Shocking developments

There have been quite a number of sports surprises during the weekend.

First, Italy shed off its tag as the World Cup's penalty clown by beating France in a shootout, 5-3.

Another surprise was when Zinedine Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball (MVP) award of the tournament despite one of the most ungraceful exits that I have seen in the sports world. I don't hate Zidane, in fact, I like him so much, but it was very disappointing to see him headbutt the chest of Italy's Marco Materazzi that led to his unceremonious exit from the game with a red card.

That was very un-Zidane, but I'm very sure he has a good reason for doing that.

In the world of racing, Juan Pablo Montoya also pulled his own surprise - he quite F-1 to join NASCAR. He's not only leaving the glitz and glamour of the F-1 circuit, but will also be taking a huge pay cut when he goes back to racing in the "boring" ovals.

Montoya however said that real racing is in NASCAR and he is an authority to say that. It must be pretty lonely in F-1 for him to decide to leave.

I am not exactly fond of Montoya, but was just shocked to hear how he turned his back on Formula-1 racing, which is like the ultimate goal of any driver. It's his life and I respect his decision. Even McLaren respects it and has accepted his resignation.

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The Cebu Football Association (CebuFA) has announced that this year's Aboitiz Cup and Festival will have a record field of over 2,500 players. Wow!

This is a very good sign for football in our little paradise in the Pacific, but then it doesn't end with the numbers and tournaments.

I am not a member of the association having been refused such when I asked if I could pay my dues a few years ago when they reorganized. Despite this, I have decided to continue supporting the game and the association for the love of the sport and my desire to help ensure a better future for the children. I ask all others to do the same.

I play a role that many others also are doing - being a supportive parent. Seeing the figures released by the CebuFA makes me feel somewhat important having contributed my drop in the bucket just like all other parents, who have been religiously following their children and encouraging them to play.

Many of us parents have probably heard of our children telling us their dreams of becoming professional football players someday. This may sound to dreamy now, but with our continued support and the proper program that the football association would develop and implement, this can really happen.

In a decade or so, we can be sending OFWs to Europe not to work as nurses or caregivers, but to play football and bring honor to our country.

By the way, politicians will have to do their share to aid the private sector in this quest for football development.

For starters, try building small playing areas in your political bailiwicks.

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My classmates from our elementary class will be heading to the Manatad Elementary School in Sibonga early this morning as part of our charity project for our silver jubilee reunion.

This project is in cooperation with THE FREEMAN Foundation.

Tomorrow, we are holding three lectures at the USC-BED South Campus on the topics of transactional analysis, journalism, and storytelling to be conducted by my classmates from grade six.

On Saturday is the big day. The registration will start at 8 a.m. and the mass starts at exactly 9:30 a.m. to be officiated by Fr. Randy Figuracion, SDB. The program proper follows right after the mass.

Not just my classmates will be there, but also our teachers.