2011 Kanga Cup Update

On my arrival back to Canberra I have contacted Travel Care Travel Agent to book the tickets for the team and the travel agent has asked me for the exact names as in the Passports as we were going to incur extra charges if the names were incorrect so I have emailed Hans requesting the names and the reply I got was on the 11th of May that he did not have the names and we have to wait till 17th of May when Manfred comes back from Germany. On the 18th of May I managed to get in touch with Manfred via Facebook to find out that the passport applications were not made. I have been told that the person in charge that was suppose to follow that matter whilst he was in Germany and unfortunately nothing happened. I have reminded Manfred that time was running out getting the plane tickets if we leave it too late and also the Australian visa applications take minimum 6 weeks as well so time was running out fast. He assured me that he was going to get a move on .

I have contacted the travel agent to ask the airline to keep the unnamed booked tickets for another week as we did not have the names yet. I have informed Mr Adam Castle from Capital Football of the situation and asked him to try to ask their contact in the emigration department to see if we can shorten the expected minimum 6 weeks to abut 4 weeks as we may not be able to make it in time.

On the 24th of May Manfred told me that it was looking promising and they were going to get the passports by the 20th of June and we got excited again for another day or two only to be told that wasn't the case as there were no Parent release forms and that was going to delay the applications.

The travel agent contacted us on the 27th of may to ask us what was going on as we needed to give the names or we loose the 20 seats the airline was holding for us

As a last ditch attempt on the 28th of June I have contacted a family friend in Cebu Mr. John Li to see if he can use his influence but due to the fact that the new electronic Passports take a minimum 4 weeks to make there was no chance for the passports to be completed in time for the Kanga Cup this year.

Words can't describe our disappointment as we sent the official Kanga Cup invite on the 30th of March and that was more than enough time to get the passports and we feel let down as we were promised by Manfred that he was going to organise the passports and we understand that he was sick and had to go to Germany for treatment and supposedly the person that did not follow that matter as he was instructed whilst Manfred was overseas. Still I believe is important you get the right people to to the job and monitoring is very important part of running an Organisation.

I would like to apologise to Adam Castle from Capital Football for all the inconvenience and thank him for all his support and understanding. Our apologies go to the people of Canberra for not being able to deliver on our promise this year. We'll make sure that won't happen and a team will come to play next year.

Finally this was a good lesson for us , we have learned a lot and next time we will be more vigilant less complacent and try to cover all our bases when it comes to reliance on other peoples assurances.

27-28 April 2011 FCIC Lapu Lapu Visit.

Between 20th to the 3rd of May I was in Philippines to celebrate my daughter Sarah-Nicole's' 18th birthday and also to visit the FCIC Lapu Lapu U14 Team that we are sponsoring to come to Australia to play in the Kanga Cup. On Wednesday me and my wife cought a flight from Nasipit to Lapu Lapu and on our landing been welcomed by the clubs Secretary/Web admin. Mr. Hans Potot and together caught a Taxi to Lo - ok Lapu Lapu National High school where the clubs juniors were training On our arrival at the school we met the teachers and watched the youngsters train under the guidance of Coach Jano. I had also joined the training kicking the ball around and working with the team practicing and improving their corner kick defence marking. At the end of the training I have handed over the promotional Kanga Cup Football goodies that Adam Castle the Capital Footballs Events Manager has kindly given to us to bring over. There were Balls caps Pens, Pins and stickers etc. which have been distributed and shared with the rest of the club juniors. Later that night we met with Hans and Coach Jano at the Lapu Lapu shrine where the Fiesta was in the full swing celebrating the historic battle that took place on the 27th April 1521 years to date between Chieftain Lapu Lapu his Mactan Island Man and the Magellan's Spanish aggressors which were defeated and where the great Magellan himself lost his life. The Lapu Lapu Shrine was packed with people taking part in the festivities that had live battle enactment with performing solo artists, bands singing all day long and finally later in the night culminating with an elaborate and exciting Fireworks dysplay. We had a late dinner were Jano, Hans and me had a lengthy chat and the topic was you guest it... "Football". About midnight we parted company and remained to meet the next day at the School were the teams were training with us saying good bye to the Boys and also to meet the local Barangay Captain and do some more hard Football lobbying. It was exciting to meet the youngsters which were as excited and very much looking forward to come play Football in this years Kanga Cup and we parted company by saying: See you in Australia in July!

23rd of April Bunnings Sausage Sizzle Stall Report

On the 23 of April Easter Saturday manned the allocated Bunnings Sausage Sizzle with perfect weather and ultimately another busy day the final outcome. Would like to thank and acknowledge the following volunteers for their help: Boyong Villar, Laura, Elizabeth Garrett, Rose Hughes, Regie and Lala Nazaro.