Should Filipino football fans care about Euro 2012?Jay Hizon, InterAKTV · Friday, June 22, 2012 · 10:15 am
A few weeks back, there was such passionate and animated discussion on our “home crowd” situation during the games of the Philippine national men’s football team. We even received a good number of well-meaning suggestions on how such a “home crowd” atmosphere could take at Azkals matches.
Alas, the reality of football in the Philippines has set upon us once more. It has already been two weeks into the group stage of the Euro 2012. Yet hardly any ripple of the matches, or of the drama unfolding in the build-up to the knockout phase of the competition, has been felt in this part of the sporting world.
While the rest of the world has been abuzz with all the surprises, setbacks, and thrilling finishes in Euro 2012 for the past two weeks, at the domestic front, it seems that the entire nation has stopped to wait for the coronation of Lebron James and his Miami Heat team in the NBA Finals about to start.
No one is talking about the quarterfinals match between Czech Republic and Portugal that was played just a couple of hours earlier.
Very few of us, if any, are even aware of the so-called ultimate grudge match of the tournament that will take place early Saturday morning (Manila time) because of the political drama unfolding beyond the football field. That is, the Cinderella-run of the debt-stricken Greek team, the Eurozone’s biggest strugglers at the moment, will be tested anew — this time, by a confident German team, the Eurozone’s wealthy creditor, for a place in the last four.
There is a general feeling of anger in Athens towards Germany for enforcing strict bail-out conditions and for publicly suggesting that Greece leave the Eurozone.
But do we really care if Greece will have its revenge on the pitch or if Germany rubs more salt into the already wounded pride of the Greeks?
Even if a good number of us would indeed care to follow the Euro though, the harsh reality is that we would be hard put just to keep up with the tournament’s unfolding. Unfortunately, in this part of the globe, one has to go to a sports bar or pay extra for pay-per-view just to watch these games live. Granted, some cable stations do carry the games, but airing is delayed.
From conversations and informal interviews I’ve had with a number of those who follow Azkals games — including school-based players, club-based coaches, and regular football enthusiasts — it appears that the seeming disinterest in Euro 2012 stems from the fact that no local free TV network has cared to gamble on broadcasting the games live, or even on a delayed basis. (Editor’s note: AKTV will start airing quarterfinals games beginning Friday, 10 p.m.)
This makes one wonder: Why was there such well-publicized bidding war by the networks for the broadcast rights of all the Azkals games, but none for Euro 2012?
I think grassroots-based football programs — those based in communities and initiated by schools — are on the right track in their no-shortcut approach to developing football players and the people’s appreciation for the game. To be able to generate real public interest for football, however, Pinoy fans must, at the very least, be able to watch and appreciate for themselves what football competition — at its highest level — is really all about. In other words, they should be given the opportunity to appreciate exactly the kind of stuff that Euro 2012 is made of.
This then, begs the question: Is there no local market for top-notch football, still?
Judging by the number and kind of sponsors on and off pitch of the Philippine Football Federation –- both of the football players themselves and of the commercial football clubs –- it would appear that there is indeed a growing interest in the game.
In fact, last year, it was a pleasant surprise to see college football competition being broadcast live. Last year too, there were a host of weekend football tournaments being organized left and right. Football has finally arrived. Or so I thought until I waited — as I continue to wait to this day — for the live airing of the Euro 2012 matches on local free TV or on regular cable sports channels.
Broadcasting high-level football competition like the Euro 2012 will in fact generate more interest and appreciation of the general public for the beautiful game. It makes perfect business sense for media networks to showcase the very best of football competition for people to appreciate, value and love. Ultimately, people will keep on watching games that they understand and relish to the final whistle.
The advent of cables and satellite dishes that brought to us NBA games 24/7 did not kill the local commercial leagues nor dampen our interest in local basketball. On the contrary, it even created a bigger fan base for basketball. The bidding war by media networks on the broadcasting rights of college basketball is but another indication of the continuing popularity of local basketball, despite the NBA.
There is still time for everyone to enjoy Euro 2012 and the beautiful game. There are quarterfinal matches, two more semis, one finals game, end game drama and plenty of goals yet to be scored. But please, let us watch the games!
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