dad, it also trickles down to the rest of his family. In fact, his youngest sister Alina plays in the U-16 and U-19 teams.
Among the Azkals, Chieffy Caligdong is Ian’s third cousin, while Yanti Barsales is his uncle.
“Si Yanti tito ko. Bata pa ko pinapanood ko na yan," he jokes.
Even in Air Force, he has cousins Harold and Herbert Bayona to keep him company.
“Pag game, nagkakasigawan kami minsan, kasi frustrated o galit ka. Sa football, di pwedeng tahimik ka eh. Pero masaya kasi parang family reunion lang lagi," Ian says.
His wife Lacey, a fellow Ilonggo, doesn’t really play football, but she’s always at the stands to cheer him on. As Ian said, football runs in the Araneta blood. His four-year-old son Sam is already starting out in the sport.
“Sumisipa na din siya. Ilang taon pa, makakasama ko na din yan!" the proud dad ends.
To paraphrase the old adage: “The family that plays together, stays together." Okay, besides that, maybe Ian’s family is quite special because they play and win games for all of us.
It’s the day after the Azkals' bout against Mongolia. He missed all his goal attempts; one almost went in but bounced back on the crossbar.
“Nung Indonesia, poste din. Akala ko kahapon mapuputol na yung malas. Baka sa Mongolia maka-chamba. Malamang di na naman ako makatulog nito mamaya," he adds.
The 28-year-old has gone a long way from his humble beginnings in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo. He’s one of the “local Azkals," as people put it. The eldest of four kids, Ian was born to a teacher and a retired soldier. His dad also used to play football.
“Siguro nasa dugo ko na talaga yung football. Tsaka kinukulit din ako ng daddy ko dati. Nung nasimulan ko na, masaya pala. Gusto mo na yung ginagawa mo, wala pang pressure," he says.
Ian got hooked on the sport when he was already in fourth grade, a bit late compared to his teammates. His natural skill compensates for lost time, though. He’s already been with Air Force Riders for ten years. He’s also played for the country’s U-16, U-19, and U-21 squads.
“Nananaginip ng gising"
“Di pa rin ako makapaniwala na nasa FIFA website kami, tapos tinalo namin yung Vietnam. Eh dati di naman kami pinapansin," he says.
When the Azkals played against Indonesia in the Suzuki Cup, they experienced what it was like to really be underdogs.
“Sa Indonesia, hinahampas yung bus namin. Yung mga fans nagdi-dirty finger sa amin. Yung iba nga binabato pa kami ng water bottles," he shares.
This is exactly the opposite of the warm welcome they received in Bacolod during the AFC Challenge Cup. Fans hounded them wherever they went; some went as far as stalking. Winning against Mongolia that day wasn’t the only achievement for Ian; meeting the President was, too.
“Sobrang saya talaga. Para akong nananaginip ng gising," he says.
Foreigners stealing the scene?
Although he’s one of the full-blooded Filipinos, he doesn’t have anything against the half-foreigners – even if that means less exposure for him.
“Di kasi nila naiintindihan na kaya naman kumukuha ng foreigners para din sa ikabubuti ng team. Iba yung turo sa kanila abroad. Nung first time dumating nung recruits, sobrang mas aggressive sila, mas magaling. Pero balanced na ngayon yung team," he explains.
Ian is even roommates with Fil-British Phil Younghusband. The forwards have been partners since the 2005 Southeast Asian Games. Ian says they both like staying up late (and it’s become a habit to sleep with the TV turned on). If not watching TV, they talk about football and share their frustrations on why Filipinos never grew fond of the sport. Ian and Phil with his Brit-accent would make for an interesting show.
“Dati, dumudugo ilong ko, pero ngayon tina-Tagalog ko na lang yon. Marunong na siya!" he laughs.
Araneta family affair
While Ian took up football after his dad, it also trickles down to the rest of his family. In fact, his youngest sister Alina plays in the U-16 and U-19 teams.
Among the Azkals, Chieffy Caligdong is Ian’s third cousin, while Yanti Barsales is his uncle.
“Si Yanti tito ko. Bata pa ko pinapanood ko na yan," he jokes.
Even in Air Force, he has cousins Harold and Herbert Bayona to keep him company.
“Pag game, nagkakasigawan kami minsan, kasi frustrated o galit ka. Sa football, di pwedeng tahimik ka eh. Pero masaya kasi parang family reunion lang lagi," Ian says.
His wife Lacey, a fellow Ilonggo, doesn’t really play football, but she’s always at the stands to cheer him on. As Ian said, football runs in the Araneta blood. His four-year-old son Sam is already starting out in the sport.
“Sumisipa na din siya. Ilang taon pa, makakasama ko na din yan!" the proud dad ends.
To paraphrase the old adage: “The family that plays together, stays together." Okay, besides that, maybe Ian’s family is quite special because they play and win games for all of us.
An askal is a Filipino term for any dog with no pedigree, no breed, no class. The askal is usually astray, unsupported and survives by feeding on whatever provision it can find. The Filipino national football team can relate to this mongrel, they have almost no support from a government thats suppose to support them, they are underdogs not just only to the world but even in their own region, South East Asia.
Name: Angel Guirado Aldeguer
Stephan Schröck - nicknamed "Schröcky", is a German–Filipino professional footballer who plays as a right back for 2nd Bundesliga club SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
