Comes now the Azkal’s Top Dog, Chief(fy)

MANILA, Philippines - Warming up on the sidelines of Bangkok’s huge Rajamangala Stadium, Emelio  “Chieffy” Caligdong watched intently as the Azkals and Vietnam battled on even terms in their all-important Asian Football Federation (AFF)  Suzuki Cup match.

He itched to get that call to come in and try to inject life into a team fighting for dear life.

The call came at the 74th minute – enough time to make a difference.

With 10 minutes left and a scoreless draw looming, Caligdong delivered a brilliant goal off a pinpoint pass from Angel Guirado.

The Azkals’ fortunes suddenly changed. Cheers from the Filipino gallery erupted as he executed his trademark  “airplane goal celebration,” teammates running after him.

 “Yun na ang (That was my) best goal ko, against Vietnam pa na No. 1 team in Southeast Asia” he says.

That was his 16th international goal overall.

“Hindi lang yun para sa sarili ko  (It wasn’t just for me). Team effort. Kung hindi sa teammates ko, hindi rin ako makaka-goal; binigyan nila ako ng chance na makuha yun (If not for my teammates, I wouldn’t have scored the goal; they gave me the chance to get it),” he says.

On a personal note, Caligdong felt he had something to prove after being a “non-factor” in a previous 1-2 setback to Thailand that sent the Azkals to the brink.

 “Disappointed ako sa nilaro ko nung first game. Sabi ko, kung maipasok ako against Vietnam, kahit sub ako, gagawin ko lahat ng makakaya ko (I was disappointed with how I played that first game. I said if I got in against Vietnam, even as a substitute, I’ll do everything I possibly can),” he says.

He played the same role as sub in their semis-clinching 2-0 win over Myanmar, providing energy, pace and guile in the last 11 minutes.

 “Walang problema sa akin maski sub. I’m positive sa ganitong situation. Kung sino ang best 11 na nakikita ng coaching staff, suportahan. Isang team lang kami, lahat kami naghihirap, nagsasakripisyo (No problem even if I’m just a sub. I’m positive in such situations. Whoever the coaching staff see as the best 11 should be supported. We’re one team, we’re all working hard, sacrificing),” he shares, a picture of a man secure with himself.

At 5-foot-5, Ilonggo Caligdong is a little big man in the midst of bigger, stronger players with European pedigree. For some, he is living proof a diminutive probinsyano can keep in step with the big boys.

 “Gusto kong ipakita na kahit ako ang pinakamaliit, malaking bagay din ako sa team (I want to show that even if I fm the smallest, I can be a big factor in the team),” he says.

Caligdong, 30, came from the football hotbed of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.

 “Nakapaa ako nung simula. Nagkaroon lang ako ng football shoes noong naglaro ako sa (I used to play barefoot. I got football shoes only when I played in the) Palarong Pambansa,” he recalls.

Caligdong first suited up for the Philippine U-21 team in the Bolkiah Cup. In 2004, he debuted for the seniors team (not yet called the Azkals) and drew attention when he came off the bench to fire two late goals to lift the Philippines to a 2-1 win over Timor Leste in the ASEAN Championship.

Since then, he has been a regular in the team’s international campaigns, mostly botched jobs that went largely unnoticed.

All that changed in 2010 when the Azkals stunned ASEAN’s traditional powerhouses.

Azkals-mania was born. Players became celebrities. People started following their every move, on TV, on social networking sites – Caligdong himself has 25,443 followers on his Twitter account @chieffy_13.

Everyone now refers to Caligdong as “Chieffy,” a nickname whose origin is actually unknown to most.

 “Bago kasi ako pinanganak, yung lolo ko ang chief of police sa  (Before I was born, my grandfather was chief of police in) Barotac Buevo. Ginamit ng magulang ko yung ‘chief’ tapos nilagyan nila ng ‘fy’ kaya naging (My parents used ‘chief’then added ‘fy’ so it became) “Chieffy.” Yung lolo ko ay (My grandfather was) Emilio, ako ginawang (I became) Emelio, different spelling lang,” Chieffy shares.

So did he actually consider becoming police chief?

 “Hindi ko naman pinangarap maging pulis. Pero yung bloodline namin, mga sundalo. Sa family ko, ako lang ang nag-sundalo (I didn’t think of becoming a cop. Our bloodline is the military, but I’m the only one who actually became a soldier),” he says.

Caligdong was enlisted with the Philippine Air Force until he sought and was granted discharge last Dec. 1.

 “Mister na ako ngayon, hindi na sergeant. Happy ako na nakasama ako sa Air Force family. Dito naman ako sa (Now I’m just mister, not sergeant. I was happy in the Air Force family, now I’m in) civilian life,” he says.

There are plans for his family of four to seek greener pastures in the US next year as his wife Nene found work as a registered nurse in Texas.

 “After Suzuki Cup pa kami magkakaroon ng (we’ll make a) final decision diyan. May mga club offers sa akin sa Manila, kung makakaya kong suportahan ang pamilya ko, mas maganda kung sa Manila na lang kesa maghiwa-hiwalay pa kami. Good opportunity kasi sa akin pero good opportunity rin sa wife ko. Kung ano makakabuti yun ang pipiliin namin (I have some offers from Manila clubs, and if I can support my family it’s better in Manila rather than being apart. It’s a good opportunity for me, but also a good opportunity for my wife. Whatever is better for the family is what we’ll choose),” he explains.

In the meantime, this “chief” of the Azkals brood focuses on his role in a team aiming to become one the top dogs of the region.