Big night for the Azkals

I am very sure that I won't be lonely when I watch the game of the Philippine Azkals tonight as they face Mongolia in Bacolod City contrary to the team's first couple of games in the Asean Football Cup late last year.

The Azkals, once regarded as just another team representing the Philippines, now have a big fan base including many, who know little about the game.

It helps of course that the players also look good. This way, the team's commercial viability is also heightened.

More than looking good, the ability to win is also very important. No matter how good you look, you also need to rack up some wins so people in the sporting world would take you seriously.

Tonight's game starts at 7:30. This will be aired live by Studio 23.

I really wish I were in Bacolod City to watch the game live, but due to a hectic travel schedule next week, which I have to prepare for, I'll have to be satisfied with watching the game on television.

In the last game of the Azkals in the AFC, there were a few others who stood around our small TV dedicated to the sports section here in the office. I would be nice to watch where there is a wide screen with other football fans around, but the work schedule would not permit that for us newspapermen.

I'm sure the many fans in Bacolod would also be sharing their observations of the game and sidelights through the Pinoy Football page on Facebook.

If you want to get regular updates about the game, become a member of this group on Facebook. Just have the patience when you come across some comments or posts that seem a little off.

Football may have been around for a long time in our country, but it is only recently that things have become this great in terms of fan and sponsorship support.

I'm sure government support will come in somewhere soon, but while things are going great and even when things would get a little down, let us continue our support for the sport and our national team.

By keeping the spirit of football going in your own little way, you contribute much to the national team as this would help the sport get noticed by our political leaders and the corporate sponsors.

Go Azkals!

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MILESTONES: Belated birthday greetings to those who turned a year older last Monday like my cousin Mary Ann Quiñones-Unto, my Tao sister and The Freeman opinion editor Debbie Dixie Duraliza, City Councilor Joey Daluz, Gloria Evelyn 'Ping' Zabala-Belacho, Gail Manuel, Lourdes 'Odette' del Prado-Torrefranca, and twins Katherine and Khristine Dante.

Belated greetings also go to those who celebrated yesterday with our President Benigno 'Noynoy' Aquino III yesterday like Catherine Bongo-Gatchalian, Aline Sande-Fernandez, Elaine Montecillo, and Marybeth Flores-Teves.

Today's greetings go to Tejero councilman and The Freeman's Garry B. Lao, Jobyl Jimenez, my mistah Gines Gallaga, Edward Cañete, Max Limpag, and Butch Carungay.

More power to all of you!