Elmer Bedia
{{Short description|Australian-Filipino association football player}}
{{use mdy|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Elmer Bedia
| image =
| caption =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1962}}
| birth_place = Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, Philippines
| height =
| position = Striker, Wide Midfield{{cite web|url=http://balita.ph/2011/04/06/football-barotac-nuevo-honors-past-football-greats/ |title=Football: Barotac Nuevo honors past football greats |publisher=balita.ph |date=2011-04-06 |accessdate=2013-12-02}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pinoyfootball.com/articles/11101439/Mr-Football-to-launch-Academy-in-Barotac |title=Mr. Football to launch Academy in Barotac |publisher=Pinoyfootball.com |date=2013-02-10 |accessdate=2013-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010923/http://www.pinoyfootball.com/articles/11101439/Mr-Football-to-launch-Academy-in-Barotac |archive-date=2013-12-03 |url-status=dead }}
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| years1 = ?–c. 1979
| clubs1 = Barotac Nuevo
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = c. 1979–?
| clubs2 = Philippine Air Force F.C.
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = c. 1986–1995
| clubs3 = Brisbane Olympic United F.C.
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| nationalyears1 = c. 1991–?
| nationalteam1 = Philippines
| nationalcaps1 =
| nationalgoals1 =
| manageryears1 = 2011
| managerclubs1 = Philippines (Homeless World Cup; assistant)
}}
Elmer "Lacknet" Bedia is a retired Australian-Filipino footballer who played for the Philippine Air Force FC, Brisbane Olympic United F.C. and the Philippines national team. Bedia was notable for being the first Filipino to play in Division I of Germany's professional league as well as in Australia. Bedia was named the Philippines' "Mr. Football" and was hailed as one of the top ten players in Australia in 1986.{{cite web |url=http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/mr-football-relates-to-chieffys-decision-to-leave-air-force |title='Mr. Football' relates to Chieffy's decision to leave Air Force | InterAKTV |publisher=Interaksyon.com |date=2012-07-01 |accessdate=2013-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203031855/http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/mr-football-relates-to-chieffys-decision-to-leave-air-force |archive-date=2013-12-03 |url-status=dead }} Bedia received the Achievement Award in 2011
Early life
Career
Bedia played for the Philippine national youth team in tournaments by age 11.
Bedia played for Barotac Nuevo in the defunct National Football League. He was scouted during the Don Andres Soriano Memorial Cup in 1979 where he was instrumental to his team's title win against San Miguel Corporation which was mentored by Juan Cutillas. He was immediately signed to the Philippine Air Force F.C. under coach Lope Q. Pascual at age 17. He was part of the Air Force squad that won several national league and other tournament titles in the 1980s playing along with Mariano Araneta, Ronnel Cajelo, Rodolfo Alicante, and Edgar Berja.
He was included in the Philippine national team's squad to the 1991 Southeast Asian Games. Bedia was instrumental to the Philippine team's upset win over Malaysia where he assisted the Philippines' sole and winning goal by Norman Fegidero.
He played for Brisbane Olympic United F.C. for nine years.
Post-retirement
Elmer Bedia is still involved in the Philippine's grassroot football program as a consultant to the Philippines' representatives to the Homeless World Cup, assisting Rudy del Rosario, his former teammate. In 2013, he was reportedly working as a junior coach and also works full-time for Com Group company. He also launched the Elmer Lacknet Bedia Football Academy in his hometown Barotac Nuevo on March 30–31, 2013.
By January 2017, he is working as the coach of the junior team of Brisbane Olympic United F.C.
Personal life
Elmer Bedia has been living in Australia since 1986. Elmer is married to Maria Theresa Salazar Bedia with whom he has six children.{{cite news |title=Ilonggo football legend Elmer Bedia hopes for All-Filipino Azkals lineup |url=https://www.panaynews.net/ilonggo-football-legend-elmer-bedia-hopes-for-all-filipino-azkals-lineup/ |access-date=14 March 2024 |work=Panay News |date=28 August 2020}} Elmer moved to Australia at age 24 after he was signed by Brisbane Olympic United F.C. His children, Clar, Elgin, Elmer Jr. and LA, were also players of the club. Elmer's son Loverney Pele played for the U-16 Brisbane City F.C. as a central defender and for his school team St. Peter Claver College as a striker.
Honors
Individual
- Philippine Sportswriters Association Footballer of the Year (Mr. Football Award): 1981, 1983, 1984{{cite web |last1=Esparaga |first1=Ian Zane |title=Phl looking at good future in football, says legend Elmer Bedia |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/regionaltv/sports/100892/phl-looking-at-good-future-in-football-says-legend-elmer-bedia/story/ |website=GMA Regional TV |access-date=14 March 2024 |language=en |date=12 March 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedia, Elmer}}
Category:Footballers from Iloilo
Category:Filipino men's footballers
Category:Philippines men's international footballers
Category:Filipino football managers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Filipino expatriates in Australia
Category:Philippine Air Force F.C. players
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