By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Eight-year-old Lionel Nickolai Binguan of Bacolod City’s Barangay Estefania, contributed to the Philippine representatives’ triumph in the Plate Division of the Johor Cup in Malaysia.

Binguan, a Grade 3 student at the University of St. La Salle, scored seven goals during the tournament while also dishing out several key assists that helped secure the team’s victory.

Before playing for the country, Binguan honed his skills with the Silay Lokal Football Club.

His performance in the Johor Cup further underscored his potential as one of the promising young players in Philippine football.

The Johor Cup gathered youth football teams from different countries across Asia, providing young players, like Binguan, the chance to compete at an international level.

Binguan’s showing has drawn praise from coaches and peers, who see his dedication and discipline as qualities that could propel him to more international stints in the future.

His early success is seen as a positive sign for the continued growth of grassroots football in Negros and the rest of the country./ASC, WDJ