According to Filipino Football, PFF will host the first national club championship in five years. This is pretty exciting news. It's been a while since there was a national football tournament (except probably for school-based competitions like the Unigames).What I can remember is the Philippine League Tournament.Do we still have those?Guess, I haven’t been active in the football scene for a long time now… And whatever happened to the Coke-Go-For-Goal Tournaments? They seemed to have stopped holding it...
I think holding national tournaments is a good idea.But a another great idea would be to have football programs for little kids.We need to get them interested and encourage the love for the sport at an early age.And the earlier they start, the longer they get to train and improve on their skills.Kinda like what Germany did, they focused on their youth system/teams, and now they have this new breed of exceptional players like Ozil, Polodski, Muller, et al.Ideally, it would be great if it’s nationwide, but that could be a big undertaking for now.Maybe some key cities, especially those with strong football communities and support like Ilo-ilo, Bacolod and Dumaguete.
I also like what the Younghusband brothers are doing.They are targeting the schools and the teachers.This could be very effective, as teachers can influence the students.If the teachers understand and appreciate football, they can better relate it to the students.They can be great ambassadors for the sport.
Now that there has been a lot of attention and support (moral and financial), PFF’s challenge will now be to sustain this public interest and continue improving the ranking/skills/talent of current national squad and football in the country in general.But at the same time, I hope they also think of long term plans in order to maintain interest in the sport and continuously advance our skills and talent for the game.
Here’s my first post for the Blast from the Past series…It’s only fitting that I feature a Pinoy (it’s also in honor of his death anniversary).Of course, I’m talking about none other than Paulino Alcántara.Now that there is this sudden popularity of Philippine Football, let’s take a look at the person who already made a name International Football (but sadly did not have the same recognition here).
Full Name: Paulino Alcántara Riestrá
Birthday: October 7, 1986
Birthplace: Iloilo, Philippines
Date Died: February 13, 1964 (in Barcelona, Spain at 67 years old)(1964-02-13)
Position: Striker
Trivia from his FC Barcelona Days:
To this day, in the history of FC Barcelona, he is its all-time record goalscorer with a remarkable 357 goals in 357 matches (although some sites say 356 out of 357), that’s an average of one goal per game, a very rare feat, even in today’s standards.
He made his debut for Barcelona at the age of 15 in 1912 and scored a hat-trick in this match
He remains to be the club’s youngest player to play and score in a match at 15 years, 4 months and 18 days
After he and his parents returned to the Philippines in 1916, FC Barcelona begged his parents to let him come back to Spain and play for the team as it failed to win a major trophy in Alcántara’s absence.
In 1918, Alcántara returned to Barcelona, his coach (and former teammate), Jack Greenwell, experimented in putting him in defence.But eventually returned to his normal forward position and became one of its deadliest strikers
He was on the Director’s Board from 1931-34
He was the first superstar player of the club in its golden ages, alongside Samitier, Zamora, Sagi, Piera and many more.
Other Interesting Trivia:
He was the first Filipino and Asian to play for a European club.
He was one of the best players in the world during his time (in the pre-Second World War era), renowned for his deadly shot and prowess in front of the goal, a reputation that went well beyond Barcelona borders
He was called “el rompe redes” (the net breaker), because he literally did.On April 30, 1922, in an international match between Spain and France, he made a shot so hard that it ripped right through the net.For many years after, children from Barcelona would recall that moment and would try to emulate the shot “as the man from the Philippines did”
His parents wanted him to be a doctor.They were so hesitant to let him play football at 15 years old as they believe it will affect his studies.
Since his parents said no to him going back to Barca and play football, Alcántara protested, went on hunger strike and got sick (Although, some websites I checked said that, that he contracted Malaria in 1917, and apparently refused to take the prescribed medication until he was allowed to go back). They eventually let him return but in the condition that he will still pursue his medical studies and become a doctor.
He played for the Philippines in 1917 at the Far Eastern Championship Games in Tokyo, helping them defeat Japan with a score of 15-2, it was the Philippines' biggest ever win in international football.
He was selected to represent Spain at the Olympic Games but Alcántara chose to stay at home to take his final medical exams (He eventually made his debut for Spain on October 7, 1921 at the age of 25 against Belgium and scored both goals in a 2-0 win).
His international career was very short lived and retired as a player in 1927 at the age of 31 to become a doctor.
He also represented the Philippines at table tennis.
Background:
Alcántara was born in the Philippines to a Spanish military officer and an Ilongga mother.
When he was a teenager, his family moved to Spain and he to played for FC Galeno.It was there that he was discovered by FC Barcelona.
In 1916, Alcántara’s parents decide to return to the Philippines and took their son with them. There he continued studying medicine.It was also at this time that he played football for Bohemian Sporting Club of Manila.
National Team:
Catalonia
Philippines – 1917
Spain – 1921 to 1923 (6 goals for his 5 caps)
Club Career:
Galeno FC (Spain Youth Club)
Barcelona FC – 1912 to 1916
Bohemian Sporting Club – 1916 to 1918 (Philippines)
Barcelona FC – 1918 to 1927
Teams Managed: Spain – 1951
Titles Won:
Catalan Championships – 10 times (with Barcelona 1912-13, 1915-16, 1918-19, 1919-20, 1920-21, 1921-22, 1923-24, 1924-25, 1925-26, 1926-27)
Philippine Football Federation Men's Open Championship: 2
Retirement:
He hung up his studs on July 5, 1927 to become a doctor.He was on the Board of Directors for Barcelona FC between 1931 and 1934.He was also the coach Spanish national team for three matches (in 1915), in which the team was unbeaten.
As a fan of Philippine Football, I have heard of Paulino Alcántara before.I thought he was just one of those so-so players who got picked up (and probably warmed the benches instead of seeing action in the pitch) in one of those so-so football clubs in Europe.I only discovered now just how exceptional of a player he was.I mean, he played for Barca!And he was one of its greatest players in his time, one of the club’s legends.Before there was a Lionel Messi, a Ronaldinho, a Ronaldo or a Diego Maradona to don the blue and red jersey, there was Paulino Alcántara.One of football’s first legends was a Filipino, someone we can proudly say one of our own.
Hailed as one of the football legends in Europe, there are so many sites that attest too this.. here are just a few in case you want to check it out:
The Azkals' 1st game for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifier was amazing to watch with thousands of fans cheering for them.
Here’s my “report” on the game (Before anything else, the number of shots on goal and the time mentioned below might not be very accurate, but I think it’s pretty close as this is based on my personal counting and tracking.I guess we’re not at the World Cup or Champions League level yet with all the stats like Ball Possession Percentage, number of shots on goal against shots on target, etc available J.I also hope I didn’t get the players mixed up.I don’t have the names of the Mongolian players, so I’ll call them by number).
The starting line up for the Philippine squad is composed of Aly Borromeo (team captain, 11), Neil Etheridge (1), Anton Del Rosario (4), Rob Gier (2), Ray Jonnson (27), Emilio “Chieffy” Caligdon (co-captain, 13), James Younghusband (7), Jason de Jong (17), Phil Younghusband (10), Ian Araneta (23) andRoel Gener (6).
Just as Coach Hans Michael Weiss planned, the Azkals came out attacking at the start of the game with skipper Aly Borromeo producing a shot on goal merely 4 minutes into the match.From then on, the Azkals held on to this offensive strategy pushing back the Blue Wolves more and more into their side of the pitch.Throughout the 1st half, Azkals’ Del Rosario, P. Younghusband, Gener and Araneta had a total of seven shots on goal with a few on target.But the Blue Wolves’ tight defense denied the Azkals’ goal attempts.The Blue Wolves also had chances in scoring, although not as much as the Azkals, having only one shot on target that was blocked by Etheridge.They twice broke through Azkals’ defense line but it was cleared by De Jong and the by Del Rosario, respectively.
The 1st yellow card was awarded in the 14th minute of the game with Mongolia’s Altantulga, for his challenge on P. Younghusband. Altantulga would then receive another yellow card 6 minutes later for a free kick violation.With two yellow cards, he was sent off the pitch.
In the last minutes of the 1st half, Azkals’ Caligdong finally found the back of the net, scoring the first goal of the game during the 42nd minute.Right before the whistle was blown, Caligdon had one more shot on target but missed, hitting the post instead.
amazing ball control skils! chest trap, one touch on his left foot, setting it up for a shot right between the goalie's legs
By 2nd half, the Azkals intensified their offense generating 13 shots on goal (most of them on target) with Araneta contributing 6 of those shots.But the Blue Wolves’ persisted in their defense and refusing to concede a goal.
The Blue Wolves lost two players to injury, number 5 in the 75th minute and number 8 in the 79th minute, leaving them down to 9 men.
The 2nd half was also not without incident for the Azkals as P. Younghusband was booked for a handball violation earning him a yellow card.But P. Younghusband redeemed himself by converting the set up by Sabio into the 2nd and final goal of the game.
great set up by Sabio
Here are my thoughts on the match (whatever it’s worth as I’m no expert, hehe):
The Azkals fought hard and strong and the final score could have been more with their countless scoring chances but the Blue Wolves really guarded their goal.
If I were to hazard a guess, ball possession was probably 65% Azkals and 35% Blue Wolves.
I don’t know anything about goalkeeping, but there were moments where Etheridge was just too high up the pitch for my comfort (I guess he probably got lonely in his post as his teammates were in their opponent’s side of the pitch most of the time)
Araneta was on fire during the 2nd half with so many shots on target, too bad none of it hit the net… maybe in the next game..
I think the sports commentantors are so used to covering basketball games that one of them called it "free throw" instead of "throw in" without realizing it :)
I envy P. Younghusband's "banana kicks", I've always wanted to learn how to make the ball swerve when you kick it.
It would have been cool goal if that bicycle kick went in (was it Sabio who attempted that shot?)
Loved the combination of white shorts and a little light rain ;-) Would have even loved it more if some of the players swapped jerseys after the game, hehehe..
I wish I could’ve watched the match at the Panaad Stadium, it would have been great to be amongst fans and celebrate after the victory
The next qualifier game for the AFC Challenge Cup will be on March 15, still against Mongolia.
Today, Manila Bulletin featured the Azkals.Seeing how football has struggled to be recognized as a sport that Filipinos can be proud of, I’m beyond ecstatic that local media and pinoys in general are slowly catching the football fever and giving the world’s greatest spectator sport the much deserved support.It may not be in the same level as basketball yet, but if all goes well, we’ll get there.I still remember the days where if you want your dose of football news and updates, the only sources are the internet and cable TV.But what you get are just the international football news, local coverage are rare, if not, almost non-existent.When I was still a newbie fan, World Cup news would only get a 3-small-paragraph coverage (if you manage to find one) in the local newspapers.Oh how the times are slowly changing.The azkals are not only getting media attention but they’re also getting more funding from local and international institutions and—more female fans and groupies!
Is my dream of someday seeing the azkals in the World Cup be in the not so distant future?Will I live to see that day?I certainly hope so. J
Okay, so to those who were not able to grab a copy of today’s Manila Bulletin, here the links to the feature:
