World Cup qualifier

While waiting for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup in 2012, which the Philippines recently qualified after a group stage battle in Myanmar, the long road to the World Cup is next for the Azkals.

One June 29, the Azkals will play Sri Lanka in the first leg of their first round qualifier for the biggest single sport event, the World Cup. The draw was made yesterday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the headquarters of the AFC.

On July 3, the two countries will meet again here in the Philippines and the winner of this match-up will get to face Kuwait in the second round.

Before we start thinking of the biggest stage for football, the Azkals will have to focus their efforts on going through the qualifying stages to make it to the list of 32 teams that would be playing in Brazil in 2014.

The Philippines is ranked 151st in the world while Sri Lanka is number 173. This looks like an easy match for the Azkals and I sure hope it will be considering that more Fil-foreign players will be suiting up for the national team.

The format of the qualifier is that the worst 16 teams of the Asian side would be grouped into 8 with the winners of the match-ups to advance to the next round.

Kuwait is ranked number 103 in the world, making it a huge stumbling block to our country’s World Cup ambitions. But I am not saying that it can’t be done, I just want the fans of the Azkals to be with the team one step at a time.

The team is scheduled to start serious training for the World Cup qualifier this May. There will be several players from Europe and North America, who are eyed for inclusion.

Let us keep on supporting the Azkals and the sport of football in whatever way we can.

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There has been a slight delay in the start of the work on the track oval of the Cebu City Sports Center, but in a few weeks the facility will be closed to give way to the repair.

The track oval is 17 years old and is way beyond its lifespan. Once the repair starts, the regular users of the oval, which by my estimate number a few thousands, shall have to look for a place to walk or jog for the next two to three months.

I’m sure some have already found appropriate places to do their exercise. 

For those who don’t know where to go yet, the Cebu Business Park and the Asiatown IT Park are two popular areas where many joggers and walkers sweat it out.

There are also the memorial parks and the private subdivisions, but access to such places might not be that easy.

I just would like to warn those who would like to start running to make sure that you do it some place safe. If you want to do it at night, there is a group called the Ungo Runners and by joining this group, you get to run with many people and it will be safer.

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MILESTONES: I would like to congratulate two members of our family, who recently graduated – my nephew Nicholas Leon Quiñones from grade school and my cousin Raiza Lebumfacil from BS in Nursing.

Happy birthday greetings go to Eileen Rizada, Hazel Quiletorio-Ypil, Daisy Ba-ad, Maitina Borromeo, and my cousin Ladi Quiñones-Starkey.

Advance greetings to Virgilio ‘Leo’ Bas, Jr., who turns a year older tomorrow.

More power to all of you!