MANILA – Ilonggo football legend Elmer Bedia is hoping for an All-Filipino Azkals roster in the future.
The Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo-native Bedia said he believes that Filipino booters have what it takes to represent the Philippines national football team.
“I must admit that Filipino-foreign footballers are a great help to our national men’s football team. But I am a believer of the skills of (pure Filipino) football players and their ability to represent the Azkals,” he pointed out.
The 57-year-old Bedia played for the national football team for 13 years and was the country’s most lethal striker. He was hailed as the country’s “Mr. Football” back in 1981, 1983 and 1984 by the Philippines Sportswriters Association.
At 24, he was recruited by Australian professional team Brisbane Olympic United Football Club. He’s been living in Brisbane with his wife Maria Theresa Salazar Bedia and their six children since 1986./PN
