LONDON, England - Phil Younghusband is a young, skilful and a good soccer player and can be a great asset to RP National senior football team in the many more years to come.

I can now say he is good because I have seen him play at the Beveree stadium last Wednesday evening (July 25) in Hampton Middlesex, the home of the Hampton and Richmond Beavers. However, I can not say if he is the best in the RP team right now because I have no comparison. I have not seen the other players play.

World class? That is not for me to judge. Only time will tell. For the fact that he plays for the reserve team of the world's richest soccer team is already an achievement. For the fact that he is a Pinoy-Brit and plays for our country, I am proud and I salute him.

Of all the forwards playing for Chelsea during the entire 90 minutes of the match, Phil was the best. However, he was put in only in the second half after they trailed 0-1 at the halftime. He provided the sparks in the second half which resulted into countless of chances. He even had at least four chances of scoring but these attempts were either caught by their opponent’s goalie or were just inches above the goal bar.

Phil was the designated hit man and he hit from all angles but was just unlucky to find the ball at the back of the net. He even made an accurate pass to an open midfielder who scored a goal. The goal was however ruled offside.

I enjoyed the match from start to finish. I enjoyed watching the young, skilful but nervous Chelsea reserves playing their hearts out but bowed in the end 0-1 to a tough and experienced Beavers eleven.

MOST WANTED MAN IN CHELSEA

It was an unforgetable experience despite of the two hours travel from North London by train and bus to the beautiful Hampton borough beside the Thames river in South London. Hampton was the summer holiday place for Henry VIII. He still has a palace there.

Before the match even started, my trip was spoiled by some Chelsea officials. I wanted to interview Phil and I approached a group of Chelsea officials hanging out at the entrance of the dugout. I presumed they were Chelsea officials because they were middle aged men, well built, and all wearing Chelsea jerseys.

I approached one of them and introduced myself and asked if Phil is around. The man just looked at me and went inside the dugout saying nothing.

Anyway, I hang out along the railings near the dugout and waited if maybe the Chelsea team would come out soon. Then a short man with a serious look approached me and angrily said. `I know you, you wrote about Phil having a publicity stunt. It was not a publicity stunt. Phil is a good boy. You are here in London you should support him.'

He said more things but I could not remember all of them. I was so shock to remember them.

He then turned around and made a zero figure with his finger and ended his speech, `You know nothing.' He then sped off to the dugout leaving me in shock. What was that? I asked myself. I guess it was a sample of Chelsea hospitality.

There were few things that I have learned from that experience. First, I am happy to know that people from the world's richest club read my column. But then I am sad because I know now that they did not read my entire column or they did not read them after all, they just heard them from other sources.

Of course, Phil needs all the support specially from a Filipino like me. That man thinks that I do not support Phil. Then I should ask him, what did I do there on the first place? Did I go to Hampton, travelled two and a half hours to support the Chelsea reserves or their opponents the Hampton and Richmond Beavers? Did I go there to enjoy the barbecue or drink a pint of beer at the Hammonds Pub?

Or course not. I went there with only one thing in mind, to see Phil play football, take his photo and ask for an interview. I was the only Filipino watching the match with less than a thousand Chelsea and Beaver fans. Oh I forgot, I saw Phil's brother James at the sidelines with a middle aged lady who looks like a Filipina.

I could have written a very interesting interview story about Phil. I had so many questions to ask from him. But this did not happen.

I managed to take some photos of Phil in action but they were not good as I was just using an ordinary digital camera. If there is a next time, then I should buy an expensive SLR digital camera with zoom lenses to get better shots.



I presume that what really upset the people surrounding Phil was when I called `publicity stunt' the activities they have done before and after the failed move of Phil to the LA Galaxy. People from PR Asia (people handling Phil) informed my boss Alain that Galaxy was to sign Phil. We were excited of course. Who were not?

But then I wrote to Galaxy and asked them if it was true. The Galaxy PR department denied it but announced that Phil was working out with them. After a week, Galaxy announced again that they were not signing Phil and he has stopped practising. I reported this and wrote some comments.

Then I read an interview from the Philippine Star about Phil endorsing some products in the Philippines. The interview was made by entertainment writer Ricky Lo. The Philippine Daily Inquirer also came out with its own feature article. Phil and James were then featured in Dyan Castellejos sports show over The Filipino Channel in which I subscribe. If these were not a PR stunts then what were they?

CHELSEA RESERVES

As for Chelsea, their reserve coaching staff should concentrate on improving their squad. It is only the start of the pre-season games. As expected the players are still not very fit and their confidence are low. They will improve with more games to come. By then maybe first team manager Jose Mourinho will take notice them, specially Phil, and let them play with the first team rather than buying those expensive imports.

I will be in Wembley watching the Chelsea against Man United match in the season opener Community Shield on Sunday. The ticket cost me £125 pounds each. My wife love Christiano Ronaldo and she vows to wear a Man United shirt for the match. I promised her that I should wear the new Chelsea neon jersey and go the neutral side of the stadium. But after the Chelsea hospitality I experienced in Hampton, I will insist on my white Tottenham Hotspur shirt. God Bless