By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Filipino-Australian football mentor Elmer “Lacknet” Bedia led an inspirational Challenge Cup-Mundial intercontinental friendly tournament in Negros Occidental’s Victorias City, aiming to motivate young Negrense footballers and promote grassroots development.
Bedia, a three-time Mr. Football awardee based in Brisbane, Australia, headlined the leg of the 11-a-side Challenge Cup-Mundial friendlies shortly after returning from the Australian Futsal Association World Tour.
Speaking before players and local officials, Bedia shared his personal journey from humble beginnings to an international football career.
“My nanay and tatay were not able to watch me play football when I was young. Now, it is my mission to plant seeds of love for soccer and peace in every nation,” Bedia said during his address.
He recounted growing up poor in the province before earning an opportunity to play at the Brisbane Olympics in the 1980s, a path he credited for changing his life and allowing him to build a family and career abroad.
Participating teams included Canberra Buglas Region Sports Society, Celta de Victorias FT, Victorias City National High School FT, and Unidos de Victorias FT.
Matches were played in a 35-minute straight format under a single round-robin system as Canberra Buglas Region Sports Society prepares for the Challenge Cup-Mundial Luzon leg in the second quarter of 2026 against UAAP women’s football teams and Philippine Football League clubs.
During the opening program, Philippine Football Federation coaching education instructor John Carmona encouraged local players and coaches to embrace modern football methods.
“Follow the positive transition in football and impose modern soccer practices,” Carmona said.
He also highlighted upcoming international events, including the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia in March 2026 and the FIFA World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from May to June 2026.
Organizers said the Victorias City leg of the Challenge Cup-Mundial is part of a broader effort to expose provincial players to higher levels of competition while using football as a platform to inspire discipline, unity and long-term development among young athletes./ASC, WDJ