Last Wednesday’s win by the Azkals over the Mongolia Blue Wolves in Bacolod City proved that the Philippines’ triumph against the mighty Vietnam in the Suzuki Cup late last year was not a fluke. Now, Filipinos are seeing the rebirth of the world’s number one sport in the country.
The Philippines is now seriously embracing football as a new national sport. And the Azkals were the perfect experiment in the effort to bring football back into the Filipino conscience.
The Azkals were the miracle in Asian football, rising to prominence after humiliating Vietnam, considered the best in Southeast Asia. And their good looks have also unexpectedly turned themselves into rock stars.
Their amazing run even caught the attention of Sports Illustrated (SI), the world’s number one sports magazine. SI picked Azkals’ sensational win against Vietnam as one of top stories last year.
Loaded with Filipino-foreign players and some homegrown talents, the Azkals are biting for a place in Asian football. While their exploits have renewed football interest among Filipinos, there is still a need to further develop the sport in the country, whose national pastime is basketball.
Now is the time for the government to develop football from the grassroots if the country wants to be a world-class contender in the future. A better way to start laying the groundwork for an effective football program is to assure recruits that they will have future in being Azkals.
There’s no reason why Filipinos cannot excel in football. Unlike basketball where height matters, football depends on speed and quickness, two areas where Filipinos are known to excel.
The present crop of Azkals has raised the football’s popularity in the country to new heights. We hope this would mean the Philippines is well on its way to becoming the next powerhouse.