At 12, most kids are playing Roblox, Minecraft, Among Us, Mobile Legends, dressing up, or making TikTok videos, but for Eddieson Mathan S. Dangcal, a Grade 7 student at Corpus Christi School - Uptown, things are different.

 

Eddieson achieved a milestone for Cagayan de Oro and Mindanao having solely represented Corpus Christi Knights Football Club and Mindanao through Kaya FC Academy, the largest premier football academy in the Philippines.

 

He recently won a silver medal as 'center attacking midfielder' along with other 14 football players of his team at the Malaysia Borneo Football Cup held from September 23-27, 2024, in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia.

 

12-year-old Eddieson learned playing football when he was in Grade 1 in his PE subject at First Fruits Christian Academy in Valencia and was asked by his coach that time if he would like to join the team.

 

His family moved to Cagayan de Oro when he was in Grade 5 in Gran Europa where he later on got a full scholarship at Corpus Christi School - Uptown in Grade 6.

 

It was just recently that he got imported to Kaya FC Academy, where he became an official member of the international team of Kaya FC Academy - the U13 Elite team as 'midfielder.'

 

According to his Daddy, Eddie, being part of the international U13 Elite team of Kaya FC Academy was a blessing as their original intention was to just let Eddieson experience the Youth Football League in Manila as a 'gift,' but he was unexpectedly offered a spot on the international team, this after winning two consecutive rounds as midfielder during the event.

 

Eddieson credits his success to prayer. “My secret is I always pray to God,” he shared. When asked why he continues to play football, Eddieson explained that it’s because he enjoys it and wants to inspire his younger siblings as their “Kuya.”

 

"The reason I keep playing is because it is fun. It's also because my younger brother and sister play it. They play football because of me, and sometimes I inspire them to play," he said.

 

Eddieson further expressed his gratitude to Kaya FC Academy, his Corpus Christi Knights Football Club football coaches, Wilbert and Mark William Racines, as well as his parents, Daddy Eddie and Mommy Melissa Dangcal, for their support.

 

Currently, Eddieson is preparing for the upcoming National Football Cup, to be held in Clark, Pampanga, on December, where he will represent Mindanao alongside other talented football players of Mindanao.

 

Looking ahead, Eddieson dreams of studying and playing football abroad.

 

Already, universities in Manila have shown interest, but his ultimate dream is to join Real Madrid and follow in the footsteps of his football idol, Cristiano Ronaldo. (NLB/CIO/photos by Rod Constantino/CIO and CMO)