NEW CLARK CITY – Before the Azkals’ glory days, there was Norman Fegidero and the Philippine football team of the 90s.
The Filipino booters were among the inspiring stories of the country’s hosting of the 1991 Southeast Asian Games, highlighted by their historic 1-0 victory over regional power Malaysia.
The feat wouldn’t be duplicated until 28 years later when the biennial meet returned to the Philippines, courtesy of a Stephan Schrock corner kick to stun the six-time regional champion.
But Fegidero was the Schrock of his era.
The Bacolod native, now football coach at University of St. La Salle, scored the winning goal for the Philippines in that historic triumph more than two decades ago that dethroned Malaysia as champion.
It was Elmer Bedia who delivered the cross which Fegidero completed for the winning play to the wild celebration of a jampacked crowd at the Rizal Memorial football field, the chorus of cheers heard as far as the Central Bank on Harrison St. in Pasay.
The historic win had the Filipinos advancing to the semis of the biennial meet for the first and only time, marking it as one of the best moments of the country in SEA Games history.
The country finished second in Group B to eventual champion Indonesia (6 pts).
In the semis though, the host run smack into Group A top seed Thailand and lost, 6-2, relegating the Philippine to the battle for bronze.
Singapore then denied the Philippines of a podium finish with a 2-0 victory.
Other members of that overachieving team were Nonoy Carpio, Melo Sabacan, Rodolfo Alicante, Judy Saluria, Marlon Maro, Jess Baron, Edgar Berja, Rolando Pinero, Jun Dela Cruz, Herbert Ignacio, Aldredo Dioso Jr., Eduardo Duran, Eduardo Marasigan Jr. Hersey Salmon, Rudy Del Rosario and Filamer Rossell.
The coach was Eckhard Krautzun of Germany.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
