Azkals: We are all Filipinos
I've posted Porto/Portuguese League/Portugal NT stuff here but I thought why not post about my real football NT this time? A good article on how our NT players feel about playing for our country:
There is no denying the immense pride that the Philippine Azkals have when they play for flag and country. Regardless of where they have grown up or come from, they are one in expressing their heartfelt desire to see the country’s success in international football, regardless of how people label them according to their heritage. What most people don’t know is that many of the so-called Fil-foreign players only belatedly came to know about the national team of their motherland, and sought out the Philippine Football Federation, offering their services.
When I found out about the Philippine national team, I sent them an e-mail, with my resume, if you will,” says 30-year old fullback Rob Gier, who was already an experienced pro in his early 20s. “Not to brag or anything, but I was playing at a good level in England, and would they be interested in having me? I actually wish I had found out when I was a spring chicken.”
“I didn’t even know the Philippines had a national team, to be honest,” admits United Football League All-Star Nate Burkey, who is now based in the Philippines and headed in the lone goal against Sri Lanka. “But when I heard about it, I wanted to play, no question. It was a good chance to follow my roots.”
For the Greatwich brothers, it was their grandmother’s funeral seven years ago that provided the impetus for the three brothers Cris, Phil and Simon to all join the Azkals in turn. Simon, the youngest of the three and part of the Philippine under-23 team, even takes public transportation to get around.
“It’s a great feeling to have all this support,” says midfielder Greatwich. “I think the fans in the Philippines are great, and they’re behind us, no matter what.”
One niggling little notion that the mixed-race players want to dispel is the feeling that they are “less Filipino” than their teammates who grew up in the country and labored in obscurity for years, or that there is a discrimination in the treatment between them. To a man, they are adamant about their identity.
“I don’t understand when people ask us how ‘Filipino’ we feel,” explains Gier, who is expecting his first child in five weeks. “The blood that runs through us runs through our “homegrown” teammates. Just because we were born in another place or grew up in a different country doesn’t make us less Filipino. We feel Filipino every second of our lives.”
After a two-week break, the work continues, as the Azkals prepare for two tournaments in the last quarter of the year. They will also play big brothers to a fired-up under-23 team, and gear up for a return bout in the Suzuki Cup and other major tournaments next year.
“I hope that in the future, we will be able to field a starting line-up that is half homegrown and half Fil-foreigners,” says TV commentator Bob Guerrero. “The seeds have been planted. This team has brought the game to a whole other level. They’re a great bunch of guys.”
Perhaps the most touching comment was made by Gier, who recalls the years when he started with the Azkals and “nobody cared” about the team. His statement carries a lot of weight considering the fact that he has tasted high-level soccer in Europe.
“It was an unbelievable feeling (against Kuwait) for the fans to be supporting us because of football, not because we were famous, or good-looking or anything,” Gier declares. “The goal against Singapore was my proudest moment as a footballer. But that was eclipsed when Schrocky (Stephan Schrock) scored that goal against Kuwait, for us to be going into the half up 1-nil - and we deserved to be up 1-nil - against a team that is ranked 70 places higher than us in the world is a tremendous achievement.”
You can’t fake that kind of pride.
source
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There are some who are so fickle that just because we didn't win that WC qualifier vs Kuwait, they are so quick to put down our developing/improving NT. According to them all they have are good looks and nothing else. Fine, hate the sport all you want but these guys are carrying the flag, representing our country with blood and sweat, we must support them. Who cares if they are half foreigners and are good looking? The fact that these footballers are willing to play for us and trying hard to learn the national anthem and language as well are enough. They are still Filipinos. If they are proud to play for our country, then we should be as well without even a second thought. Give our football NT (and our other NTs for that matter) a chance, we've improved a lot already and it doesn't happen overnight. They are also giving awareness to our countrymen about football and more kids are learning the sport so we owe them for that too.
Btw this was the goal from the Kuwait game that still gives me chills and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Down 3-0 in the aggregate, playing at home in the 2nd leg and with 2 minutes added to the first half, bam.. Stephan Schröck scored this beauty:
One goal. One nation. All out, all heart (brought to you by UAAP hehehe)
There is no denying the immense pride that the Philippine Azkals have when they play for flag and country. Regardless of where they have grown up or come from, they are one in expressing their heartfelt desire to see the country’s success in international football, regardless of how people label them according to their heritage. What most people don’t know is that many of the so-called Fil-foreign players only belatedly came to know about the national team of their motherland, and sought out the Philippine Football Federation, offering their services.
When I found out about the Philippine national team, I sent them an e-mail, with my resume, if you will,” says 30-year old fullback Rob Gier, who was already an experienced pro in his early 20s. “Not to brag or anything, but I was playing at a good level in England, and would they be interested in having me? I actually wish I had found out when I was a spring chicken.”
“I didn’t even know the Philippines had a national team, to be honest,” admits United Football League All-Star Nate Burkey, who is now based in the Philippines and headed in the lone goal against Sri Lanka. “But when I heard about it, I wanted to play, no question. It was a good chance to follow my roots.”
For the Greatwich brothers, it was their grandmother’s funeral seven years ago that provided the impetus for the three brothers Cris, Phil and Simon to all join the Azkals in turn. Simon, the youngest of the three and part of the Philippine under-23 team, even takes public transportation to get around.
“It’s a great feeling to have all this support,” says midfielder Greatwich. “I think the fans in the Philippines are great, and they’re behind us, no matter what.”
One niggling little notion that the mixed-race players want to dispel is the feeling that they are “less Filipino” than their teammates who grew up in the country and labored in obscurity for years, or that there is a discrimination in the treatment between them. To a man, they are adamant about their identity.
“I don’t understand when people ask us how ‘Filipino’ we feel,” explains Gier, who is expecting his first child in five weeks. “The blood that runs through us runs through our “homegrown” teammates. Just because we were born in another place or grew up in a different country doesn’t make us less Filipino. We feel Filipino every second of our lives.”
After a two-week break, the work continues, as the Azkals prepare for two tournaments in the last quarter of the year. They will also play big brothers to a fired-up under-23 team, and gear up for a return bout in the Suzuki Cup and other major tournaments next year.
“I hope that in the future, we will be able to field a starting line-up that is half homegrown and half Fil-foreigners,” says TV commentator Bob Guerrero. “The seeds have been planted. This team has brought the game to a whole other level. They’re a great bunch of guys.”
Perhaps the most touching comment was made by Gier, who recalls the years when he started with the Azkals and “nobody cared” about the team. His statement carries a lot of weight considering the fact that he has tasted high-level soccer in Europe.
“It was an unbelievable feeling (against Kuwait) for the fans to be supporting us because of football, not because we were famous, or good-looking or anything,” Gier declares. “The goal against Singapore was my proudest moment as a footballer. But that was eclipsed when Schrocky (Stephan Schrock) scored that goal against Kuwait, for us to be going into the half up 1-nil - and we deserved to be up 1-nil - against a team that is ranked 70 places higher than us in the world is a tremendous achievement.”
You can’t fake that kind of pride.
source
---------
There are some who are so fickle that just because we didn't win that WC qualifier vs Kuwait, they are so quick to put down our developing/improving NT. According to them all they have are good looks and nothing else. Fine, hate the sport all you want but these guys are carrying the flag, representing our country with blood and sweat, we must support them. Who cares if they are half foreigners and are good looking? The fact that these footballers are willing to play for us and trying hard to learn the national anthem and language as well are enough. They are still Filipinos. If they are proud to play for our country, then we should be as well without even a second thought. Give our football NT (and our other NTs for that matter) a chance, we've improved a lot already and it doesn't happen overnight. They are also giving awareness to our countrymen about football and more kids are learning the sport so we owe them for that too.
Btw this was the goal from the Kuwait game that still gives me chills and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Down 3-0 in the aggregate, playing at home in the 2nd leg and with 2 minutes added to the first half, bam.. Stephan Schröck scored this beauty:
Click to viewOne goal. One nation. All out, all heart (brought to you by UAAP hehehe)