What a coverage

Chiefy Caligdong, if it’s really him, posted on the Pinoy Football page on Facebook about the difficult conditions the team faced in Ulan Bator during the second leg of their match with Mongolia.

The really cold temperature was the biggest problem they faced and he even apologized to the Azkals fans for the team’s failure to play good.

The fans of course can help but complain of many things where the Azkals failed like when the defense failed to block the kicker after the goalkeeper blocked a penalty kick. Had the defense reacted immediately and not celebrated prematurely, Mongolia would not have scored on the rebound.

But that is beside the point now that the Azkals have qualified for the group stage and will head to Myanmar. The others in the group are Bangladesh and Palestine.

There were several of us, who craned our necks the other day to watch the game of the TV set here at the office, and we could not help but notice the poor quality of the coverage of the game.

Even my son, who was home early after their final exams, said that it was terrible as the televiewers cannot follow where the ball would go.

I hope it won’t be that bad in Myanmar and I also hope that they can find a way to air the games live even if the schedule conflicts with that of the PBA.

The football fans of course would prefer to watch the Azkals, but this should not again be made a reason to pit the Azkals with the PBA and basketball in general.

All sports can co-exist in our country and while it is a fact that basketball and boxing get the chunk of the sports budgets, this growing popularity of football will help us get the government officials to notice.

Just keep on cheering for the Philippine team and keep on supporting football in all levels. That is the best way to get our government to notice and take action.

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The recent success of the national football team, soccer for those who still insist, should encourage our government officials to do something this school break, which we also call summer even if we only have the wet and dry seasons in our country.

I am sure that there are places in each town where the kids and even the adults can play football. Maybe the town officials can make such places available and buy some balls and equipment that can be used for training.

For coaches, I believe there are many in Cebu licensed by the Philippine Football Federation, who can be tapped to teach the children.

It won’t be very costly to hold such activity and this could have a bigger impact on the future than holding those basketball tournaments late at night, which is very risky for the youth and everyone there as danger, like drug pushers, lurks in the dark.

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MILESTONES: I would like to congratulate Cebu-based officers of the Armed Forces and those who were once here, who recently had their promotions confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

They are Lt. Gen. Ralph Villanueva, commander of the Central Command, as well as my former golf partners Maj. Gen. Jessie Dellosa of Philippine Army, and Brigadier Gen. Eldon Nemenzo of the Air Force.

The same goes to PMA-Cebu Squad members, who were also confirmed as Colonels – Cavaliers Jesse Alvarez, Lope Dagoy, and Philip Lapinid.

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

Advance greetings go to my Tao sister Kaye Faustino-Heyrosa, Hazel Dia-Solon, John Alvarado, PB Member Joey Boy Holganza, Brian Vaño, Chi Catadman, Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, and my nephew Kyle Q. Unto, who are turning a year older tomorrow.

More power to all of you! – THE FREEMAN