KWENTONG PASSION
COACH CAROL CAPIRAL: On Overcoming the Pressure of Carrying the Name Capiral and Continuing Her Father’s Badminton Legacy
Apr
Written By: ZerJosh Serrano and Paul Tamayo
If you are an avid badminton fan or a player yourself, there is a great chance that you have bumped into the name Severino Capiral at some point. Also known by the nickname “Bineng”, the renowned badminton legend Severino Capiral once donned the Philippine flag both as an athlete and as a coach.
Coach Bineng’s stellar badminton career may have already met its end, but his fruitful influence and legacy will continue to blaze in the hearts of every badminton icon, most especially his daughter, Carol Capiral.
Just like other kids whose parents are athletes, Carol was greatly influenced by his father’s passion as she later on developed her love towards the sport. At one point, she paired up with her father in coaching the younger generation of the aspiring badminton players.
However, despite of her early exposure in mentoring and coaching, Carol admitted that she is yet to consider herself as a professional coach since there are certain requirements that she has to complete to acquire such status.
“Yung passion ko sa badminton, nakuha ko talaga kay daddy. Naisama nya ako before sa pagtuturo, pero for now hindi ko pa masabi na professional coach na din ako kasi may mga requirements pa ako na dapat matapos like seminars.”
Carol came from a family with a rich badminton background and she was already accustomed in playing the sport at an early age. However, just like other athletes who came from a genealogy of accomplished competitors, Carol acknowledged that she found herself feeling all the pressure of carrying the name Capiral on her back due to her father’s influence and prominence in the badminton circle, especially in Navotas and Malabon.
Truly, being a child of a renowned athlete is both a blessing and a curse. While one may enjoy the benefits of being an athlete’s child, this comes with a great pressure of living up to expectations of others.
“Grabe yung pressure for me kasi si daddy naging national player and national coach din. Malaking pressure na dala-dala ko yung apelyido namin. Iba yung dating kapag nababanggit yung pangalang Capiral lalo na dito sa Navotas at Malabon.”
Carol also revealed that there were some instances wherein badminton tournament organizers deliberately bracketed her in higher levels because she is the daughter of the late Severino Capiral. This obviously added to the pressure she already feels. Even though she thought that these circumstances are quite inappropriate, she could not just back down from the challenge.
“Nakakadagdag din ng pressure na minsan sa mga tournament, kapag nakita agad nila yung apelyido ko, nilalagay agad ako sa mataas na level kahit hindi naman dapat. Kilala kasi nila father ko.”
Despite all of these, Carol was able to carve her own name in the sport. She was able to play in one of the country’s biggest collegiate sporting events while donning the red-and-white threads of the University of the East.
Since this is a recurring stigma among athlete’s children, we can’t help but ask if there were instances wherein Carol heard some comments about her being in the lineup just because of the connection and influence of her late father. Carol just laughed it off and boldly claimed that she competed for the slot in the line-up with her own skills and without her father pulling the strings.
Even though UE’s coach, Coach Rocky, was a student of her father, Carol clarified that she tried out in UE on her own accord and did not use her father’s name. She even said that she is the female version of the late Bineng Capiral, and she learned everything from her father.
“Sa akin wala naman ako narinig na nakapasok lang ako sa team because of my father. Kahit na si Coach Rocky ay student ng father ko, hindi naman ginamit ni daddy yung connection niya para lang makapasok ako sa line-up. Actually, kapag nag-try out ako, hindi ko kasama si daddy. Ang sumasama lang sa akin ay yung pinsan ko. Ako yung female version ni daddy. Lahat ng galaw niya namana ko.”
Due to her outstanding skills, Carol was offered to play in UE’s Team A and was granted with a full scholarship. She did not hesitate to accept the offer since it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in UAAP and for a renowned university like UE.
“During time tapos na yung try-out ko sa ibang schools. Then nagkataon na nag-offer si Coach Rocky na pwede na ako maglaro agad sa Team A will full scholarship pa. I immediately grabbed the opportunity.”
The interesting thing about Carol’s badminton career is that it was not the sport that she played for her high school varsity team. During that time, there was no badminton team so she played for the volleyball squad instead.
Still, Carol promised to herself and to her parents that when she goes to college, she’ll be back holding a racket and smashing her way to her dreams.
The full scholarship offered to her by UE was a dream come true for Carol. Not only did she lessen the expenses for her education, but she was also able to play the sport that she devoted her youth into. Carol lived up to her dreams and was able to fulfill her life-long promise.
“Noong nasa high school ako, na-invite ako na sumali sa volleyball team. Nag-focus ako doon since walang badminton team sa school. Eventually, naging captain ako ng team. Pero sabi ko sa parents ko na kapag nag-college na ako, babalik ako sa badminton at hindi na nila kailangan na pag-aralin ako.”
As she lives up to her and her father’s dreams, Carol can’t help but show her gratitude to the university and the sponsors that gave her full support and opportunity. She also applauded the effort of the UE community in showing their undying support.
Carol even proudly revealed that there is a recurring growth in the prominence of badminton. She mentioned that just like basketball and volleyball, badminton players are now receiving offers and sponsorships, which indicates that the sport is starting to become more noticeable in the country.
“Thankful ako sa school and sa sponsors kasi hindi kami pinabayaan. Lumalaro kami na full-battle gear from head to toe. At ngayon alam ko yung mga bagong generation ng players ay nakakatanggap na din ng offers just like mga players ng volleyball and basketball. Ibig sabihin talagang lumalaki na yung badminton industry.”
Now that she had fulfilled her promise, Carol has a full life ahead of her. Passion Sports’ founder Rob Labagala offered the former UE Red Warrior a coaching and mentoring job in the ex-PBA star’s growing sports clinic.
From being the sports clinic’s photographer, Carol debuted in the Passion Sports’ badminton program right before the catastrophe brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. She is already very excited for the return of the badminton program and even admitted that she is already imagining herself mentoring the young generation along with the other coaches.
Her patience came into fruition as she is now an official member of the Passion Sports’ coaching team. As a coach who was able to witness her father’s greatness, Carol is making the most out of it by teaching the kids the proper discipline and skills needed to be an elite badminton player.
While being a friendly and approachable coach, Carol always emphasizes that her students must do what they should do to become successful in the sport.
“Nag-start ako as photographer sa Passion Sports. Matagal bago sila nagkaroon ng badminton program. Nakikita ko sila na nagtuturo sa mga bata and dumating yung time na na-iimagine ko na din yung sarili ko na nagtuturo. Kuya Rob then offered me a coaching job which I gladly accepted.
As a coach, I am very friendly. But I always remind my players na dapat gawin nila yung dapat nila gawin on the court. I always start the session with a prayer since tatak na yan ng Passion Sports. Also, kinakamusta ko din muna yung mga players before we start.”
From our interview, it was very evident that Bineng Severino’s passion for badminton was engraved in Carol’s heart. You can see Carol’s eyes shining when she shared her coaching experience with Passion Sports which led us to a very important question. Will this be her lifelong career?
“Lifelong career? For now, hindi ko pa masabi. I am very happy na nakakapagturo ako. I am grateful na nabigyan ako ni Kuya Rob ng opportunity na matuloy yung sinimulan ni daddy. I am happy and gusto ko na magkaroon ng legacy sa mga bata at masabi nila na naturuan sila ni Coach Carol. For now, hindi ko pa talaga masabi pero pwede mai-consider.”
While we are still waiting for the next chapter of Coach Carol’s badminton career, she left a very important message for the aspiring athletes to conclude our very meaningful conversation.
“Patience and hardwork talaga. Tiyagain mo lang at mararating mo din yun. Alamin mo if passion mo ba talaga ang badminton. Set a goal at kung gusto mo talaga ang ginagawa mo, makukuha mo.
Have an inspiration. Kung gusto mo talaga makapasok sa badminton and kung gusto mo na matulungan ang parents mo through this sport, then train hard and pray hard. Hindi dapat mawala si Lord sa priorities mo.”
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