I started appreciating football out of the wrong reasons.
It started one lazy afternoon after merienda (in other countries, afternoon tea and biscuits), when my cousin from the States came home for a visit. He brought along a ton of goodies, and one of them was a DVD-ROM for the Playstation2. He popped the disc in my PS2, started a game with his favorite team - Inter Milan, and kicked the crap out of the computer-generated AI.
"Who's the rival of your beloved team?" I asked my cousin. And when I got the answer I boldly announced, "Okay... I'll use that team and I will beat you so bad." Of course, I didn't win. As a matter of fact, I sucked. Big time. But I got hooked. Later that night, I tuned to the telly and watched a game of footba- almost forgot. For other non-fans, I am obliged to inform you that football, is also called soccer. Watched a game of football and fell asleep before first half was over. I woke up just in time to witness a most spectacular goal. And the hook just sunk deeper and deeper, the wound it gave me will get infected. Ever since then, I found a few friends with a similar interest, who, despite my being ill-equipped for the game, allowed me to tag along their games and let me in on some. I got six bruises, both knees scraped, a bloody nose, and a huge smile on my face. Afterwards, I bought shoes to play with, on account of three toenails getting... well... hurt. I tagged along with my friends, played and fell in love with the sport. So I researched, asked my Dad who played the game well back from his military days, and practiced with a ball and a makeshift goal in the form of two cones near the garage.
I wasn't really born athletic. I was the kid who never got picked even for dodgeball despite my attempts to get into a sport. Other kids grew up playing basketball, volleyball, and whatnot. Me? I grew up in a dojo of some sorts, so I had a lot of difficulty getting into team sports. Now that's another story.
(flashback ala Chang Kwai Cain:
"So, you want to enroll in our Aikido dojo, huh? Young grasshopper?"
"Yes, I do."
"Ok. You're in. Pay the corresponding fees and be prepared by Saturday. Your training starts then."
huge smile.
of course, like Pol Medina, Jr. - creator of Pugad Baboy, no one told me about somersault break falls, and the eighteen wrist locks)
Back to football. (flashforward)
Like I said, I wasn't talented in contemporary team sports. I sucked before and I still suck now. But despite all that, the desire to play THE game just settled in my blood. I still watch different leagues on the telly, but I liked the German leagues and Italian series the most.I attempted to play in our school intramurals, and so far I discovered the hard way that being goal keeper was not my thing. I could be better in it, of course, but doing fullback defender suits me just fine. I enjoyed that position, comfortable with it, and able to do good to our team. This year, I wasn't able to join the Law School team, and got a wee bit depressed about it. Oh well, there's always next year provided I won't get kicked out because of my "technical" subjects.
Recently, the Philippine Football team is getting the attention of mainstream Philippine Sports. Mainly because they are performing quite well. Like in my previous post, I commented on a reaction by a dorm mate that their qualifying in the AFC Challenge Cup was to be credited on mere luck. I replied, "oh ye of little faith."
3-0 is no mere feat, my boy. Of course, I had to remind myself that this person is unfamiliar with the game in its entirety. As my cousin, the same one who introduced me to the sport, observed, our countrymen are fair-weather fans. As long as the team does good, it's all swell with cheers and support. If the Azkals don't give a stellar performance in 2012, then the support will drop back to hard-core football fans. I'm hoping despite this, the support and popularity of the team as well as football in the Philippines will never wane.
Of course, many of us haven't heard of Paulino Alcantara Riestra. A Filipino who is, in my opinion, the greatest football player our country ever had. He was born to a Spaniard and a Filipino mother who is from Ilo-Ilo (the Philippine's football capitol. Ask a kid who plays football barefooted from that province who's his sporting idol and he will most likely answer Ronaldo), and became Barcelona's youngest player to play or score for the team. He also made 357 goals in over 300 plus games during his career, making him somewhat of a legend. He also became a manager, selector, and club manager, and later on after he retired, a doctor. This was way back during the colonial periods. Paulino Alcantara also represented the Philippines in Tokyo, where the Philippines scored an amazing 15 goals. Amazing because for me, scoring one goal is such a task already. Alcantara also played in different international games, and always giving a stellar performance.
So far, I am all for football. I may not be the best one for a team, or even for a replacement, but I will still play when the opportunity arises. I may suck at it, but I love it. As well as my dad, my only fan so far. But as far as fans go, well, he's the criticizing type.
I popped that old FIFA CD into my PS2 once more, and laughed at my dad about something he said.
"Anak, ano yan? Replay?"
I snickered before answering, "Yep."
"So, who's winning?" Asked my dad.
And I answered with that silly smile of mine, "Me."
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