World Cup 2010

In a couple of weeks, we get a good reason to stay up until dawn to watch the games of the World Cup that will be hosted by South Africa.

By World Cup I mean the World Cup of football. This is for those who still can’t understand the world’s number one sport (yes, that’s right…it’s not basketball) even if we have a huge football community here in Cebu.

We have a six-hour difference with South Africa, which means that the early games there, say those that will be played starting at 6 p.m. their time can be seen here at 12 midnight.

This is about the same time difference with the last host, Germany and you will definitely know who the biggest football fans are even if they are not wearing to colors of the country they are rooting for, they are those who seem to look very sleepy in the afternoons or come to work in the morning with bloodshot eyes.

I searched the web for news to confirm that Balls (channel 33 over SkyCable TV) will be airing the games and found an article that says so.

If this is the case, then we football fans need not spend so much watching the action in bars and other public places like we did back in 2006 when coming home early morning suddenly became normal for a one-month period.

Of course, this early I know of some groups planning viewing parties for the World Cup in South Africa. Well, it’s really more fun to watch the games with friends and family, who also understand the game.

Just a word of advice though, don’t cheer too loud as the neighbors might be asleep and would call the police to complain.

One thing that I am sure the World Cup would bring would be more interest on the game of football and I hope that although the world’s biggest single sport competition only happens one every four years, our interest will not wane months after a champion will be picked.

So, who do you think will win the World Cup this year?

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The Philippines hasn’t qualified for the World Cup yet.

We’re hoping to make it someday, but then obviously the efforts have always fallen short, very short to be exact.

So, what plagues Philippine football?

From my standpoint as a fan of the sport, a former player, a father who followed my son for many years while he played, and as a sports journalist, I think that our biggest stumbling block is the lack of a single effort to push the sport.

Yes, there are many active clubs, there are other groups that suddenly become very interested and there are individuals, who are willing to help, but then there is one thing lacking – unity.

Unless we get all the football stakeholders to work as one, a Philippine team in the World Cup will forever remain wishful thinking.

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MILESTONES: I would like to congratulate my classmates in the Certified Security Professional class 165, which will be graduating tonight. There are a total of 34 of us in the group.

Happy birthday greetings go to my high school classmate Julius C. Villarin, who is celebrating today.

Advance birthday greetings go to those celebrating tomorrow – my mistah Lt. Col. Ed Gubat, Dannaliza Toledo-Page, Mae Ann ‘Sitam’ Manubag, and Trina Poca.

More power to all of you!