An All-Filipino squad playing for the country’s football team?

This is what Ilonggo football legend Elmer Bedia hopes for the Azkals, the national men’s football team. 

The pride of Barotac Nuevo firmly believes that Filipino players have a great chance to represent the country in various international leagues. He also shared that pure Filipino players are talented. 

At 57 years old, Bedia has experienced many tournaments already. In fact, he played for the national football team for 13 years and was the country’s most lethal striker. For three years, 1981, 1983, and 1984, he was hailed as the country’s “Mr. Football” by the Philippines Sportswriters Association.

He was recruited by Australian professional team Brisbane Olympic United Football Club at the age of 24. He’s been living in Brisbane with his wife Maria Theresa Salazar Bedia and their six children since 1986. IMT