Happily married with two kids while running a thriving telecommunications and energy firm in Chicago, 30-year-old Filipino immigrant John Belen is more than content with his version of living the American Dream.
It was not until about a year-and-a-half ago when John started following the success of the Philippine National Football team, more popularly known as “The Azkals”, that he realized there was something missing. View slideshow: Azkals training in Chicago
Prior to moving to Chicago when he was 19 back in 2002, John played for the same Azkals team that was all of a sudden being celebrated back in his home country after its success in the 2010 Suzuki AFF Cup. A fire was lit inside him that reminded him of his days running with the stray dogs.
“I stopped during my peak,” John told me. “Just like the typical immigrant Filipino story, I had to help my family financially.”
Azkals logo Photo credit: Azkals
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John did try to continue playing soccer in the US, as he spent his first year playing for the North Park University in Chicago, but had to make the hard decision of trading in his cleats for a job as a unit secretary at a hospital to help his family pay the bills. It’s a sacrifice many Filipinos are all too familiar with.
John was a promising football player and was a member of the Philippine National team from ’99-2001. He played alongside current Azkals team captain Alexander Borromeo at the De La Salle University in Manila, after years of being rivals while playing for different high schools.
“I was inspired by the Azkals’ success,” John said, and added, “It felt like I had some unfinished business.”
So when he found out that the Azkals were coming to Chicago to play a friendly match against the Chicago Inferno UFL club, and that the Inferno were also conducting try-outs for Filipino-Americans for a team they are assembling to compete in the local league in the Philippines, John didn’t think twice and grabbed the opportunity. “I knew I still had it in me, so I had to give it a try,” John stated.
As it turns out, he was not alone in his belief after Chicago Inferno officials took him in as part of their squad that will be playing against the Azkals, Saturday, Aug. 11th at the JOE BEAN STADIUM in Wheaton, Illinois.
“This opportunity has kept me awake for three days now,” John described his chance in reliving his football dream. “I haven’t slept well; I’ve been too excited because this is unfinished business for me,” he added.
Not only will John be playing for the Inferno for the friendly games against the Azkals and the US Virgin Islands on the 14th, he will also fly to the Philippines to join the squad when it starts competing over there, and even possibly rejoining the Azkals. “God-willing,” John says.
But he does understand that the quality of the team he sees now, is far from the one he used to play for. “Yes. There’s a huge difference. They are focused more on build-ups; short passes. It’s really high level football,” John said. “Back then, we just used to meet up 2 weeks before the event.”
Whether he gets to play for the Azkals again or not, John is more than happy to simply be able to play the sport he loves, and be around the team he used to proudly represent. “I’m happy and proud of what they have accomplished. The maturity of Phil. football is amazing.”
As far as his assessment of the team’s chances in the upcoming Suzuki Cup, John offered great optimism for the current core of players. “If we keep the same squad, if we don’t subtract or add too many people, with the chemistry they are about to build, we can win it (2012 AFF Suzuki Cup) all the way. That’s how much confidence I have with the team after seeing them and being with them on the field. It’s pretty amazing how they are so close to each other on and off the field.”
