Orale, Dakay join PH U19 in AFC qualifers
Cebuano booters Erich Rafael Orale and Pietre Dakay get a chance to represent the country as part of the Philippines Under-19 team that will be seeing action this week in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-19 Championship 2018 qualifiers in Cambodia.
“This is really a dream come true. All the sacrifices and support from us and his coaches didn’t go to waste because he made it,” Erich’s father Rodney Orale told SunStar Cebu yesterday.
The Philippines Under-19 squad left for Cambodia yesterday.
The Philippines’ first assignment in Group G is against Myanmar tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m. at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.
“We are thankful for the Don Bosco Salesians and teachers who supported ER so that he’ll be excused in his classes despite the short notice, and especially coach Glen (Ramos) because of his efforts. It’s unfortuante that the other players from DBTC (Don Bosco Technology Center) didn’t make it. Hopefully next time they’ll be given a chance,” said Rodney, a member of the Cebu Football Association (CFA) board of directors.
Orale was recently named the Best Defender during the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. secondary football tournament which DBTC won.
Dakay also played with Orale when they represented Region 7 in last year’s Palarong Pambansa football tournament.
The Philippines is up against China on Oct. 26 still at 4:30 PM and will face host Cambodia at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 28.
The leaders of all 10 groups along with the best five second-placers move on to the next round. /