• VOLET CAROLAN
The Buglas Futbol Team, composed of 13 players and 17 supporters, went to Canberra to compete in the Kanga Cup, one of the largest football competitions in the southern hemisphere. Three hundred thirty-six teams came from all over Australia, including two international teams – Buglas Filipinas and a team from New Zealand.
We eagerly awaited the arrival of the team, with the girls coming from different cities in Negros island. The coordinating team in Canberra had maintained email and video communication with coaches and managers.
The weather had been an issue, as we had been through one of the coldest winters. With the temperatures dipping to -10C, the welcoming committee were worried if the Negrense girls would be able to cope with the cold, and had even prepared winter clothes for them.
We met them at the Jolimont bus station, which is a 3-hour drive from Sydney International Airport, where the team landed and had already missed lunch due to slow processing as they went through immigration.
The welcome team included Marlene Tucker, Chrysnan Frazer, Norleen Manzano, John, Lydia Teheran, and Aggie and Darryl Simmons, and myself. It was heartwarming how the young and old alike kissed our hands as if we were already family. We met the managers and coaches in person for the first time as we have only been communicating by video calls before that.
We had to explain to them that we were in the middle of the city, which was deserted at 4pm on a Sunday, as it was completely different for the visitors, compared to cities in the Philippines.
At the Charnwood Fields, Canberra we opened the suitcases of winter clothes for the girls who wanted to see the grounds before their first game the next day. Although they haven’t had any sleep, after almost 24 hours of flying from Bacolod to Manila and Sydney, followed by a 3 hour bus ride to Canberra, they still had the energy to run around the field.
14 JULY – FIRST DAY
It was an early start and a very cold morning. Our Buglas girls won 2-1 over the Rouse Hill Rams, NSW, who they will eventually face in the Finals.
I arrived at 12 noon in time to watch the 2nd game against Easts FC which Buglas won 3-2. We were surprised at the end of the game, when the players from Pagewood, NSW came and congratulated us on the win. The girls exchanged FB accounts and had friendly chats. The Aussie girls were in awe of our Buglas girls and found them cute, aside from being happy that they beat the Easts FC.
We didn’t know Buglas would be playing Pagewood the next day.
DAY 2
It was a very frosty day and the girls had fun on the frost-covered fields, taking lots of photos and frolicking. They didn’t know we had made plans to take them to see snow before they left Canberra.
Today it was Buglas 7-0 win over Pagewood. The friendly Pagewood girls gave our Buglas girls their jerseys instead of the traditional exchange. Their coach was in awe of the Buglas girls. I told him he should visit Bacolod and give them a football clinic.
DAY 3
Buglas 1-1 drew with Terrigal, NSW, a team in the top 2 of the morning session. The afternoon game was a 4-0 win for Buglas against the Hornsby Heights Diamonds, NSW.
SEMIFINALS
The Filipino community, including Australian supporters which were composed mostly of players from other teams, waved Filipino flags, were dressed in red, white, and blue, and were chanting the Buglas chant. With their strong little legs against the towering Aussie girls, regulation time ended with a 1-1 draw against Easts FC, NSW. After 10 minutes of extra time, it was still a draw, which meant a penalty shootout which thankfully ended 3-0 in our girls’ favor.
They were going to the Finals.
THE FINALS
The girls had their final coaching class the night before after a sumptuous but quiet dinner. All other socials were cancelled. At 8:30 a.m. the Philippine Embassy van took them to Southwell Park, a 10 minute drive from their accommodations. All Kanga Cup final games were held in more than 10 playing fields, so parking was a nightmare.
Thankfully, it was a sunny morning. The girls were ready to play the Rouse Hill Rams, which they had beaten, 2-1, in their first game. The Buglas girls fought hard, but it was not enough to beat the Rams, who were already more familiar with their skills and weaknesses by then.
The exhaustion from four straight days of competitions and the adjustment to the chilly weather must have also played a factor.
Having made it so far, they were disappointed as expected, but we assured them that we are so proud of them despite the 4-0 score.
The girls proudly received their silver medals, having bested 6 teams in their group, the under-15 girls of the Kanga Cup.
If they come back for the Kanga Cup 2026, we will surely continue to support them.*
