From Senate floor, a call to support the Azkals

The Philippine football team, the country’s latest sports heroes, got the equivalent of a pep talk on the Senate floor in time for its semifinals campaign against host Indonesia in the Suzuki Cup. A day before their departure for the first semis match to be held in Jakarta, the Azkals found an ally in Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, who urged in a privilege speech President Benigno Aquino III to support their campaign, the football program, and local sports in general. Sen. Zubiri heaped praise on the Azkals, whose display of three important traits, he said, is winning glory for the country. “Passion, skill and joy. That is the football mantra, according to the late Paul, the German Octopus," said Zubiri. “Our football players display this mantra in and out of football, but sadly, some officials and pretenders in the Philippine Football Federation do not display anymore this same passion." Zubiri was referring to the controversies hounding the PFF, including the ouster of the federation’s president due to alleged mishandling of funds and falsification of documents, as well as the absence of an international standard football venue, which resulted in the country’s failure to host a semifinal game in the Suzuki Cup. He also railed against what he called the power struggle and corruption that are rampant in other sports associations. The President's uncle Peping Cojuangco heads the Philippine Olympic Committee. Football politics Jose Mari Martinez, recognized by the International Football Federation (FIFA) as the duly elected president of the country’s governing body in football, was reportedly booted out by 26 members of the PFF for alleged mishandling of funds and falsification of documents. The PFF installed Nonong Araneta as the new president, a move that failed to get the approval from the international football body. The power struggle within the PFF, together with the lack of support for the Azkals’ campaign in the Suzuki Cup, didn’t affect the national football team’s performance in the Asian Football Federation event. The Azkals stunned defending champion Vietnam in what was regarded as one of the biggest news in the regiunal football circuit. It has also drawn the attention of local hoops lovers who are slowly but surely becoming football believers. Sen. Zubiri quoted the Asean Football Federation, which was also impressed by the performance of the Filipinos: “Every cloud has a silver lining. Even the Philippines, long considered one of Asia's abject underdogs, had their day as the island nation shot up 13 places in December's FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking following a second-place finish in qualifying for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Championship in November." And then: “The Philippines pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the history of the AFF Suzuki Cup with a 2-0 win over defending champion Vietnam." Substandard stadiums But even as the Filipinos were getting international accolades, Sen. Zubiri had his share of frustration over losing the rare chance of playing a semifinal game in our own turf. “I read FIFA’s prerequisites to be considered for international matches," said Zubiri. "and briefly, they are: pre-construction decisions such as stadium location, field orientation, multi-purpose facilities; safety; parking; playing area; players and match officials' dressing rooms, media rooms, showers; spectators; hospitality; media; lighting and power supply; and communication and additional areas." “As I read the list," added Zubiri, "the first thing that came to my mind was our Panaad Stadium from my father’s home-province of Negros Occidental. I asked Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ritchie Garcia, a fellow Negrense, for his assessment and he found out from the custodian of the stadium that the lighting was inadequate and had to be doubled and that the field was not properly maintained." Sen. Zubiri said he could not believe that most provinces had basketball courts similar to those of the PBA and the NBA, but not a football field that meets international standards. “Unbelievable, Mr. President," he said, "but unfortunately true. It seems that we are so predisposed to the fact that our football teams cannot win and therefore we need not prepare our stadiums for championships. That’s a shame, as our smaller neighbors like Cambodia and Laos have accredited facilities and we do not have any." Watch Invictus Zubiri further enjoined President Aquino to watch the film Invictus, a story about the great South African leader Nelson Mandela. “I know that President Noy does not like to be given unsolicited advice, but here it comes anyway, please watch the movie Invictus. Nelson Mandela was facing threats and disunity by the minority white South African population that controlled the business and economy of the nation. In order to unite his people, he turned to sports and supported the South African rugby team, which was considered by his black countrymen as a white man’s sport. In the end, he earned the respect of the whites and united the country behind their team and their flag, rallying its outclassed rugby players to a world championship." “It is a lesson we should all learn," added Zubiri, "and if I may, this movie should be made required viewing for all our presidents to infuse energy to our low-batt sports programs." - RJ/KY/HS, GMANews.TV