For the love of football

To those who still think the players of the national football team, the Azkals, are not Filipino. I would not want to argue with you or go down to your level.

I am writing this before the Azkals faced Turkmenistan in the semifinals of the AFC Challenge Cup in Kathmandu, Nepal and I am hoping for the best result, which is of course a win for the Filipinos.

Although football is the world’s number one sport, it is still so alien to many of us Filipinos. We can’t blame the Pinoys for being more familiar with basketball as in every nook and cranny of our country, you see basketball courts, half courts or even a simple ring emblazoned with the names of politicians.

Basketball has become a national sport, not because we grow to be very tall as a people, but also because of the convenience in terms of promoting it to further the political ambitions of people.

Basketball courts are built to be year-round campaign material for politicians. It is a venue not only for games, but also for all other community gatherings ranging from fiesta celebrations to wakes.

To demand that our officials support football instead of basketball is like asking for the moon and the stars. Let us be a little creative then when we ask them for support.

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Since land is a commodity that is not available in many communities, maybe we can push futsal or indoor football instead as it can be played in basketball courts or similar areas.

In places where there are open fields, football enthusiasts can probably learn from the Inter Cebu Football Club of Manfred Schuwerk in Lapu-Lapu City where the members help clean up the area to prepare a pitch where they could play.

Some people think that by simply asking the officials for support, they would get what they ask for.

To help football become more popular in our country, us who love the game must exert a little more effort and not easily give up.

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All roads lead to the northern town of Liloan, Cebu this weekend for the Vaseline Men XTerra Off-Road Triathlon.

Today, there will be a trail run and tomorrow is the even bigger event, the off-road triathlon that has brought to Cebu some of the best in the world.

I was at the XTerra in the same venue last year and the experience of covering the event is something worth doing again.

This is also my little way of supporting the efforts of the town to push sports and to bring in more organizers to hold events there.

Liloan doesn’t only have beaches, but also great trails for biking and cross-country running.

See you on Sunday then!

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MILESTONES: Today’s birthday greetings go to LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon, Maritess Barria, Dennis Alcarez, Krissi Banzon-Barnard, and Leogem Barriga.

Advance greetings to my nephew Kyle Q. Unto, Maebelle Varron, PB Member Joeyboy Holganza, Hazel Dia-Solon, John Alvarado, and Ram Catadman, who are turning a year older tomorrow.

Belated greetings also go to Franklyn Ong and my grade school teacher Mdm. Adelaida Boiser, who celebrated last Friday.

More power to all of you!