By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Victorias City government in Negros Occidental has officially recognized Ludessa Silava for her outstanding leadership as head coach of the Buglas Futbol Negros selection team, which earned a silver medal in the Under-15 Female Plate Division of the 33rd Kanga Cup International Junior Soccer Tournament held in Canberra, Australia from July 12 to 18.

Ludessa, a native of Victorias, guided the all-Negrense girls’ squad through a remarkable campaign against taller, more experienced Australian teams in one of the southern hemisphere’s largest and most competitive youth football tournaments.

Despite playing in unfamiliar and freezing conditions, and managing a shorthanded 13-player lineup, the Buglas Filipinas exceeded expectations, winning five of seven matches.

“This is not just a victory for the team, but also a proud moment for Victorias and the entire province of Negros Occidental,” the city said in a statement of commendation.

“Coach Ludessa’s leadership and resilience are an inspiration to young athletes and coaches everywhere,” it added.

Under her direction, the team swept the group stage with four wins and a draw, scoring 17 goals while conceding only four.

They stunned spectators with dominant wins, including 7-0 and 4-0 shutouts, and advanced to the finals after a dramatic 3-0 penalty shootout victory in the semifinals.

Though the Buglas squad fell short in the championship game against Australia’s Rouse Hill Rams — a team they had beaten earlier in the preliminaries — they returned home as silver medalists and crowd favorites.

Coach Ludessa was supported by Technical Director Rene Jiffrey Lomugdang and Lead Consultant Elmer Lacknet Bedia, alongside assistant coaches Rachelle Beatrize Semillano, Christian Earl Bona, Red Yasay, and Ron Gerard Molequin./ASC, WDJ