Bilibid Puzakals to take on French football team

The French Football Club (FFC) are taking on the Puzakals, a football team composed entirely of inmates at the New Bilibid Prison, in a match that promises to come short of a prisonbreak this Sunday, March 13, at 9 a.m. inside a medium security facility. The Bilibid team is elated that the FFC, through game organizer Bruno Vergnes, accepted their invitation to play football inside Camp Sampaguita, New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. Most of the Bilibid Puzakals have played in various schools, provincial, regional and national football matches prior to their imprisonment. But even behind bars, their love for 'the beautiful game' spurred them on to keep training and playing as they continue to serve their prison terms. The FCC considers it an honor to get to play with the inmates who have chosen to change for the better, rebuild themselves, and face future challenges. 'Azkals vs. Puzakals' soon This Sunday’s match is not the Puzakals’ first friendship game. The Puzakals have also played the Ateneo Alumni Football Team led by lawyer Eric Ingles. The Bilibid strikers hope more football teams will come to play them in days to come. The Puzakals have invited the Azkals to play in Bilibid this coming April. Dan Palami of the Azkals said that the team is looking for a suitable schedule for the match with the Puzakals as the Azkals are in intensive training for the Challenge Cup and the World Cup qualifiers. As part of their rehabilitation, the Bilibid Puzakals also attend college and high school classes while serving their term inside Bilibid's Medium Security Camp. The prison terms of inmates in the Medium Security Camp range from three years to 20 years. FFC plays 'indoor soccer' Formed in 1991, the FFC plays in the Mini Soccer World Cup (MSWC) at the Nomad Sports Club in Merville Park Subdivision, Parañaque City, as well as in various friendship matches. They have been pitted against the FCC Blue Guard in a six-a-side tournament, and the Nomads in seven-a-side Veteran Tournament at the same venue. Six-a-side football and seven-a-side football are 'indoor soccer' games adapted for play in an indoor arena where, unlike a normal soccer pitch, the field is surrounded by walls. Such games are generally faster paced because the ball can be played directly off the wall, doing away with throw-ins and corner kicks. – KBK, GMA News