July 28, 2011
Rain slowly began to fall as the final whistle blew on the dream of seeing the Philippine team in the 2014 World Cup Finals. The Filipinos on the pitch slumped to the ground hiding their faces from the thousands of supporters in the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Dead Silence.
Then a beat. A murmur at first. Then wave after wave of appreciation started flowing from the stands.
The majority of the crowd had stayed with them all the way and were offering comfort and love to the fallen Azkals. They may have not brought our country to the Mecca of football in Brazil, but you can't help but feel they have given something much more valuable than that. The Azkals have given life back to Football.
Since their phenomenal rise to fame, I have begun to see strange things in the streets. Children kicking balls around parks and roads in Manila, football equipment from sports stores being sold out, and Philippine kits being donned around the city. It was never like this before the AFC Suzuki Cup shot the Azkals into the limelight. As my British friend has told me awhile back that coming to the Philippines"... was like coming to a wasteland in terms of football", but now there is a bright future ripe for the taking.
During that faithful game in Rizal, the Azkals showed every Filipino what football is about. It is about heart. The blood, sweat, and tears you shed for a dream. The ideal of a belief. This showing of the Azkals against Kuwait, I feel, has implanted amongst the Filipino a certain dream. This dream is for the future of Philippine football. A glorious dream that would unite the nation in something beautiful and honest.
Now... Where do we go from here? The future is now at the foot of the Filipino. The world is at our feet.
Some say it's just a game... When will they realize... It is something more than that.
MABUHAY ANG FILIPINO FOOTBALL!
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