San Beda Red Booter Kirk Eman See bagged the Golden Boot award after scoring six goals during the NCAA Season 99 football tournament.
He might have kicked his way to the championship but not everyone knows he started kicking his way to football not in the field but in the classroom.
In his elementary classroom in Bukidnon, See joined classmates in making ‘creative’ use of the ‘bunot,’ the local term for coconut husks used traditionally to scrub floors.
He and his classmates imagined a game where they kicked and scored goals with the ‘bunot’ as the ball.
“Grade 3 pa ako nag-start, eh… nagsimula sa scrub, yung panglinis sa paaralan… sinisipa-sipa namin sa classroom, pinapagalitan pa nga kami,” he said.
It would only be a matter of time before a classmate invited See to an actual football game.
“Yun sipa-sipa tapos may isang kaklase ako na ininvite ako na maglaro… dun na nagsimula yung journey na maging football player,” he said.
The San Beda goal-magnet said he idolizes international football star Lionel Messi and former Red Booters striker Jim Ashley Flores who now plays in the Philippines Football League.
On March 11, 2024, his team beat the Benilde Blazers to clinch San Beda’s 25th crown in the NCAA football tournament.
“Bunga rin sa effort na ginawa namin on and off the field, yung guidance din ng mga coaching staff ng Beda, tapos yung mga alumni tumutulong din,” See said.
He extends his gratitude to former Red Booters for their all-out support in the championship campaign.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila (alumni) sa taos pusong suporta nila sa amin. Sana next year tuloy lang din yung suporta,” he said.
Among those present at the Rizal Memorial Stadium were Kenry Balobo and Jimson Crestal who guided the Mendiola-based squad to its 24th title.
As of this writing, See is focusing his energy to getting back to tip-top shape for NCAA’s Centennial Season after suffering from minor injuries during their championship run.
“Focus muna sa recovery, pagaling muna, palakas ng katawan kasi ang dami talagang injury, tapos focus pa rin sa NCAA next season,” he said.
