By Lawrence Casiraya
MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA — The Philippines isn’t exactly a football country but more people should be paying attention to the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa. Compared to 2006, I’ve never felt as much hype leading to this year’s tournament.
Sony Ericsson, for example, is sending one lucky Filipino kid to South Africa to become a FIFA flag bearer. This weekend, there will be a Soccer Fiesta happening at the SM Mall of Asia. The Philippine Football Federation itself held a Diski Night last December to kick off World Cup festivities.
Four years ago, I remember going home 5a.m. after watching a few matches live in bars. This time, I predict a more vibrant atmosphere and expect more than just the most ardent of football fans to come out in hordes and flock to a lot more viewing parties.
But festivities aside, I believe this is the right time Filipinos pay more attention to football, even only as spectators.
A Filipino team winning last month’s Street Child World Cup - indeed a “miracle” triumph after beating Brazil before beating South Africa in the finals – should provide enough inspiration and revive our attention to the sport. How else could you imagine a team from the Philippines (currently ranked 167th by FIFA) beat powerhouse Brazil?
For the past year or so, the Philippine football team has been rebuilding itself, recruiting foreign-born Filipinos that include brothers Neal Etheridge and brothers Phil and James Younghusband, who have experience playing in minor leagues in Europe.
On the other hand, there have been efforts by private individuals, like Charlie Cojuangco of Negros who plans to bring in foreign experts to conduct football clinics at the grassroots level. In the Philippines, football enjoys a rather more fervent following in the southern provinces.
This, despite all the controversies that has plagued the ranks of local football organizations all these years. The Inquirer’s Recah Trinidad says what we need is a total football “revolution”, not simply limited to rebuilding football stadiums.
A Filipino team joining the World Cup in the near future is absolutely far from reality (well, someone even mockingly created this Facebook group). In the meantime, we can always enjoy watching the “beautiful” game every four years.
This year, I am rooting for Spain to win the World Cup – they were European champions and they have a stellar lineup of players so far. At least, being Filipino, my nation’s history dictates four hundred years of colonial rule should count for some amount of allegiance.
For more details about Soccer Fiesta 2010, check out http://soccerfiesta2010.multiply.com. Join the Castrol Skills Challenge and get a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to watch the World Cup live in South Africa.
Photos from frerieke’s flickr and ImageShack.
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