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Post by cheeze on Feb 10, 2018 21:18:26 GMT 8
I remember the time I first joined Usapang Football, it was the time when the Azkals beat Mongolia at Panaad stadium in 2011 I think. It was the first time I saw the Azkal's play live and seeing Caligdong's wonder goal left me hooked. The boards had a very painful light theme back then and was bustling with activity and drama such as the infamous story of Gino Pavone or the hype surrounding Denis Wolf and Javier Patino.
It got me thinking... what would it take for Philippine football to receive that hype again? Would reaching the knockout rounds of the Asian Cup make the Azkals a household name again? Or will we have to achieve something like what Iraq did in the 2007 Asian cup and pull off a Cinderella run?
If I have to pinpoint the exact period things went downhill for our national team, and the boards in general, it would definitely have to be the 2014 Challenge Cup. I remember being a junior in high school back then and just being extremely gutted and disappointed at the result. We had the chance to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup and we threw it away. I'm not expecting us to win the Asian Cup, but we need to at least have a solid showing and maybe a high profile upset to get our national team back on track.
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Post by cjeagle on Feb 13, 2018 14:29:52 GMT 8
Unfortunately those who are not really invested in football lose interest in the sport when our teams don't achieve success. It applies to the general public as well as members of this forum. A lot of the hype from the Suzuki Cup in 2011 has disappeared.
That is why I agree that it is important that we make the Asian Cup so we can build excitement again among our fans.
Despite the disappointments however, football nevertheless has made great strides in the past decade or so. Unlike before, we now have a professional league and a competitive national team to follow.
It was really painful to be a football fan back in the years before the miracle of Hanoi in 2011, with the inflated scores against that the national team was subjected to and no local professional clubs to follow in Asian club competitions.
Be thankful that today, in the lulls between national team matches, we still have competitive professional clubs like Ceres-Negros and Global FC to follow in Asian club competitions like the AFC Champions league or the AFC Cup, something that we could only imagine back in the day.
But don't expect football to suddenly be embraced by Filipinos who have only a passing interest in the sport. It will take decades of hard work, marketing and development at the grassroots level before we can convince most Filipinos to follow football with the same passion as they do basketball today.
But we also need to do our part as well in supporting the sport if we want it to succeed, not only in this forum but also in the bleachers if you can. Support the national team and our clubs by attending their matches and and try to bring as many of your friends and family with you.
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Post by boybato on Feb 18, 2018 6:25:41 GMT 8
IIf I have to pinpoint the exact period things went downhill for our national team, and the boards in general, it would definitely have to be the 2014 Challenge Cup. I remember being a junior in high school back then and just being extremely gutted and disappointed at the result. We had the chance to qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup and we threw it away. I'm not expecting us to win the Asian Cup, but we need to at least have a solid showing and maybe a high profile upset to get our national team back on track. [ I still believe to this day that if only Dooley called up and utilized Philippines best players in 2014 Challenge Cup we would have beat Palestine and make it to the Asian Cup the following year. The “hype” would have been alive and growing had we made it to Asian Cup 2015. Now we are endangered of missing 2 Asian Cup and the Philippine football sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss at his helm! Dooley Out!
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Post by Caz on Mar 14, 2018 1:07:51 GMT 8
I'm actually fine with how things are now. It kinda reminds me of how this place was prior to the 2010 Suzuki Cup, only with less trolls! Only an accomplishment by the Azkals that is as momentous as the "Miracle of Hanoi" would turn the spark here into another inferno. But until then, us die-hards remain.
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Post by cebujames on Mar 14, 2018 3:59:35 GMT 8
I'm actually fine with how things are now. It kinda reminds me of how this place was prior to the 2010 Suzuki Cup, only with less trolls! Only an accomplishment by the Azkals that is as momentous as the "Miracle of Hanoi" would turn the spark here into another inferno. But until then, us die-hards remain. This definitely make sense. I don't want to assume but people are panicking with what is happening right now. The issue with TD, the uncertainty of the team joining the Asian Cup Finals. I mean, everything's fine right now. The team is looking good. The call-ups are great. We just need to continue supporting our NT.
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