Pinoy Futbol: Managing Expectations

Source : GMANEWS.TV
By MAGOO MARJON
Finally, another ballgame outside of hoops has captured the imagination of Filipino sports fans. And with open arms, the public as well as the media have welcomed and embraced the beautiful game of football.

Any competition that will bring out the best in an individual, group, team or organization will always be good in my book… more so if it unites a people. This is the drama that involves sports, the humanity of success brought on by hard work and determination.

Hopefully, our country's newfound interest in what is arguably the world's most popular sport is just the beginning of what could turn into passion.

I do have one worry though. After the Azkals became the toast of the islands with their 2-nil victory over lowly Mongolia last week, it seems that the situation has been blown out of proportion. The Philippines, ranked number 151 in the world of futbol by FIFA, beat a Mongolian team that’s ranked 182 by the same governing body, and (if my memory serves me right) was 0-7 (now 0-8) in international competition. Of course the victory is still something to be proud of, but does it really need to be exaggerated in every medium?

Don’t get me wrong, I love the fact that the Azkals have found success. And I am more than happy that there is something else other than basketball. As much of a hoops nut as I am, I have always appreciated any form of competition that pits two entities against each other as they try to score points or race against time or each other. (Note: It is also why I have never really been into judged sports; too subjective.)

But why is it that futbol is now being pitted against basketball? Is there really a need for that? I don’t get it. Half the people I know who watched that monumental match on TV or in Panaad watch the PBA, too. Can the two not co-exist? Do the new sports fans really have to drag the existing fanbase down?

Is there really a need to pit them against each other? Does the public need to choose? Some say, “to each their own," but hopefully, true sports fans will support and enjoy both.

Futbol has the capacity to create a new industry — jobs opening for athletes, utility people, officials, sports media (from commentators to producers and technical staff; to writers and photographers; to bloggers and even social network users). It moves sports bars, restaurant viewing parties, apparel makers, and the regular tambay sa kanto. We all have the Azkals to thank for this new form of entertainment everybody can enjoy.

Looking at the US sporting scene, why does the NBA not schedule any game that will go against the Superbowl? (They usually put on a matinee for the captured market.) Same with the Major League Baseball’s World Series. I’m not a big NHL fan, but as far as I know, they also try to not cross paths with other major sports in terms of big playoffs or Finals matches. Is it simply to avoid forcing the sports-loving public to choose what they want to watch? Is it out of respect for each other’s organizations? Heck, the commentators talk about the other games, and even athletes themselves show up for and support other sports.

My take: that’s just love for sports in general.

There should be enough room for futbol to squeeze into the consciousness of Filipinos. As of now, basketball still dominates the scene. Twice a year Manny Pacquiao will still stop everything in its tracks. And the other niche markets of Billiards, Boxing, Poker, F1, NFL, MLB andm to some extent, even sabong, will still have their space on the preset buttons on people’s remotes — even while we accommodate into the mainstream the new passion that is Azkals futbol.

But we still have to be wary… by staying true. We all have to be careful not to over-hype, to stay grounded. After their March 15 rematch with Mongolia, the Azkals get to mix it up with the big boys. And that is when the challenge truly begins. That will be the true test of how far along the program has come. Casual fans and bandwagoners need not be misinformed. We can all pray and hope, but we need to know what there is in store for us all.

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