By Elisabeth Baumgart

CEBU CITY, Philippines (SunStar) - At just a shade over four feet, 10-year-old Jessie Kayle Santillan dreams to be like 5’11” David Beckham someday and be football star just like him.

That’s one big dream for one small kid.

Kayle plays right forward and is currently the smallest football player of the Canduman Elementary School, which played last Saturday at the Milo Little Olympics 2007. And while Kayle finds himself up against kids which are twice his size, being tiny doesn’t come as a disadvantage.

“I get to run really fast,” shares Kayle. For Kayle, being the smallest on the team, means that he can easily evade other players with him being quick on the feet.

His father and the coach of Canduman Elementary School, Jun Santillan, agrees that Kayle’s tiny built is not a disadvantage to the team.

“It’s an advantage that he is so small, since he gets to run really fast and dribble the ball well,” said Santillan.

Perhaps the only disadvantage for the 4-foot-1/2 inch player is when it comes to headers.

“If he weren’t so small, he’d do well in that aspect as well. But for now, that’s okay, since he dribbles really well,” his father said.

Playing football runs in the blood of the Santillan family. Kayle’s father, Jun, has been playing football for nearly twenty years and still plays in Canduman with club Cesfpie.

“I’d bring my son to our practices and matches,” he said.

Seeing his father play football caught Kayle’s interest and as early as when he was 5 years old –and a lot smaller than he is now—he was on the field playing in official tournaments.

The ball and the young, tiny football prodigy were inseparable as soon as Kayle got bitten by the football bug. Kayle’s father and personal coach saw to it that Kayle got to practice football at any given moment.

“It’s better that he learns football and enjoys it, rather than going out to god knows where and being prone to vices,” said Jun.

And for Kayle, he enjoys every moment of the game. “And the best part,” grins Kayle, juggling his ball. “Is making a goal.”

Currently, Kayle has been playing football for nearly five years. When he gets taller, he hopes to go pro someday and be part of Team Philippines.

For now, he contents himself with playing for Canduman Elementary School and whizzing by opponents twice his size.

And perhaps as a warning to his future opponents.

Kayle grinned, “I won’t be tiny for long.”