I had a rather interesting chat the other day with Graeme MacKinnon, a two-time Cebu Sports Hall of Famer.
First let me explain why he is twice a hall of fame member. MacKinnon was enshrined into the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame as a special awardee many years ago for his contribution to the development of football in Cebu.
Last year, Graeme, who is an Australian by birth and Cebuano by choice, once again made it to the hall of fame along with the members of the national champion 1988 M. Lhuillier Jewelers football team.
He used to write a weekly column for us, which was one of the many things he did for the sport in Cebu. He did not only coach his team in the national championships, but also started an honest-to-goodness grassroots program through the M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation.
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Our conversation through the popular social networking site Facebook started because of a string of comments by members of the football community on a column (not mine) that was about the Azkals.
Graeme said that he hopes the media would stop calling the members of the national team as ‘Fil-foreigners’ because it seems to confuse many about their nationality.
He said he prefers that they would be referred to as Philippine-based or overseas-based players.
I understand Graeme’s point because it seems that up to now, several players of the very popular Philippine Azkals seem to be regarded by some as less Filipino that those with pure blood.
Graeme doesn’t even have a drop of Pinoy blood in his veins, but he is more Filipino than many of those with pure blood.
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While many countries have naturalized football players to boost their stock, we have looked abroad for those with real Filipino blood to join the Azkals.
They are not instant Pinoys. Based on my little knowledge of our Constitution, citizenship in our country is based on blood and not place of birth.
This influx of Filipinos with foreign blood in the national team may not be the ultimate salve that would cure what ails sports in our country, but like supplements that we take for our bodies, they boost our system and help us achieve our goals.
My biggest disappointment, however, is not seeing those who are having a hard time understanding what the Azkals have done for football in the country, it is seeing those who think that they are the only ones who know.
It will take some time to change the attitude of the people towards football. It will be long before we see politicians building football fields instead of basketball courts. Maybe we will make it to the World Cup not in our lifetime. But that doesn’t mean we should stop dreaming and working to achieve our lofty goals.
The Azkals proved to us that we can do it. I guess, the cheer should now be, Go Pinoys! Yes, that includes those with foreign blood.
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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings to my former girlfriend, but now my wife, Evelyn G. Reyes-Quiñones, who turns a year older today.
The same goes to Marco Anzani and Robert Hipolito.
Advance greetings go to those celebrating tomorrow Like Ramil Paican, Randy Gorion, and Maria Runette Raboy-Rico.
More power to all of you!