SBS Filipino’s coverage of the tournament will feature game analyses, forecasts and highlights delivered by “Mr Football” Elmer Bedia and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) consultant in Australia, Mike Moran.
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Elmer Bedia, retired Australian-Filipino footballer
Elmer “Lacknet” Bedia is a Filipino-Australian football personality who played for the Philippine Air Force FC, Brisbane Olympic United FC and the Philippines’ national team. Elmer was known for being the first Filipino to play in Germany’s Division I professional league as well as in Australia.
Elmer played for the Philippines’ National Team for 13 years and was the country’s most feared striker. He was voted “Mr Football” of the Philippines in 1981, 1983, and 1984. He moved to Australia in 1986 and played professionally for Brisbane Olympic United FC for nine years.
In 1991, he came back to the Philippines to play in the Manila Southeast Asian Games, where he was instrumental to the Philippine team’s win over the powerhouse team Malaysia.
Since retiring as a player, Elmer is on a mission to help promote the game in his homeland. During his trips to the Philippines, he organised local tournaments for his football outreach program for the kids. In 2013, he launched the Elmer Lacknet Bedia Football Academy in his hometown in Iloilo, Philippines.
Elmer now coaches the junior team of Brisbane Olympic United FC, where his children are also players of the club.
Mike Moran, Philippine Football Federation Consultant
Mike Moran is a former national football player and now a consultant for the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) in Australia. Mike started playing football when he was eight years old. He played in numerous competitions while he was still at school and played for the national team, representing the Philippines for several youth tournaments in Asia.
After he migrated to Australia in 1986, Mike played for Yokohama Sports Club first team in Tokyo and coached the local Cherrybrook club team for boys and the Cherrybrook Lions Team in Sydney and the ANZAC boys team in Singapore.
In 2015, Mike was appointed by the PFF as a consultant to help promote football among Filipinos in Australia and to scout local Filipino-Australians who can play for the Azkals team in the Philippines.
Mike reconnected with “Mr Football” Elmer Bedia and they have seen a few Aussie/Pinoys now play for the Azkals. As a PFF Consultant, Mike has explored football tie-ups and is currently on the lookout for ladies or young girls who would one day play for the Philippine team.
