Bjorn Kristensen: Born for Greatness

Philippine men’s football is seeing a resurgence of support, especially with its recent wins in the ASEAN Championships and the third round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

This series of stories hopes to give football and sports fans a glimpse of who they are and why they are proudly Filipino, wherever they come from.

Check out previous features on veteran Jarvey Gayoso and rising star Sandro Reyes.

Jarvey Gayoso: Man of Magis
Sandro Reyes: The Philippines’ Shining Starboy

And third in the series is Bjorn Kristensen.

Thirteen goals in fifteen appearances.

In the short span of his senior career, Bjorn Kristensen has proven his brilliance by being one of the main scorers of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team – making it seem that he was born to play the beautiful game. 

In the four AFC Asian Cup Qualification matches this year alone, Kristensen has scored eight goals for the Philippines, and just a month ago, he accounted for all four in the Philippines’ 4-1 rout of Timor-Leste.

The Philippines continues its bid for a spot in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup when it takes on Maldives tonight, with Kristensen being a part of the team.

But perhaps he was not just born to play football.

Born around 10,000 kilometers away from Manila, Kristensen chose to play for the Philippines, making sure that his talent will be part of the history of this great nation.

Local heart, global talent

“Football was like the big thing in Norway, so it was kind of easy to be part of a football group,” the 23-year old Kristensen told GMA News Online in a virtual interview last March.

“Everywhere you go, you see football in Norway. It's like you have cages in the neighborhood that I always played in, and I think it started from there.”

Born to a Filipino mom who is a native of Cebu, Kristensen said playing for the Philippines was his way of giving back to his roots.

“I see how proud my mom is about this country. She always talks about it and she always wants to come back to the Philippines. I think I want to give something back to my mom and now she's really proud, and my family in the Philippines are really proud that I chose to represent this country. I don't regret choosing this choice because I have to be grateful,” he said, adding that playing at home also makes him know more about the country and its beautiful people.

While growing up abroad may have given him access to elite level of play in football, especially since he has already played in Norway clubs since 2019, apparently, he did not think of playing internationally when he was growing up.

“No. You know, [in] football, you never know what's going to happen. It's like day and night. One day you are the greatest, the next day you are nothing, you know? So when I saw this opportunity, I took it. And I don't regret it,” he said.

Boys just wanna have fun

He may be getting some of the biggest moments when he plays, but Kristensen’s mantra – sort of – in playing football is actually by just having fun.

“You know, life is short. And if you don't have fun, you will not be good, you know. You will not sleep at night if you don't have a fun day, you know. So in football, I just try to have fun and be with my friends,” he said.

“I think it should be a motto every day. When you go to a job, you need to have fun because then the eight hours will be very long if you don't have fun in a job, you know. So when I play football, I just try to have fun.”

But even if fun is the core of his mentality in football, he remains focused during the moments he needs to.

Four days before Christmas last year in Indonesia, Kristensen recalled how he made the historic lone goal which allowed the Philippines to book a spot in the knockout stage of the 2024 ASEAN Championship.

“So it was either we have to win or we have to go home. When I stood up to take this penalty, I felt very nervous and very stressed. But when the referee blew the whistle, I was in my zone. So then I felt calm again and looked at the keeper and shot the other way,” he recalled.

“You don't feel or hear anything in the moment when the ball goes in. It's like a hundred kilos [of] stones fell off your back and it was a great feeling. It was a great feeling and I just wanted to celebrate with my teammates.”

Hero in the making

While the team has seen its resurgence recently, after reaching the semifinals of the ASEAN Championship and also continuing its run in the AFC Asian Cup Qualification, Kristensen does not consider himself a hero yet in the sport.

“I’m still young and there are a lot of good players here in the team and good players have been here in the national team,” he said back in June during their match against Tajikistan.

“So I don’t think I’m a hero now. Maybe we’ll see [in] 10 to 15 years,” he said.

Being considered as one of the faces of the sport in the Philippines now, Kristensen said he still just wants to have fun while playing with the national team.

“I don't think I will feel pressure for this,” when asked in the March interview about being one of the country’s new faces of the sport.

“Because in the end, I just want to have fun with the guys and win games. And I know they will support me any day and any time. And in every game, we all support each other. So I don't feel pressure when I have such a good group behind my back.”

More than talent, perhaps it was just by having fun, and having supportive teammates that makes Kristensen great – and probably a hero in the future.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News