THE FOOTBALL DREAM AND THE AZKALS

Football has become the latest craze in Philippine sports and obviously, the Filipinos succumb to the passion in just a matter of months.  It could not be refuted that Pinoys are natural lovers of sports. What is so amazing though is that the interest towards football came so swiftly and robustly and fanatics have quickly grown in numbers. 

Football is like a national sport in all European countries and famous leagues are always part of the life and enjoyment of European people. Considerably, this sport is not new to Pinoys. Although football has been amongst the more unfamiliar spectator sport in the Philippines, a country where everyone regardless of the status in life, worships and plays basketball like no other sport. But recently, the picture has changed and I think it has changed for the better. Soccer as we commonly call it has conquered the Filipino crowd in bewilderment and new kind of obsession.

With the national team named AZKALS bringing what could become a revolution in the national sporting arena, every Filipino finds the thrill and excitement of football highly-spirit and explosive. The AFC (Asian Football Cup) qualifier match between our very own AZKALS and Mongolia proved that Pinoys have in fact possessed the passion for football that only needs awakening. The triumph of the national team in Panaad Stadium in Bacolod is the literal translation to a promise made real before an estimated 20,000 spectators. 

It may just be the commencement of a brighter future of football in the Philippines but the promising start that the national team have shown in their recent games is more than enough to provide Filipino supporters massive hope and expectation. That in the coming years we could discover great players to the ranks and fame of contemporary footballers David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo. Or should I say, the world’s football greatest like Pele, Maradona, or Platini.