IN THE Ateneo Women’s Football Team’s (AWFT) final match of University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 78, Captain Cam Rodriguez cheered her teammates on from the sidelines, injured with an MCL sprain. Ateneo dashed past UST, 4-1, to finish third overall for the third season running. Despite her jubilation for her team, Rodriguez knew she could not end her UAAP career just like that.
“In UAAP Season 78, I ended my career [with] an injury. When that happened, not being able to contribute, I knew in my heart that I couldn’t just leave it at that. I had to continue and finish, hopefully what my dream is, which is to win a UAAP championship,” says Rodriguez.
Freshman Woes
After a disappointing first year, in which the highly touted striker from Miriam College finished the season scoreless, Rodriguez began to doubt herself. “[I asked myself] questions like ‘is this what I’m supposed to be doing?’ and ‘why am I still here?’” admits the supersenior. It took a comparison made by her father to help Rodriguez realize what she was going through happens even to the best footballers.
“He compared me to what happened to [Argentinian footballer Lionel] Messi. Apparently, Messi had a dry year and then the year after, that’s when he started getting his game back, and that’s what happened to me,” she shares.
Shooting Boots
In her junior year, Rodriguez netted seven goals to nab the Best Striker Award for UAAP Season 77, alongside Lady Maroons Cristina De Los Reyes, Mary Grace Obra, and Lady Tamaraw Alesa Dolino. The accolade was special to Rodriguez as it was a product of long hours of hard work. Outside of training hours, Rodriguez, along with her teammates Aina Martin and Cecille Dayrit, would put in extra work to practice their shooting.
“To see the efforts pays off knowing that it was efforts that weren’t my own, but efforts of my teammates also. It felt great winning that because it wasn’t just mine,” says Rodriguez.
On Field Impact
Although Rodriguez was deployed in different attacking positions last season, new head coach Jay Pee Merida plays Rodriguez in her natural position as striker. “I believe that if I put her in that position [striker], she can create mismatches,” says Merida. Based on preseason competitions, the choice seems to have paid off. Rodriguez was the team’s top scorer, both in their third place finish in the Pinas Cup 2016 held last October, and in the Philippine Football Federation Women’s League, which the team joined from December 2016 to January 2017, where Rodriguez scored four goals in a game.
Apart from her scoring, Rodriguez also brings composure and leadership to her team. “When we were down against UST, she never failed to tell us ‘Guys wake up, we’re here for a reason,’” remembers rookie Nica Siy
“Cam has one of the greatest effects on the field due to her dedication, abilities, speed, and savvy decision-making,” says veteran winger Nona Amoncio, who has been Rodriguez’s teammate for 11 years.
Captain Cam
Through her time as a Lady Eagle, Rodriguez has improved greatly not only as a footballer, but also as a teammate. Now on her second year as captain, Rodriguez continues to help build the team’s chemistry and instills a positive learning culture in the team.
“How passionate she is with football, you see it every day on the field and off the field,” says Siy, who, along with the rest of the team, receives texts from Rodriguez daily for team announcements and small reminders such as to go to the gym, to eat healthy, and to have a growth mindset in all things. Amoncio also notes that Rodriguez makes mini-posters for weekly training schedules and always does extra ball sessions after training.
Off the field, Rodriguez plans team-bonding events as avenues for teammates to build friendships that carry over as chemistry on the pitch. According to her teammates, she ensures that every member goes and requires an explanation for their absence.
Rodriguez has also been described as an understanding and compassionate captain who takes time to listen to her teammates. “When we fail to do our rookie duties,” Siy recalls. “Cam doesn’t get mad at us. She asks, ‘Why did this happen?’”
“In her, I found the big sister I never had,” says Amoncio.
To the spectator, Rodriguez is a scoring threat who can create a goal out of nothing. To her team, she is a source of inspiration, a motivating captain, and a thoughtful friend. One thing, however, is clear: Captain Cam will stop at nothing in her final quest to deliver Ateneo’s first women’s football crown.
Editor’s Note: Nona Amoncio is part of The GUIDON’s Graphic Design Staff.
