Goteborg in the eyes of Patricia

For three weeks, a group of 58 boys and girls – from 10 to 15 years old – lived away from the comforts of home as Makati Football School Director Tomas Lozano marked the 18th straight year of bringing Filipino youth to the soccer fields of Europe.

Two girls and three boys teams played at the Barcelona Cup in Spain, the Helsinki Cup in Finland, and the Gothia Cup in Goteborg, Sweden.

The players were picked from De La Salle Zobel, Southridge, International Christian Academy, Woodrose, Southville, International School of Manila, Xavier, Poveda, Manila Japanese School, Colegio de San Agustin, and Springdale from Cebu. Lozano also brought along five coaches and a doctor. Six parents made the trip, too.

The Filipinos didn’t exactly kick up a storm but they’ll remember the trip as a lifetime’s experience.

Take Patricia Loanzon, 13, a Woodrose high school first-year student, and the MVP of the last Alaska Cup with 13 goals in five games. She saw action in a total of 13 contests during the Europe swing and her team failed to score a single goal. But there was a lot more to it than just winning.

"I learned to become more responsible and independent," said Patricia who started playing soccer in Grade 4. "I fixed my own stuff. I didn’t rely on anybody. I met people from different countries. I saw different places."

Patricia said traveling in a group tightened the bond among her teammates.

"We slept in classrooms and sometimes on inflatable beds," she continued. "In Sweden, the toilets were across the street from our school building. We showered in our bathing suits and the boys, in their trunks, because the bathrooms were public. We lined up for food – spaghetti, sausages, lasagna. If we didn’t like the food, sorry na lang."

In soccer terms, Patricia said the grind was grueling. They played two games a day. The consolation was each half took only 20 minutes to play, instead of 30 or 40. There were hard practices, too. In fact, before leaving for Europe, the players practiced thrice a week for six months.

Thailand, Portugal, Finland, US and Canada were among the countries that finished creditably in the three competitions. While the Philippines didn’t place, Patricia said the Filipinos were lauded for their sportsmanship. Isa Camara, for one, was given three Fair Play cards. In Barcelona, the delegation received the "Simpatio" award for being the most disciplined. Some Portuguese players even gave their second place medals to new Filipina friends.

Patricia said Lozano – whom the players call "Papa" – made sure there were no hitches in the trip. "He treated us like his own children – he was strict but loving," added Patricia. "And he’s also kalog."

Each player paid a $2,800 fee to cover plane fares, accommodations, food, and pocket money. Lozano took care of exchanging currencies and distributing allowances. In the end, Lozano gave back $250 to each parent as savings.

Patricia’s mother Tess, Assistant Vice President and Alabang branch manager of ABN-Amro Bank, said the trip was worth the cost. "Tomas did a good job of taking care of the children," she noted. "There was time for football, for sightseeing, and some shopping. And they never missed a Sunday Mass."

Patricia said she was awed by the enormity of the tournaments. In Goteborg, over 1,000 teams competed and in Barcelona, the stadium was packed by 180,000 fans. She said she learned to play on different surfaces – turf, grass, and sand – and realized she still has a long way to go in improving her passing and defense.

Patricia brought back banners, T-shirts, mid-size soccer balls, and souvenirs for her collection and for her parents and brothers Mico, 19, and Martin, 17.

When it was time to go home, Patricia said it was like the end of a dream. She hugged her teammates and best friends – Lica Ibarra, Erin Zuluaga, Kathy Ilano, Sam Sam Bermudez, K Hernandez, Andrea Alegre, Bertha Lina, Yannick Tuazon, Eduardo Cojuangco, Martin Uy and Luigi Meer – promising to keep in touch. For three weeks, they were like brothers and sisters in a family.

While she had to study double time to make up for three weeks’ absence after coming home, Patricia said she’d like to go back again. She plays for the Woodrose varsity and hopes to be more prepared for next year’s competitions.

Patricia’s father Tommy, Vice President and General Manager of San Miguel Corp.’s poultry business, said he missed his daughter terribly even as his wife exchanged text messages with her twice a day during the trip. But he noticed Patricia came home more self-confident, more self-assured, and a better football player.