About 15,000 Negrenses with drums, flags, face paint and blue shirts cheered for the RP men's football team against defending champion Thailand in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City, yesterday.

But they went home heart-broken as the RP squad, bannered by foreign-born Filipinos, bowed to the Thais, 1-0, in a tightly-contested match.

The game-winner came in the 36th minute when 22-year-old midfielder Jakkrit Bunkham beat RP keeper Michael Casas, with a right-footed strike from 12 yards out.

The RP team is believed to be the strongest football squad comprised in years with its combination of talented veterans and foreign-born Filipino booters.

"We just have to move on after the loss," RP mentor Aris Caslib, whose squad needs to win its remaining two matches to secure a place in the semis, said.

The RP booters face Cambodia at 4:30 p.m. on Friday also at the Panaad pitch, before taking on Malaysia on Nov. 29.

"The Negrenses came here not only because they love football, but more importantly because they love the Philippines," Mayor Evelio Leonardia, co-chairman of the Bacolod SEAG Organizing Committee, said.

The Bacolod City local government also offered free rides to Negrenses because it wants them to unite in supporting the RP booters, he added.

The Panaad was packed to the rafters as early as 3 p.m., more than an hour before game-time.

SPORTS FANATIC Thai sports fanatic Bancha Khamthong stole the limelight from the tightly-contested game as he treated the Negrenses and the Thai media to a show by putting up a colorful costume, while cheering for the defending champions using his drums and horn.

Khamthong, who hails from Bangkok, said his expenses are being shouldered by the Thai national government.

"I am here to cheer for all Thai athletes, but I also want to promote friendship through sports," he added.

The 40-year-old Khamthong said he has been supporting the Thai contingent since the 1995 SEA Games in Chiangmai, Thailand.

Not to be outclassed, the Negrenses also displayed their pride through the RP football squad's official mascot Azkal.

Silaynon Jun Villan, who represents Azkal, said he agreed to be the team's mascot because he loves both football and his country. "I'm doing all of these through volunteerism," he added.

The 32-year-old Villan also used to be a booter after playing for Gov. Emilio Gaston Memorial Elementary School and Doña Monserrat Lopez High School during his elementary and secondary studies, respectively.

Villan, who also played collegiate football at the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos, said "Being a mascot for the Philippines team is a really big blessing. Three-fourths of my life changed because of this."*CPT/CIT

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