Azkals have sparked a dream

One of the things that has always impressed us when covering tournaments featuring our athletes abroad is the fact that Filipinos come out to cheer their compatriots with all their heart.
When the popular Azkals played Sri Lanka at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Wednesday, there was one whole section in the stands where at least 100 Filipinos congregated, waving Philippine flags and carrying banners of support and encouragement.
The crowd did not match the Sri Lankans in number but they more than made up for it with their constant cheers and occasional shrieks as the Azkals pressed forward. (The hard and uneven playing field thwarted the Azkals’ efforts to play touch football and to engage in short, snappy passes.)
But what the match lacked in technical quality due to the playing conditions was more than made up for by the intensity with which both sides played the game.
Philippine coach Michael Weiss was perfectly right when he predicted a tough and fierce battle on the eve of the first leg of the 2014 World Cup qualifying tournament.
Even when the Azkals were a goal down at halftime, the Filipino fans kept the faith and encouraged the players with shouts of support. The outstanding aspect of this demonstration was that a sport like football, which is now being given the recognition and support it deserves, helps create a spirit of togetherness, which is in itself an ennobling dimension of sports.
What was even more gratifying was that 20 or so spectators flew in from Dubai to support the Azkals. There were also other Pinoy fans that came from Malaysia and Thailand, aside from those working in Colombo.
We have always believed that sports develops character and strength of will and is an essential element in building a strong, healthy and progressive nation. Above all, it unites diverse sectors of national society behind the athletes, who carry our colors with pride and distinction.
The Azkals are our newest ambassadors of goodwill, joining such illustrious sports heroes as pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. and billiards legends Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante, among others.
Our sincere hope is that those who are less informed about the nuances of the football game and its realities in terms of the Philippines standing internationally encourage—instead of criticize—the efforts to move ahead in a sport in which Filipinos have a capacity to excel.
For the Philippines to emerge as a truly competitive force internationally, it will take an honest-to-goodness, sustained grassroots development program beginning with the young kids. And there should also be a conscious effort by the media to help promote the sport and thereby encourage public interest and support.
This will take years, maybe even decades. But we have to start somewhere and this is what the Philippine Football Federation has done. The Azkals have sparked a dream. Its now up to every single Filipino to help fulfill that dream.