Goooooaaaaal!

"Final score: 3-2. Gabi scored all three goals!" read my brother's text message last Thursday morning.

I couldn't believe it. Just like that, Gabi's twelve month winless streak in football was finally over. For the first time in over a year, Gabi was in the winning team. And he scored all the goals to boot!

Gabi started playing football in April 2008 when he was barely three years old. We enrolled him in the Futbol Funatics summer camp in the Meralco Fitness Center in Ortigas. He has been playing there ever since.

I had always wanted Gabi to play football. Growing up, my father encouraged and even forced all his children to take up some form of sports. Especially during the summer months. So whether it was tennis in the village courts, basketball in Kulyawan Youth Club, football in the Makati Football School or even golf in Valley Golf in Antipolo, our summer was full of activity. And full of fun.

I was definitely more excited than Gabi when he was finally old enough to join a football summer clinic. I bought him complete soccer kits, from cleats to jerseys to even shin guards. And I would accompany him to each and every session, staying under the sun with him, staying near enough so I could give him encouraging words but far enough as not to annoy his coaches. And when we'd get home after the sessions, I would ask him to redo the drills with me. Though most of the time, he'd rather just run off to the playground than have to listen to Papa's lectures.

Yes, I am a Soccer Dad. And quite a passionate one at that. I admit that I catch myself from time to time reliving my past as a football player through Gabi's little feet.

I just hope I don't put too much pressure on my son. At least not all the time.Good thing Patty is always there to tell me to take it easy when I get too involved watching Gabi play. She also gently reminds me not too be to disappointed if Gabi doesn't share the same passion that I have for the game.

And indeed there have been times when Gabi's interest in the game has waned. It was at its lowest last October when he was in the middle of his losing streak.

Gabi seemed lethargic and disinterested. He wasn't running after the ball and he let opponents slip past him without a challenge. I kept egging him on, telling him to run faster and kick harder. Nothing helped. In fact, it probably make things worse. One day, after another loss, he finally got the courage to talk to me.

"Papa, soccer is not fun anymore," he whimpered. "When will I ever be in a winning team?"

I hugged him. I wanted to tell him that it was okay to quit. But I knew that wouldn't be the right answer. So I just held him tight. Until he broke the embrace and said he already wanted to play with his Bakugan.

The losing streak ended last Thursday. Unfortunately, I wasn't there to witness it. Gabi scored three goals and I don't even have photos or a video of the momentous event.

Well, maybe it was best that I wasn't there. It was Gabi's moment to savor. I would probably have made a fool of myself anyway, running into the field and screaming my head off in celebration. And three times at that.

This afternoon, a good three days after his glorious performance in the field, out of nowhere Gabi hugged me and whispered, "I love you, Papa. Thank you for teaching me how to play soccer." And off he ran to the village park, to play football with his friends.