Rookie midfielder Tiffany Trinidad made her biggest contribution yet as an FEU Lady Tamaraw last Saturday in the UAAP Season 86 Women’s Football Tournament.
Trinidad, who hails from Negros Occidental, scored the winning goal in the 87th minute to lead FEU past De La Salle University 3-2 despite only having 10 players on the pitch after defender Janly Fontamillas’ dismissal in the first half.
It was a dramatic game between two championship contenders that was capped off by a climactic finale, which saw Trinidad score off a tap-in after her initial header hit the post.
“Nakakita ako ng target po, kasi yung keeper nag approach, nakita ko yung space dito sa right side kaya ni-rebound ko,” she said.
That winning goal announced Trinidad on the big stage.
Even in the FEU’s pre-season preparations in Thailand, coach Let Dimzon saw something in her young protege to make her the Lady Tamaraws’ starting defensive midfielder.
For the 20-year-old standout, this moment has been a culmination of a sequence of events that led her to wear the FEU colors in the UAAP.
“Happy po. Kasi pinangarap ko rin po itong maging team ng FEU po. Tsaka maging lineup po for UAAP Season 86 po. Proud din po ako kasi alam kong nanood si Papa at proud din siya sa akin. Happy din ako,” said the Julio Ledesma National High School alumna.
“Nagtry out talaga ako. Nagpunta ako sa FEU Diliman para mag tryout po. Pero sinuportahan po ako ng province namin kasi nakitaan po ako ng potential sa football.”
It is not easy to walk into any UAAP team and have an instant impact, especially one that is the defending champion. FEU has a proud football program. It has won 11 championships in the women’s division as well as trebles in Seasons 76, 77, and 85.
The Lady Tamaraws are determined to start a new dynasty in the women’s division of the UAAP. While other players are intimidated by such a challenge, Trinidad has the opposite mentality: bring it on.
“Masaya po kasi meron nang tiwala si coach sa akin and binigay ko din kasi gusto ko talagang maging first 11 and gusto ko din maipakita kung ano yung meron ako,” she said.
“Okay lang sa akin kasi gusto ko talaga makapaglaro kasi defending champions kami and gusto ko maipanalo parin yung championship para sa FEU.”
