DUBAI: An assistant teacher at one of the private schools in Dubai brought her 20-year-old son, a football aficionado and big Azkals fan, to watch the Philippine football team’s match with Korea as a college graduation gift.
Kim Delavin, 20, got stars in his eyes watching his favorite team disappoint the Koreans’ strike force with his mum, Teresa in the evening of Monday, Jan. 7 at the Al Maktoum Stadium in Oud Metha, telling The Filipino Times in a later interview that he finds the game to be a “historic” one.
Delavin, who obviously knows football leagues like the back of his hand, explained: “Facing a powerhouse team that represented Asia in the World Cup last year (South Korea) which beat defending champion, Germany, with a slim win on us is just pure luck for the Koreans.”
“I am proud for all our players and to all our kababayans who support the national team.”
Delavin, who also plays football, said he is a certified Azkals fan, stressing that he has been following the national team since 2010.
“I have seen their ups and downs till they finally got here in this prestigious event. I even followed them on the qualifiers,” he said.
Being away from his mum, Delavin says he plays football “to ease my loneliness.”
“It’s also my passion. Football being popular here in the UAE, I know my mum is reminded of me whenever she sees a football player,” he said.
Teresa, for her part, said being with her son, who recently arrived for the holidays as well, had an added joy seeing him enjoy the game.
“We are so happy lalo na si Kim kasi nga once in a lifetime nga daw ito. Mahilig talaga siya sa football so advance graduation gift ko na din sa kanya,” said Teresa, an assistant teacher at one of the private schools in the city, who has been living in Dubai for the past nine years.
Kim, she said, will be graduating from college in June this year. He goes to school at Trinity University of Asia in Quezon City taking up a bachelor’s degree in business administration majoring in financial management.
