Football hits the mark Written by Nimrod NL Quiñones

By NIMROD NL QUIÑONES

The year 2011 saw the resurgence of football in the Philippines.

The national team, the Philippine Azkals, may not have achieved much in terms of wins in tournaments, but they have reached a stage in the World Cup qualifiers never before achieved and have been a major marketing success.

The United Football League further sealed the resurgence of football and although Cebu’s Queen City United failed to win a single match in UFL Cup, the team is hoping to do better in Division 2 this 2012.

With some UFL games being aired live on TV, the fans from outside Manila get the chance to watch their favorite teams in action and sponsors have been attracted to the league.

In Cebu, football remains as one of the most popular sports.  Although basketball and boxing remain to have more following, the efforts exerted by various organizations to push football are definitely not going to naught.

There is already a very good program for kids.  Proof of that is Cebu’s dominance in the national finals of the Milo Little Olympics by winning both the elementary and high school crowns.

Schools like Don Bosco Technology Center, Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu, PAREF-Springdale, Abellana National School, and Canduman Elementary School in Mandaue, among others, have successful programs that developed many top-caliber young players.

With the UFL in place, these players shall have something to look forward to after their playing years in the college level.

Soon, we might see some home-grown Filipino football players in the Asian club leagues.

While the national team is literally struggling to find form in the tournaments it has joined, football, the world’s number on sport, has already hit its mark in this basketball-crazy country.

The Cebu Amateur Football Club hosted a gathering with the Azkals in Cebu.

Inter-school football action at the Aboitiz Sports Field.

Chieffy Caligdong of the Azkals with some of his young fans during a party in Cebu.

The Cebu National Inter-club is an annual event held every May.

Fans have their pictures taken with the stars of the Azkals.

Age group football has been developed well in Cebu.

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