Another 90 Minutes More (Philippines v Singapore - 2012 Suzuki Cup Semis)

After a pretty good group stage performance against tough opponents, the Philippine Men's National Football Team a.k.a. The Azkals have once again made it to the semi-final round of the AFF Suzuki Cup, Southeast Asia's most prestigious football tournament. For the 3rd time this year the Azkals face Singapore, though this time in a competitive 2-legged fixture with a lot at stake - a place in the finals.

This semi-final first leg was also billed as the "home match that never was" in reference to the missed opportunity of our country to host our national team for the home leg of our semi-final fixtures against Indonesia in 2010. Well, our boys finally made it happen and created this opportunity to play in front of the supporters and the fans. Rizal was nearly packed and everyone at the stadium was eager to relish this opportunity to support our boys on this momentous occasion in Philippine football.

The match ended in a scoreless draw after a forgettable first half where the Philippines were clearly outplayed by Singapore and they couldn't get any semblance of an offense going. As it was in the group stages, our defense has been the most positive aspect of this Suzuki Cup campaign so far. There were a few nervy moments but over-all our defense held firm and as it was in the group stage, goalkeeper Ed Sacapano proved pretty steady between those goalposts. It was a much better performance by the Azkals in the second half, exhibiting improved cohesion and fluidity in their offensive game. It wasn't enough to get a goal and they had better step it up in the second leg if they wish to go further in this tournament. On a positive note, the Azkals managed another clean sheet, their third in this tournament. More importantly, this means that the Philippines had denied Singapore an away goal.

Of course, a win and a definite advantage heading into the second leg would have been the ideal result, considering the team was playing in front of its home fans. That would have been an ideal result and a good gift to the supporters considering how long Philippine fans and supporters have been waiting for a moment like this, given the significance of the fixture. Then again, Singapore is no push over. They have experience, are 3 time champions of this tournament and have been in this situation before. So if a win wasn't possible, a scoreless draw is the next desirable result.

This is the beauty of 2-legged home and away fixtures with the away goals rule in effect. It creates various scenarios and raises many factors, making for some very interesting matches. The result of the first match will most likely influence the tactics, strategy and approach to the second match and it's quite fascinating to see how coaches, players and teams deal with the situation.

At the end of the match both coaches seem pleased with the result. Singapore is looking forward to playing at home, confident that with the support of their fans they will be able to beat the Azkals and advance to the finals. While the Philippines may be playing on "hostile" ground in the second leg, we only need a scoring draw to advance due to the away goals rule, which Singapore failed to secure in the first leg. As things stand, the Philippines is still very much in it.

In this type of fixture, the 2nd leg at home is usually favored by a team which is why those who topped the group stage get to play the second leg at home. However, it could get difficult and a team could find itself under greater pressure if things don't go as planned. All it will take is an early goal for the Philippines and Singapore will suddenly find itself under pressure to score 2 goals to stay in the competition. As 3 times winners, Singapore has the added factor of dealing with the expectations of their supporters. Also, even if Singapore gets to score first, they cannot take it easy. An equalizer from our team and they are headed for the exit once more.

Singapore will need to go out for the win. This will enable the Philippines to be patient, to stay compact in defense and try to take advantage on the counter. Singapore will be obliged to push up and attack, and what I am starting to envision in my mind is that second goal in the Myanmar match by Angel Guirado. Score first and preferably score early and things should look good for the Philippines. Of course, in order to do this they need to play with more energy and precision than they did on Saturday night. Then again, I'm sure they know that by now.

Singapore will be relying on their experience (coach, players) in this competition, their quality, better cohesion and the support of the home crowd. It is a daunting challenge for the Azkals to face. Then again, the Azkals merely need a scoring draw to advance to the finals. They could use this to their advantage. Furthermore, the Azkals are a mere 90 minutes away from achieving another milestone not only in their respective careers, but for Philippine football as well. As Dan Palami so eloquently put it, "the Philippines intend to write its own history." The opportunity for both the veterans and young guns in our team to write themselves into the history books once more and build a legacy will be a strong source of motivation that should help them overcome the challenges they will face this coming Wednesday. 

This Suzuki Cup campaign has shown that the Philippines is a second half team. It takes a while for the Azkals to get going, to get their bearings and start stamping their mark in the match. In the friendly against Singapore in Cebu and in the 3 group stage matches, the Azkals scored all their goals in the second half. The quality of their play improves as the match progresses in the second half. A 2- legged fixture is basically a match of 2 halves and the second 90 minutes kicks off on Wednesday. So come on Philippines, let's go Azkals, you are 90 minutes away from achieving further glory - WE BELIEVE!

10 December 2012, Moira G Gallaga©

Philippine Football Peace Cup Champions: AZKALS

Congratulations to the Philippine Azkals for winning the Philippine Football Peace Cup. Another milestone and a step forward for Philippine football. While the Azkals were overwhelming favorites for this tournament, they still needed to prove that point nonetheless and they did so emphatically and convincingly.

Three wins, 9 goals scored in 3 matches and conceding only one goal was quite a strong message sent out by our team. It wasn't just about winning their matches; it was also about the manner in which they were won - with near total dominance. It was a joy to watch our team play that way. Okay, the fluffed chances in front of goal, especially in the match against Guam, was a bit frustrating at times. However, the way our midfield controlled the match, dictated the tempo and ensured that our makeshift backline wasn't troubled too much was a welcome change from our usual backs to the wall and spirited style of play. It's a sign of progress and it was vital that this point was made.

While many among us will be savoring this victory and achievement, there are unfortunately those who claim all this is irrelevant due to the low quality of the opposition. Yet that is where the emphatic and dominating performance of our team smashes that argument. Since when has the Philippine national football team dominated and steamrollered opponents in those manner? The Azkals were expected to win this tournament, and they did. In addition to meeting that expectation, they also proved clearly that the progress and achievements since 2010 is not a fluke. 

Notwithstanding the low quality opposition, a look at our team will also show that this was more of a "B" team. Many of our pedigreed players from Europe weren't present, along with a number of veterans. Our defense was makeshift, with only one regular center back who was suffering from a groin injury and didn't even get to play in the crucial final match. Several young players, with emphasis on young, got their first official cap in this tournament. Yet the team acquitted themselves very well and showed how deep our bench has become and that there is quality back-up available if the regular veterans are not available.

Photo via interaksyon.com

No, the naysayers can't take away the satisfaction this victory has given us Pinoy football fans. Also, this wasn't just about the feel-good factor of being champions and preparations for a much bigger prize, the AFF Suzuki Cup. This was also about the future. A number of the young players who shone in this tournament will be crucial in helping sustain the progress Philippine football is making, in battling for our flag and colors in campaigns to come. 

Of course, they have yet to be tested against tougher opponents and that's what the Bahrain training camp and the matches against Bahrain, Kuwait and Singapore are for, to toughen them up and prepare them for the much more difficult opponents they'll be facing in the Suzuki Cup. 

In the meantime, let's all enjoy this moment and thank you Philippine Azkals. We are the Peace Cup Champions! Campeones, campeones! Oe! Oe! Oe!

30 September 2012, Moira G Gallaga©

Home Ground – Football Stadium in Philippines

A bit of news being passed around several months ago was House Bill 4298, which appropriates 300 million pesos for the construction of a 75,000-capacity world-class football stadium in the Philippines. Now that's quite an ambitious goal but if carried out properly, it would be a good development for the Philippine football community.

We would have a proper home ground for our national football teams. A 75,000-capacity stadium is huge. If we could fill that, it will be quite an experience, not only for the spectators but for the players as well. I have been to the Bernabeu, home ground of Real Madrid, and watched a few matches there. It is an 80,000-capacity stadium. Around the globe, it’s not the only one of that size. Close to us, there’s the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta; an 88,000- capacity stadium; Estadio Azteca in Mexico City accommodates 104,000 spectators; Estadio Monumental Isidro Romero Carbo in Ecuador; 83,000-stadium capacity; Westfalenstadiun in Germany; 80,000-stadium capacity; Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul; 75,000-stadium capacity; Japan, Seoul and others also have their fair share of high capacity football stadiums.

It would be truly great for us to have something like that for Philippine football here. A venue for international matches and premiere football fixtures that we could be proud of and where we can derive maximum enjoyment from the experience of watching a live football match.

Rizal Memorial Stadium. Photo via bleachersbrew

Furthermore, a world-class stadium and venue for football would enhance our Federation's ability to attract high profile teams to play here and increase our chances of securing rights to hosting tournaments. In turn, these events provide revenue streams for the Federation and the country. They also provide opportunity for us to not only raise the profile of Philippine football domestically but internationally as well as these matches are usually huge media events. The bigger the teams involved, the larger the media profile, exposure, and it also becomes a pretty good occasion for projecting a positive image of our country.

I fully agree with the objective of establishing a world-class home ground for our national teams. This is a logical step forward in the development of football in the Philippines.

Now, whether 300 million pesos will be enough to fund a world-class 75,000-capacity football stadium remains to be seen. Personally, I think that will not be enough for a proper stadium of that size. However, if Congress appropriates the money for that purpose and allows some form of partnership with a local government unit and/or private investors, now we're looking at something feasible. It's a starting point and the online community of Philippine football supporters and advocates has been discussing this development at length. There are lots of pros and cons involved and some very valuable and interesting insights have been raised and debated in those discussions.

I find merit in the debate concerning the size of the stadium. Going for 75,000 seating capacity might be a bit premature at this stage. Large capacity means larger income and lower prices, but there are other factors involved too such as accessibility, supporting infrastructure, etc. Some have suggested 30-40,000 capacity and that might be worth looking into.

The size of the stadium is critical as this not only impacts the cost to build it and then maintain once it is operational, it also impacts the question on where it should be located. The latest bit of news on this topic noted that at the House Committee hearing they couldn't agree on where the stadium should be located. In online discussions there was spirited debate on this matter also. Clark has been mentioned, and so has the reclamation area in the vicinity of the Mall of Asia in southern Metro Manila with regard to NCR. Of course, there also advocates for locating the stadium in the traditional hotbeds of the sport in this country, in Western Visayas. Bukidnon and Davao also get mentioned on behalf of Mindanao.
 

Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City

My take on this issue is that if this is to be the home ground of our national football teams, then it should be in the vicinity of NCR or Clark. My consideration here is in relation to international matches. At the moment, most international flights go through the Metro Manila airports. This will be a factor for teams coming to play here, and it will facilitate matters if we make it as convenient for them as possible.

Of course, I would not want the other provinces to be neglected. I'd say let regions also have their own stadiums and this should be in fact be part of the over-all long-term plan. I only favor NCR or Clark in terms of the home ground for the national football teams.

Another relevant point of discussion is whether to build one from scratch or to rehabilitate and/or renovate existing ones such as Rizal Memorial Football Stadium and Panaad Stadium in Bacolod. This is a practical option also and may even provide better value for the money appropriated for the purpose. A sort of two stadiums for the price of one deal. UMAK was mentioned in discussions on this topic. However, I think the City of Makati has more than enough resources to fix up the UMAK football grounds and stadium.

There are other points of consideration too, such as parking issues and infrastructure in relation to access to the location, amenities, services, etc. There is also the issue of sustainability and maintenance costs.

The good thing is that the bill is still in the committee level at the House of Representatives, which means it isn't final and hearings are being conducted to debate the merits of the proposed legislation and perhaps fine-tune its provisions. This means there is opportunity to thresh out details to help ensure that this bill is properly crafted. That it will have the necessary provisions to ensure the effective implementation of efforts aimed at achieving the goal of building a truly world class high capacity football stadium. Perhaps the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development should study some of the points and issues raised in the discussions in relation to the building of a football stadium. Public hearings or town hall type of consultations with the football community at large should enhance the work of the Committee in getting this bill passed.

Seating Chart, Rizal Memorial Stadium. Photo via bleachersbrew

You see, there is still a long process ahead before this bill is passed and the possibility still exists that the bill may not even prosper. It is important that attention to details and proper studies are conducted so that the merits of the bill are strong enough for it to be passed into law.

As supporters, we love the passion we feel for this game. Part of that passion stems from the strong emotions that football tends to bring out in all of us and the need to defend our turf or home ground is one of the strongest emotion or feeling that we all possess. We've got a taste of this at Panaad and at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. So if Congress is looking to give us a bigger taste of defending our home ground with a proper stadium, whether it is Panaad, Rizal or a totally new stadium, then let's go for it.

2012 Moira G Gallaga©

Home and Away: Azkals vs Indonesia

It was supposed to be a friendly but one couldn't be faulted for thinking there was a lot more at stake. A bench clearing fracas and 3 red cards surely added to the passion and tension on the field of play. Well, considering that pride was at stake and both sides had points to prove, that alone ups the ante considerably. A rivalry in the making perhaps? I wouldn't mind at all, because to be embroiled in a football rivalry is a sign that our national team is being taken seriously by its opponent.

In the end, the Philippine - Indonesia match ended in a 2-2 draw. For us, this was supposed to be the payback for the home game we never had against the Indonesians at the semifinals of the 2010 Suzuki Cup, though it wasn't the Indonesia's fault our team had to face a hostile environment twice. You can thank the previous regime at the PFF for that debacle. Indonesia beat us on both legs 1-0 and the "what if we had one leg of that semi played at home" has been foremost on most minds of Filipino football supporters. The Tuesday night clash against Indonesia at home was expected to provide an answer, some form of closure to that lingering question out of the recent past. Never mind that our national team, the Azkals, have come a long way from then, achieved historical milestones for Philippine football and improved considerably over a short period of time. Never mind if the current teams are so different from the ones that clashed 2 years ago. No, this was a time of reckoning for the Philippines, payback of some sort.

Indonesia on the other hand had more current concerns and a much different point to prove coming into this clash. That Suzuki Cup semis 2 years ago for them was likely a thing of the past. They have bigger problems" at the moment. They run the risk of missing out on the 2012 Suzuki Cup this year due to off-field problems that could find their Federation suspended from international competitions. Problems brought about by a rift in their domestic league has spilled over and affected their national team. As a result, they have a very young squad and one very much different that lost to Malaysia at the Suzuki Cup finals 2 years ago. You wouldn't be too far off if you described the Indonesian football situation as one in turmoil. For the Indonesians, this match was about making a statement that they are still in contention that they are still among Southeast Asia's (pardon the pun) top dogs despite their off-field problems.

Photo via interaksyon.com

So the stage was set, 2 teams out to make a statement. A strong and vastly improved Philippine team with almost all key players available, facing a slightly young and inexperienced Indonesian side. The script for this dramatic clash was calling for a victory for the Philippine side; all the elements were in place for such a result. Well, that's football for you and the beauty of this game, it doesn't follow scripts. This game loves to throw monkey wrenches into well laid out plans and scenarios, and whether we know it or not, is most probably the reason why we all love this game so much.

As it turned out, our Azkals had to fight back and display that dogged (this time pun intended) determination once again to equalize twice to come out with a draw for this match. What was hoped to be a moment of glory turned out to be a sigh of relief. We could have won this match, we should have but we didn't. A Philippine victory over Indonesia in football will have to wait until the next opportunity we face them.

Disappointing, perhaps yes because our team were clearly dominant this time, had better percentage of ball possession and more numerous and better chances at goal. Wait, the Philippines dominated and controlled most of the match had more shots at goal and greater ball possession against Indonesia? Well, that's new. Not only that, our Coach fiddled around with the line-up and had 4 starters on the bench for the first half and put in 2 young kids (Ott and Angeles) in charge of holding central midfield.

People would say that it was weak Indonesia team, yet they led twice and we needed to grab a draw to salvage some pride. Well, that's exactly the point because I saw the match as a reversal of roles. For a change, we see the Azkals playing as the more dominant team against Indonesia who, strangely enough, were playing the way the Azkals do when faced with superior opponents. Indonesia were playing in a way you would expect an away team to play, cautious, defensive and waiting for an opportunity to take their chances on a counter-attack especially if the home team is effectively controlling the match. Sounds and looks familiar? Well yes, because the Azkals minus 3 key players were playing the same way away to a full strength Malaysia side in Kuala Lumpur just a few days before the match with Indonesia. I just love the irony in that, es futbol. The only difference in the 2-2 draw with Indonesia is that they made their few chances at goal count, 2 out of 4 to our 2 out of 10 shots at goal. In the Malaysia match, both sides failed to make any of their attempts to score count.

Some people will feel that it is the score line that matters. True to some extent, but this was a friendly. Heck, even in competitions, not even the better team wins. Ask Barcelona FC about their UEFA Champions League semifinal clash with eventual champions Chelsea and I'm sure they will agree with that point. I think the bigger picture we need to see from this match against Indonesia was that we were the better team in this match. Of course, there's still a lot of room for improvement and lots of work to do, but at the least this match also showed everyone what the Azkals are capable of on the pitch and how much they have progressed in just 2 years time. Need proof, just look at how the Indonesians played against our team. The Indonesians played like the underdog in this match, they did so because they knew coming into this match that the Azkals were the better team even if they wouldn't directly say so in public. Their actions on the pitch reveal more than their words and clearly manifest that point. Now tell me if that isn't a sign of respect from a country who over the decades has consistently beaten our football teams 18 times out of 20 occasions including this most recent match. The other 2 matches were draws.

Well, we came close this time around. We were literally inches away (e.g. Angel's header that hit the crossbar) from a victory over Indonesia. In my opinion, that ain't too bad at all. There will be other occasions in the future, both at home or even away, and you can be sure that Indonesia won't be taking our team lightly anymore. 

2012 Moira G Gallaga©

DipNote : U.S. Department of State Official Blog

DipNote : U.S. Department of State Official Blog:

Promoting Understanding and Empowering Women Through Soccer in Malaysia

Sports is a great way of building bridges and connections between nations and peoples. This is why sports have also been an integral part of cultural exchanges between governments, it is a commonality where divergence of interests only occurs in the field of friendly competition. It is therefore not surprising to see governments use sports as a medium and tool for diplomacy and foreign policy. With its mass appeal and universal reach, football is the most obvious and effective candidate.  




'via Blog this'

Oh Dear Azkals, What Have You Done This Time? (Azkals at the AFC Challenge Cup)

Oh dear, oh dear! What have the Azkals have done this time? They really can't help themselves can they? Do they need to keep doing this? Yes. Why? Because they have to. 


So what is it they have done this time? Well, they just achieved another historic milestone for Philippine football by defeating 2006 AFC Challenge Cup champions Tajikistan 2-1 to advance for the very first time in our footballing history to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup. Not bad, not bad at all. What's more, this isn't over yet. They actually have a fair chance of making it to the finals, and if they get there, who knows? This is football, and in this sport, anything can happen. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves, one step at a time. 


But before we delve into this highly significant development in the history and progress of Philippine football, let's provide an added sense of perspective and look back in time. We actually don't have to look back that far, we only have to go back to as recently as the AFF Suzuki Cup of 2010. The years before that, let's just say those were the dark ages. Okay, perhaps not really the dark ages as they were a few moments here and there, but for those who have been following Philippine football most of their lives, you know what I mean.  


So what has happened in the short period since December 2010 from which the renaissance of Philippine football is reckoned? Frankly, quite a lot. Beginning with that first time entry into the semi-finals of the Suzuki Cup that involved defeating the defending champions Vietnam and holding ASEAN powerhouse Singapore to a draw. Even the 1-0 losses to Indonesia in the two-legged semis was a very credible result and a marked improvement as our country proved to be no longer the region's whipping boy in the sport.


This was followed by successfully qualifying for the AFC Challenge Cup. We played in the first edition of this tournament in 2006 but there was no qualifying stage. We immediately were in the group stage where we failed to progress due to goal differential against Tajikistan (Revenge is sweet). The following tournaments in 2008 and 2010 we failed to qualify when qualifying stages were eventually introduced. For this current tournament, we had to hurdle Mongolia in a two-legged knockout match. Up next was a qualifying stage in Myanmar where we faced the hosts, Bangladesh and Palestine in a group format with the top two going through to play in Nepal. The Azkals squeezed through that one with 2 draws and a win. 


In between, the Azkals also managed to reach (again for the very first time in our football history) the second round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, eventually bowing out to a highly skilled and strong Kuwaiti team. 


Now, the Azkals have gone out and added a much bigger feather to their cap by reaching the semis of a major regional tournament. Finding themselves in the group of death along with 3 previous champions of this tournament and having to deal with a looming investigation and likely sanction for charges of sexual harassment on some of its players when they get home, the challenges were quite formidable indeed for our National Football Team. 


However, as is their habit, the Azkals find it within themselves to rise to the occasion and give their all for flag and country, not to mention for all their supporters who have shown faith and belief in them all through this time. A loss in the opening match, a convincing win to keep their chances alive and a winner take all match which they win by scoring two goals in the second half after going a goal down at the very end of the first half - a compelling storyline if there ever was one, couldn't have been scripted any better for such a momentous and historic achievement. 


They have come a long way in such a short time. They have worked hard, played with great commitment and heart, and hurdled considerable challenges along the way. They truly deserve this accomplishment and should not be denied the corresponding glory. Yet, this isn't all. It isn't over yet. On Friday, they have yet another opportunity to go one step further, another shot at making dreams come true for the Philippine football community and its fans and supporters.  


Turkmenistan stands in their way next and typical for the Azkals, it is always never an easy road for them. Key players Angel Guirado (Man of the match against Tajikistan) and James Younghusband will be suspended for the semi-final match. However, the back line is still intact and so is the central midfield  pairing of Mulders and Juani Guirado which gives the team some defensive stability. It is a matter of stepping up on the offense to compensate for the absence of Angel and James. 


What will be going for the Azkals is confidence and momentum. If they can relieve themselves of the pressure of expectation and continue with the progress they have been making they have a decent shot. They have already achieved their goal to reach the semis. This is farther than we've ever gone before in football, any further progress is icing on the cake. So relax Azkals, enjoy the moment and play your hearts out, and who knows what will happen next. 


So what have the Azkals done this time again? Well, aside from making history once more and bringing football back to life in the Philippines, they have made us proud as a country and a people. If you can't appreciate that fact, then I feel sorry for you. More than that, they have also gained us some measure of respect. 

Photo via GoalNepal.com

It's only football others will say, well that's my point, because it is football it matters. It is a sport that matters to literally hundred of millions of people in every corner of the world. The World Cup is bigger than the Olympics, football matches elicit passion in levels way above other sports. Football has been responsible for starting a war in Central America, yet it is also responsible for initiating a truce between an African government and rebels seeking to overthrow that government. Heck, even in the recent SEA games, Indonesia may have come out over-all winners of that competition but their victory isn't complete because they lost the football gold to Malaysia who really relished the fact that they got the gold in the event that really mattered for them and the Indonesians. This is the context in which we should be viewing our place in the global sport of football, the beautiful game - it matters and we have a fairly good chance of being competitive in this milieu if we really put our hearts, mind and resources into it. Perhaps this is also why its rise in the Philippines is causing fear in those who don't understand or can't accept its rising prominence in the Philippines. 


Football in the Philippines has been marginalized for a long time, never given a second thought until its recent success. Now it is challenging the order of things of our sporting environment and it is making a number of people and some quarters uncomfortable. Come on guys, let me say just one word - reality. Football has made its mark, and on its own merits by the way. Government had nothing to do with this, it is people with heart, passion and commitment who have made this happen. Embrace the phenomenon, take it into our hearts and allow it to prosper.  


This is just the beginning of a project, a dream, a vision that is slowly making itself a reality and a very distinct possibility. The Azkals have done it again and is showing us the way, giving us reason to believe and to feel proud. So let's do our part as well and start acting as one country and one people and let's get behind this project and support not only the Azkals but the growth and progress of football in the Philippines as well.  


In the meantime, Turkmenistan stands in the way of further glory, go Azkals! We believe! ...and why do I get this sneaky feeling that these guys are going to end up doing something again in a few days time? 


2012 Moira G Gallaga©

Destiny Awaits - Philippines in AFC Challenge Cup

After a convincing 2-nil victory over the 2011 South Asian champions and 2008 AFC Challenge Cup champions India, the Philippine Men's National Football Team, the Azkals, have kept their hopes for reaching the semis alive.

Following a defeat to North Korea, the Azkals needed to win against India. This they were able to do without too much trouble. India had its moments, but one can reasonable say that the Philippines were more or less in control of that match. The changes made by Coach Weiss in the midfield paid off, and Phil Younghusband put away two of his chances. The first goal was shades of the goal against Malaysia on the 29 February. That long throw-in by Sabio has provided an added dimension to our offensive options. All in all, it was a pretty good and exciting match, with the victory making it that much sweeter.

The victory has set up a "winner take all" match against previous AFC Challenge Cup champion (2006) Tajikistan. An interesting development is that because of the respective score lines of both teams in their respective matches with the other teams in this group of death, a draw would result to a penalty shootout. 

Destiny awaits the Philippine Azkals. Their fate in this tournament, and a shot at another historic milestone and achievement, is within their grasp and fully in their own hands. 

Aside from providing the Azkals an opportunity of getting to the semis, the victory over India also brings renewed confidence to the team and the players. The victory and the opportunity for further glory is a good boost to team morale and the players will be raring to take on Tajikistan. The last time the Philippines and Tajikistan tangled it ended in a draw. This is a very different Philippine team now, and while the Tajiks shouldn't be taken lightly, the Azkals have a pretty good chance to pull off an upset here.

It gets tempting to get carried away now that we see that we have a foot by the door (the Tajiks too, by the way), but I believe there is cause for optimism. There is a bit more composure in the way the Azkals have been playing lately, and the defense has been proving solid. As the underdogs in this tournament, such improvements in those particular areas have become very vital to their current progress in this tournament. Conservative, smart and focus should be the buzzwords in this upcoming match. We cannot discount of course the burden and pressure of expectation, now that destiny is just around the corner. They cannot afford to be anxious and nervous about this match. They should approach this match with the attitude that they have everything to gain and nothing to lose.  In my opinion, the mental aspect of football will be the determining factor in this upcoming match. Though by the looks of the team, from their training matches in the Middle East, the friendly against Malaysia and their first two matches in this tournament, it appears they have what it takes to stay focused on the task at hand and effectively deal with the pressure of the occasion. 

Photo via goal.com

Another cause for optimism is Coach Weiss. He has taken a more pragmatic and conservative approach to matches. The team is now more organized and compact, resulting to more stability at the back. Quite a change from the swashbuckling offensive game the Coach was initially trying to develop for the team. That worked against teams of lesser quality, but definitely not against that way ahead of us in terms of ability and team chemistry. This new approach and emphasis in our playing style has obviously served the team well so far in this tournament. Additionally, Coach Weiss has also been utilizing his subs more. He has previously been taken to task to use subs sparingly. He may have his reasons then, but lately we've seen that he has been making use of the bench more effectively. 

So there we have it. The Philippines is on the edge of achieving another footballing milestone. Destiny awaits! It is there for the taking and the chances of doing so look promising. As we all dwell on this and what this all means, let us also not forget to consider how far this team and Philippine football has come in so short a time. 

2012 March, Moira G Gallaga©

Philippines vs Malaysia - SO CLOSE...

Another football match for our men’s National Football Team, the Azkals, and they faced a worthy and accomplished opponent for this fixture. It may have been only a friendly match under the FIFA calendar, but the PFF had chosen no less than Malaysia, the defending champions of the AFF Suzuki Cup, to test the mettle of our Azkals. Considering that the Azkals will be off in a tournament in about a week, this was a pretty good challenge for the national team to prepare them for the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal.

Higher than the Philippines in the FIFA rankings, and widely acknowledged to be the much better team, the Azkals were the underdogs in this match. The last time the Philippines beat Malaysia was 21 years ago at the 1991 SEA games. The succeeding occasions in which we got to face Malaysia on the football pitch have always been in Malaysia’s favor.

That’s not surprising of course. While the growth of football in the Philippines has gained momentum only recently, Malaysia had undertaken a long-term and effective grassroots development program to be where they are now. Based on interviews with the Malaysian coach, the core of their current squad were formed 10 years ago, back in the youth levels and were carefully nurtured and supported as they went up the ranks. Aside from being the 2010 Suzuki Cup champions, Malaysia is also the back-to-back champions or gold medalists in ASEAN U23 football for 2009 and 2011. Evidently, they are force to be reckoned with in the region and definitely posed a tough and skilled opponent for the Azkals.

Aside from serving as a warm-up match for the AFC Challenge Cup, the Azkals coaching staff and players described this friendly match as a gauge by which the progress of the Azkals can be measured following the renaissance of Philippine football sparked by that amazing run to the semis of the 2010 Suzuki Cup in December 2010. With Malaysia’s footballing pedigree, the match was indeed a very effective gauge by which we could assess where we stand in terms of football in Southeast Asia.

Well, the match did prove that the Azkals had been making steady progress and improvement since December 2010. Boy, were we so close to causing an upset and replicating that remarkable feat in 1991. The match ended in a draw, but despite the horrible condition of the pitch and Neil Etheridge’s choice of shorts (my husband and I thought he was planning to play golf instead of football, still swoon-worthy :), the Azkals put in a sterling performance.

We took the lead in the 34^th minute through a diving header from Denis Wolf and held on to it until the Malaysians equalized in the first minute of added time. So close…

While we didn’t come away with a win that would have been well deserved had we done so, we could take heart that the team played really well and caused a lot of trouble for the Malaysians. This wasn’t the gallant stand of circa 2010 where we would absorb the pressure and take advantage of quick counters via route one. This time around, the Azkals played at a less frenetic pace and tempo, and did so with more composure and purpose. I could tell because my husband was a bit calmer watching the match – hardly any swearing or abuse being hurled at the referee.

This was an enjoyable match to watch. To me, teams were evenly matched, it was quite an open game in various periods and control of the match would shift back and forth. It was nice to relish the ebb and flows of the match. Of course, the fact that we were doing very well against the Malaysians further adds to the satisfaction. Being objective about it, the draw was a fair outcome. The Azkals showed that their neighbors in the region should start viewing them more seriously and the Malaysians worked for their equalizer.

Photo courtesy of www.sktdigital.com.ph

Most of all, I enjoyed those little moments that make football such a beautiful game. I agree with my husband that aside from the strategies, skills, techniques, and the tactics, football is also a game of inches and moments of team or individual brilliance that can make a significant impact in a match. A matter of inches to the left, to the right, higher or lower, and that’s the difference that could spell the outcome of a match. A brief moment of instant and almost telepathic connection between players in a team that result in a mesmerizing move and interplay with the ball can likewise determine the outcome of a match, not to mention leaving you standing there with your jaw almost hitting the ground in awe. Then of course let’s not forget the moments of individual brilliance and genius of the players. This is what football is about, and the match had its share of those little moments.

Angel Guirado hitting the post was one of those moments. A few inches to the left and that would have gone in and we’d have been 2 goals up. Not to mention that the shot was made possible by a pretty nifty bit of skill by Angel to get him just that little amount of space to make that shot. Inches and a moment of brilliance, and we were so close to causing an upset. Of course, it also was a moment of brilliance for the Malaysians that got them back in the match and salvaged some pride for their side. A skillful change of direction that took out Jason Sabio and gave the Malaysian player just that little bit of space to place a shot just beyond the reach of Neil Etheridge. A moment of brilliance and a few extra precious inches of space, they were so close to losing and we were so close to winning. Kind of felt sorry for Jason Sabio there as he was playing very well in that match, solid in defense for most of the match. But as they say, “es futbol,” and that’s why I really love this game.

So, honors even between the Philippines and Malaysia on the 29^th of February 2012, not bad Azkals, not bad at all. We were so close to causing an upset. While there is a common phrase that goes “so close, yet so far,” in this case, viewing it from a footballing perspective and where the Azkals stand in terms of Southeast Asian football, it’s more like “so close, and no longer so far away.” Congratulations Azkals and once again you give us all reason to continue believing.

           

2012 Moira G Gallaga©

            

Football and Filipinos Overseas

The Philippine Men’s National Football team, or the Azkals as they are popularly known, just concluded their training camp in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where they played against some tough and skilled opposition in three practice matches: the Uzbek U23 team; Qatari 1^st division club Al-Ahli; and the Australian U23.

I felt the Azkals played fairly well with the exception of the match against the young Uzbek team. The defense was pretty porous and they were trying to match the frenetic pace the Uzbeks were playing, though to be objective, the Uzbeks were a very good and highly skilled team with very fluid movement and good chemistry. This was the first match where the Azkals lost 3-0, but the succeeding matches (3-1 win against Al-Ahli and a 1-0 loss to the Aussies) showed they’ve addressed a number of problem areas and there was marked improvement in their performance.

Anyway, I am sure there are lots of stuff written out there about the matches; how the players performed, how the coach fared, the technical matters and stuff, etc. So I’m not going to delve into that, but rather focus on a feature of any Azkals away match: Filipino fans and supporters.

As I watched on TV the Azkals’ matches during their UAE tour, one thing I noticed about the TV coverage of the matches is that the director did a lot of shots and close-ups of the crowd, almost all of them Filipinos. Well, crowd shots and close-ups are a regular staple of TV coverage of football matches. Heck, whenever Brazil is playing you can safely bet your house that the director is going to put in a shot of female Brazilian fans, a number of whom would be in bikini tops. However, this particular director somehow enjoyed featuring the colorful and animated reactions of the crowd. I had a good feeling these crowd shots were a bit more than the usual based on the griping I would hear beside me on the couch to get the cameras back on the action happening on the pitch.

Personally though, I enjoyed watching our kababayans on TV having a grand time at the matches. It vividly brought back memories and the feelings we experienced when watching the Azkals in their various home matches at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum’s football field. It was those scenes of excitement, passion and enjoyment so evident on our fellow Filipinos faces and actuations as they cheered the Azkals that inspired me to write this piece and share some of my thoughts about football and Filipinos overseas.

Whether in the thousands or just a handful, the Azkals appear to be assured of having support in the stands whenever they play away from home. Vietnam, Indonesia, Mongolia, Germany, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Singapore or Qatar, there have been Filipinos in the stands cheering on the Azkals. Considering the number of Filipinos scattered around the globe, this is not surprising. With around a tenth of our population overseas, it is always likely that fellow Filipinos will be present to support them whenever they play in a major city.   

We all know of course the value of having crowd support in the stadium. It motivates the players and gives them an extra boost to go all-out and try to win the match and not let the fans and supporters down. In return, the team and the players provide the fans and supporters not only excitement, passion and even fun, but a sense of pride as well. Those of us who have been in the stands watching our teams play and cheering them on knows these feelings all too well. 

However, as I look at our kababayans in Dubai and Doha being featured on TV as they watched the Azkals’ matches, I can’t help but think how much more pronounced and significant the occasion is for them. It’s quite an experience already to be absorbed in the energy, passion and vibes of a match in Rizal, along with thousands of other Filipinos. I’d say that feeling and experience would be much more intense when in a foreign country, especially if you’ve been in that country for some time now, away from family and friends back home in the Philippines.

In my work I’ve had the opportunity to travel all over the world. One thing my colleagues and I notice is how quickly Filipinos connect whenever they run into each other overseas, particularly those who have been away from home for so long. These even include those who have migrated and settled in their adopted country and raised families there. The connection to the homeland and things Filipino remain very strong with Filipinos overseas. You could see their joy in meeting a kababayan, their craving for news and stuff from the Motherland.

So can you just imagine how they would be feeling to have their national team represent them and play for them? The images on TV revealed quite a lot about their experience, and that is why I enjoyed every moment those scenes would be flashed on the screen.

You see, this isn’t just about showing support for Philippine football and the country. It is just as much about making an effort to give Filipinos overseas an opportunity to enjoy, feel proud about themselves and of being a Filipino. Every time an Azkal fights for the ball, takes a shot at goal, throws his body to block a shot, etc. that player isn’t just doing that for the team and the country, he’s also doing that for every individual in the stands cheering him on. Considering that a good number of those individuals have been there for some time, in a foreign land, different culture, badly missing loved ones, friends and home, having an opportunity to relish and revel in the communal experience and passion of a live football match would definitely be an occasion to remember and cherish.   

As can be seen from experience, there is everything to gain from overseas activities such as this training camp and/or away matches. Football and Filipinos overseas make a good argument for continuing these types of activities. As the Azkals gain much needed match experience and enhance their ability as a team, Filipinos overseas get an opportunity to enjoy themselves and to feel proud.

As I recall those scenes and images on TV of our kababayans out there having the time of their lives watching our Azkals play and making us proud, I can’t help but feel happy for them for having had that wonderful opportunity. I’m sure the PFF and the management of the Azkals will make sure that those very same opportunities will be made available to other Filipinos overseas in the future.

In the meantime, it’s our turn here back at home come February 29. Go Azkals! WE BELIEVE!!!

2012 Moira G Gallaga©

     

Sergio Ramos' Poetry

Sergio Ramos’ tattoo on his right side upper torso:

Sergio Ramos' attempt on poetry :)

 

so, from this:

 

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond…

 

This is what he wrote:

 

Thanks God for my unconquerable soul…

I am the MASTER …. 

 

 

We All Bleed RED: Time to Get Rid of the Fil-What Nonsense

We All Bleed RED: Time to Get Rid of the Fil-What Nonsense:

2012 Moira G Gallaga©

(*Title – “We All Bleed Red” is the title of a Ronnie Dunn song)

During a conversation between my husband and I about the latest developments regarding the Azkals, he brought up an issue that went on for a bit a few months back regarding local based and foreign based Azkals. Apparently, there are some people who take issue with the foreign based Azkals. Terms such as pure blood or half-Filipino were being used. From what I understand, some people don’t consider or view our foreign based Azkals as 100% Filipino. I was pretty surprised and disturbed to hear that as I’ve always had the impression that someone’s ethnic background is no longer an issue these days.

Campeones! Campeones! Oe! Oe! Oe!

Campeones! Campeones! Oe! Oe! Oe!:

by: Moira G Gallaga©

'via Blog this'

About the Beautiful Game

About the Beautiful Game:

by: Moira G Gallaga©

'via Blog this'

Clash of the Spanish Titans

Clash of the Spanish Titans:

by: Moira G Gallaga©

'via Blog this'

Roadmaps

AAARRGGHH!! The campaign of our U23 Men’s National Football Team at the 2011 SEA Games is almost over. The loss against Myanmar has left us no route to the semis and we only have a final group stage match against Brunei on Tuesday, 15 November 2011.

We lost 0-5 to Myanmar, and that was painful to watch and experience. Flood of emotions right now. True, Myanmar was the other tough challenge in the group along with group favorites Vietnam, so our team really needed to dig deep within themselves to come out with something from this match. Well, no rabbits out of the hat this time around and we got a painful and emphatic reminder that we still have lots of work to do and a long way to go. I’m not in the mood to dwell on this match, I just want to move on and look ahead. As it is said, there’s no point in crying over spilled milk.

So up next, there’s still a match against Brunei. A win is very much possible here and I hope the boys’ spirits aren’t too crushed. Hopefully, they’ll use the occasion to vent out their frustrations (productively, of course) and show us some more of those glimpses of promise and quality they have exhibited in the last 4 matches. Also, a win would be very helpful indeed as it usually takes a while for my husband to get out of his funk when his teams lose. Got 2 days of crankiness to bear until the Brunei match. Come on Philippines! Lakas Pinas!

For the bigger picture, today’s loss against Myanmar got me thinking about roadmaps. While Myanmar’s roadmap to democracy (Come on, I’m still bitter about the loss, just give me this little opportunity to take a dig at them, hehe) leaves much to be desired, their roadmap for football development is definitely right on track. Their U23 team has 6 players who are also on their senior squad and they’ve have managed to become a serious challenger in the region. While we were underdogs against Vietnam, we usually are considered as being on level terms with Myanmar. From the result of today’s match it looks like Myanmar is pulling ahead of us and we got catching up to do.

The same can be said for Timor Leste, the revelation in the group. Their match against Myanmar is going to be critical as they still have a chance of making it to the semis round. We were expected to win the match against Timor Leste, as we have been historically better than they have been in football. Well, Timor Leste has been hard at work and their roadmap for football development has been effective for them. They (their U23 team at least) are starting to become a force to be reckoned with in the region.

As for the Philippines, we were expecting to make the semis round. So gauging from this expectation and objective, we could say it was a disappointing campaign in general. Now, I will leave it to the experts and the more technically inclined to discuss and debate the issues and lessons learned from this campaign in relation to our own roadmap for football development. I’m sure those in charge know what needs to be done next. They have done so much for Philippine football in the past year, so I trust that they know what they are doing and that they have the Philippine football community’s best interests at heart.

Now, while the campaign may be disappointing in general this doesn’t mean there is no promise or hope. One needs only to recall the team’s dramatic come back against Laos to know and feel that our young group of players has a lot of heart and potential. In the matches they lost they were also able to show glimpses of what they can do if given enough time to prepare, and opportunity to gain enough experience and exposure playing against quality opposition. For me, the future looks bright and let’s continue to support our country’s roadmap for football’s development and growth in the Philippines. WE BELIEVE!!