Philippine Football

[b3lowzro]

That's true but to obtain a "big league" and public support you need to take little steps.

The following are what I consider the small steps to be a footballing nation among the Asian countries, though not necessarily being a powerhouse like Saudi Arabia or Korea or even Qatar.

1. Efficient and effective management from the Philippines Football Federation
2. Financial capital from local stakeholders
3. Infrastructure: practise facilities and football fields
4. Foreign coaching staff for the grass root levels: U/12 - U/23
5. The focus on the development for the grass root levels: U/12 - U/23
6. Loaning of grass root level players to overseas clubs
7. Starting of the local semi-professional league
8. Creation of a national team program


Step one is a crucial factor because these managers will direct the future of Filipino football. Australia is a perfect example of accomplishing this step, which allowed the resurgence of Australian football and its emergence in the Asian Football Confederation, currently ranked number 1. The current chairman of the federation is billionaire Frank Lowy, a migrant from Europe, at the young age of 10 and a passionate football fan. His passion for the game connection in the business world allowed the inclusion of financial support from local stakeholders and from the local Australian businesses.

Once the federation is able to obtain the financial capital to implement their agenda the next step would be to improve and create better quality footballing infrastructure such as football fields and footballing academy centres. Such a move will allow foreign and qualified coaching staff to come on board to aid and enhance the footballing quality of the country. Many countries have sought out foreign coaches to due to the higher level of coaching that is seen overseas, countries such as Qatar (Uruguay’s Forsatti), Portugal (Brazil’s Solari) or Australia (Holland’s Pim Verbeek).

The reason why it is important in any sport is to focus equally on the grass root levels compared to the current national squad is that these youngsters are the future and the future are in their hands if the country is to succeed in the sport.

The loaning of players overseas allows these youngsters to obtain high level playing experience even though many will not have match time. In addition, they will also be exposed to higher level of coaching experience that will enhance their skills and abilities.

The semi-professional league will slowly generate public interest and support, in addition, the creation of a national team program will allow the national team to increase their success hence, also to generate that public awareness of the sport.

hehe nice one saski, well our current program for our NT is look for Fil - Fors and try to nit pick from the PFF leagues.

[Saskibaloia]

Philippines reaches highest FIFA ranking since the ranking system

Philippines reaches highest FIFA ranking since the ranking system! So watch out football world! ... here comes the Philippines!!!

[b3lowzro]

now how did that happen? we couldn't even break thru the tiger cup semi finals

[thadzonline]

now how did that happen? we couldn't even break thru the tiger cup semi finals

if you still dont believe in magic, maybe its time you do

[nardy]

if you still dont believe in magic, maybe its time you do

it is because even if we are not really that dominating in football, our national team has been more active in the international arena. And we are getting more competitive. We no longer see 20-0 scores against our teams. Our team had becoming known as a good defensive team and against stronger teams we at times force them to scoreless draws. I just wish we find more ways to score.

[ankle breaker]

let's just hope that the younghusbands will change their minds and split their time playing football and modelling. plus they need to reconcile with that player from australia whose mother hails from liloan, cebu who had a spat with the former national team coach. he's a brilliant scorer who's still in his 20's and playing pro-football in australia. he was with the team that played in panaad stadium late last year but went home when he had squable with the coach. that player can help alot with the national team mainstays like emelio caligdong, araneta, ali borromeo and more.

[b3lowzro]

it is because even if we are not really that dominating in football, our national team has been more active in the international arena. And we are getting more competitive. We no longer see 20-0 scores against our teams. Our team had becoming known as a good defensive team and against stronger teams we at times force them to scoreless draws. I just wish we find more ways to score.

now I wish the basketball NT could do also that jump, PFF is putting more effort on teams that can win more like the womens and the U-somethings team rather only on the seniors men's team. Still i couldn't imagine that we are ranked higher than Laos or Cambodia, why they could beat 5-0 in a game.

[thadzonline]

now I wish the basketball NT could do also that jump, PFF is putting more effort on teams that can win more like the womens and the U-somethings team rather only on the seniors men's team. Still i couldn't imagine that we are ranked higher than Laos or Cambodia, why they could beat 5-0 in a game.

The Philippines actually beat Cambodia 3-2 and lost to Laos 2-1 in friendlies last month if you look at the link provided. We also drew with Brunei and won 1-0 over East Timor earning 297.5 points in October 2008, lucky we had at least 4 friendlies in that month and with a winning record at that

[pablonis]

Being a lithuanian, i rarely get to mock others when it comes to football. But seriously, 150th or whatever, cmon - nothing to be proud of

[raichu08]

Kinda surprising that football crazy hongkong is just one notch ahead of us.

[b3lowzro]

Kinda surprising that football crazy hongkong is just one notch ahead of us.

well they're more crazy on dog racing and rugby.

[nardy]

Being a lithuanian, i rarely get to mock others when it comes to football. But seriously, 150th or whatever, cmon - nothing to be proud of

pablonis if you only knew from what bottomless pit our football team came from, you can really be proud of the improvement our team had in just a short span of time.

The Azkals really gone a long way from September 2006 when the country fell to 195th on the FIFA ranking scale. To others it might not be much but after having an international record of only 23 wins and 14 draws in 179 games, our recent performance as statewd by thadzonline is such a big improvement from what we were before. Do note in 179 International matches played we were only able to score 133 goals while our opponents scored 647 goals against the Philippines.

The German Bundesliga recently expressed its willingness to help the development of football in the country.

Why Azkals?

Who else but Filipino fans can think of naming a national football team from an animal as ubiquitous as a street dog?

PINOY SOCCER

[b3lowzro]

Phil still wants to play for RP

By Jack Biantan of http://Pinoysoccer.com

LONDON - I was in the Philippines for a month for a holiday recently and had time to interview RP's top and controversial striker Phil Younghusband.

Phil and his brother James did not join the RP men's football team in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup elimination round tournament in Cambodia.

James wanted to join the tournament and went to attend the training in Laguna. He was however told to go home when he reported for training. Phil however was busy with other commitments during the tournament. But that was not the real reason why he did not go to Cambodia.

Without the brothers, the Azkals lacked firepower and they failed to advance to the Suzuki Cup which is scheduled on December in Thailand.

I asked Phil 12 questions and here are his answers.

1) Are there any real offers from England?

I've spoken to some people in England and there are a few clubs interested. Of the exact details, i am not sure, but will find out more when i arrive back in England.




2) What do you feel about the current attention you are getting after your appearance in the Celebrity Duets?

Ha, ha. I enjoyed my time in celebrity duets and experienced something new and different from what I am used to. I had a lot of fun and made a lot of new friends and got a little taste of show business in the Philippines. I would be lying if I said I was not enjoying the attention from fans and getting recognized and praised for something that is not my profession. It's nice to know people are supporting me and I am glad I was able to make them happy and entertain them.

3) Will you sacrifice your soccer career for a showbiz career?

I'm not sure yet. I am not quite ready to give up on football yet because it has been my whole life. But I will have to weigh up my options and speak to people to see which will be the best decision for my future and for my family. I would prefer be near my family rather than thousands and thousands of miles away.

4) What is your feeling right now towards the PFF?

Pure frustration. You hear a lot of things said about the PFF and you never know what to believe. At the end of the day, I just want them to be fair and consistent. I have never asked for any special treatment. The PFF currently owe me a sum of money. It's not about the money, its the principle because I was sent a letter prior to the tournament (AFC Challenge Cup elimination in Iloilo last May) stating the PFF will cover all my costs for flights and accommodation for the tournament. With regards to the food situation, if a Filipino comes to England and could not eat the English food, then he would be allowed to eat his own food. I only requested if I could eat different food. If they had not say order what you want, we would reinburse you, then I wouldn't have paid my own money for the food and I would have eaten the food given. Instead they did and I spent my money on food.

5) Do you feel that you have been maltreated by the new administration?

No I don't feel I have been maltreated. I don't want to say anything bad about the PFF because I don't know the whole truth and what goes on behind the scenes. Also, it's not my place to say but as I said before,I just want consistency and fairness towards myself and my brother. I don't want to hear false promises. I'd rather hear the blatant truth and make my decision from there.

6) What did you feel when they (PFF) change coach Aris and then coach Norman resigned and then they replaced him with Cutillas?

Honestly, I really liked coach Aris as a coach. He showed good knowledge and a good understanding of the game and I enjoyed playing under him so I was sad when he left. Then I played under coach Norman and I also really liked him. I liked the way he wanted the team to play although I couldn't understand his team selection. But fair enough, he was the coach. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to play under coach Cutillas. But I was actually happy when he was appointed because it's obvious he has very good knowledge and everything he says is right. Because he is European, its similar to what I am used to so I was happy to hear he was the new coach.

7) Is there any chance for you to play for the National team again, even if they beg you?

Of course, there is a chance. I love football and I love playing for the Philippines and representing my country. I always look forward to it, but again it's about principle. I will play again once I'm re imbursed all the money owed to me. If I let this go, whose to say they won't do it again and take advantage of me and in the end, I'm losing out. As much I love playing for the Philippines, I shouldn't have to pay money to play. That's unfair.

8) What to you feel when people accuse you of being unpatriotic after you declined to play for the AFF elimination tournament?

I can understand why people are saying this, but they don't know the full story. At the end of the day, I need to earn money. I can't eat into my savings all the time. So, if the offer comes along to appear in a TV show and I will receive an appearance fee or play for the Philippines, but I will have to pay. Which will i choose? It's the same as another player saying they can't play because of work or their studies. I love the Philippines and anything I do is far from unpatriotic. So to know people are saying that is difficult to take because it's far from the truth. And I did not, not play because I'm pursuing modeling or was busy with modeling.

9) Do you want to appeal to our football leaders to fix Philippine football?

I will do as much as I can to make football better in the Philippines. I love football and I love the Philippines so I will appeal and ask anyone for their input and support in Philippine football. It has so much potential and the standard has improved a lot since when I first arrived. It can only get better.

10) Is there any hope for Philippine football?

Of course there is hope. But as iv said time and time again, it wont happen over night, unless someone with massive resources comes in and invests in Philippine football. There is always going to be politics, but it needs someone to take hold of it and sort out all the unwanted burdens. On the pitch is definitely improving. And if we keep going and keep playing, we can only go upwards. Just need to be given the chance to play regular games against good competition and that comes from behind the scenes.

11) If there is a change of leadership in the PFF who do you want to rule the sport?

I want someone with a lot of money because then to them it's not about making money, it's about choosing the right ways to invest the money in making football bigger. Someone, like Roman Abramovich. (lol)

12) Who do you want to coach the Azkals?

I'm not sure whether the coach should be foreign or not. I would like a Filipino manager, but are there any that meet the criteria the Philippines need. We need someone with experience, a good level of knowledge and good player management. I would like Jose Mourinho in an ideal world, but as long as the manager can bring success, I don't mind.

a sad excuse that he will choose show business over sports.

[FilWelsh]

PFF's treatment to Younghusbands is appaling, they don't even provide provisions such as food which is basic. . . i have a Bisoy (British-Filipino) friend here in UK who are also friend to Younghusbands who said that the brothers are very sensible, humble and very proud of their Filipino heritage. . . with that kind of treatment they received from PFF, it's no surprise that Philippine football will be losing them to show business. . .

[joesmoove059]

those gay Fashionistas got the best of the Younghusbands, causing them to forfeit football.