The Philippines’ maiden qualification to the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup could now spark mass interest in the sport.
With the country renowned for producing multi boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Simon McMenemy’s charges to the last four of ASEAN?s premier football competition could finally see the beautiful game break the stranglehold of a population enthralled with basketball, the country?s national sport.
According to affsuzukicup.com, the Philippines are one of the oldest teams in Asia; they made their bow in the first-ever international match played on the continent, when they lost 2-1 to China back in 1912 and was one of the 12 founding members of the Asian Football Confederation in 1954.
However, while football has gone to scale new heights in the rest of Asia, the sport still lags way behind in the Philippines, though it is hoped the national football outfit?s exploits in the AFF Suzuki Cup this year could raise the profile of the game.
Indeed, as the side get ready to pit their wits in the last four, interest has already been generated with more than 90 million people is sitting up and taking notice of their exploits.
President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino has already praised the team for their progression into the tournament and social networking sites were in a frenzy as the team chartered their way to the semis with draws over Singapore and Myanmar sandwiched between their stunning 2-0 victory over hot favourites Vietnam.
The team?s marked transformation in fortunes can be attributed to the addition of their English born contingent such as the Younghusband brothers Phil and James, former Wimbledon defender Rob Gier, midfielder Chris Greatwich and Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge
“I think it’s important that we ride this wave,” says central defender Gier. “We’ll do as much as we can to get momentum going in the Philippines.”
“There’s so much potential there,” says London-born James Younghusband, who has been living in Manila for the last year. “There are so many kids who love the sport and it’s just a shame that there’s no proper structure.
“There’s no opportunity for them to develop their interest and skills in the sport like there would be in Europe or in other places. But hopefully that will start to change.”
Sadly however, the Philippines will have to play their ?home? tie in a neutral venue as they do not possess a venue capable of hosting a football match of such stature.
As a result, they will play both legs of their encounter at Indonesia’s massive Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta “The president of the country sent us a goodwill message and he has said we are trying to make an attempt to enter the international arena of football,” said tactician McMenemy
“If he’s recognizing that then hopefully he will recognize that we can’t do that on our own and that he being president can help make those changes. Like building a stadium, for one.
“I’m told that once he said that, the channel he said that on received hundreds of emails saying: Build us a stadium, build us a stadium. We have to start thinking ahead in those terms.
“We are just hoping that this is the snowball being tipped off the top of the glacier and hopefully it rolls a long way.”
The Philippines will clash with Indonesia on the 16th of December followed by the second tie to be scheduled on the 19th of December.
