German booters, Puzakals face off

MANILA, Philippines - The Muntinlupa Inmates will battle the German Club Cranes, a team of Manila-based Germans, in a friendly match on Jan. 14 as football fever reaches the National Penitentiary field in Muntinlupa City.

The event is a joint effort of the Hanns Seidel Foundation, the German embassy in Manila and the Office of the Solicitor General, whose objective is promoting physical fitness among inmates, encouraging leadership and team-building.

Proceeds of the match will go to the educational program of the inmates for them to improve their status when they finally re-enter the free society, according to Fil-German David Abrenilla, president of the Executive Communication, the media relation outfit of the German Club. 

“The power of football to break barriers and bridge gaps should never be estimated. This is something the German Club and its partners understood when they put together this event, which I believe is a first not only in the Philippines, but in the world as well, ” Abrenilla said.

Serving as referee in the 10 a.m. match between the Cranes and the “Puzakals,” composed of medium security prisoners, is Azkals coach Michael Weiss.

“Football, indeed, is a beautiful game, the most popular game in the entire universe, and it is the reason that we conceptualized the idea in our desire to reach those in prison that we, outside of it, will be their friends when they go out of it and lead the good life again,” Abrenilla said.

The German Club, headed by president Michael Scheile, is organizing the event with Assistant Solicitor General Karl Miranda, Paul Schaefer of Hanns Seidel Foundtion and Ralph Timmermann, deputy head of mission of the German embassy. 

– Olmin Leyba

Scheile said: “Football is most Germans’ passion and “bringing this as a combined approach to Bilibid is supporting a rehabilitation program for inmates under the promotion of the Solicitor’s General Office which is very similar to respective program in Germany.”