After watching the last two Under 23 Philippines Team games, I can’t help but want to write, reflect, and voice some of the feeling going on inside of me. Since I arrived in the Philippines I have been welcomed with a sense of hope and undying support. But with all of the attention and inspiration comes a level of expectation and a level of pressure which is very real. We as Filipinos are extremely passionate and sensitive which brings an incredible amount of love and gratitude, and with that, also comes a real criticism. Not only is this expectation and criticism important, it is absolutely imperative for the development of the sport, and for a country striding to become a true football nation. I hope we can find a good balance of unconditioned love and constructive criticism, because at the end of the day this is what it is all about: Constructing something Great.
Together with the support of the country, it is up to players, coaching staff and entire team to harness this energy and create quality performances. I really hope together and as a country united we can find balance between these two things. I think what we will find is that love-hate, support-criticism, and performance is what drives the other and is certainly proportional in its effects.
“Love where love is deserved, and criticize where criticism is necessary. Extremely under-deserved love or judgement can be detrimental. Finding a balance is the key to success.”
I leave this note by reminding us of some of the beautiful and sometimes hard lessons that the sport we love brings to all of us. This picture was taken during a tournament I had the great pleasure of watching, while supporting Payatas FC seen in Red and White. The photo captured depicts a sea of Payatas players defending the opponents throw-in.
I hope, we too can stand strong behind a young U23 team and show the rest of the Football world that the Philippines can stand United. As a spectator and supporter, I hope we can reserve the love and judgement to where it can be constructive and not wasteful. I wish our young Azkal’s the very best moving on after two defeats in this years SEA Games, and I also wish the support for the development of the sport can hold strong in the teams endeavors.
I’m with you on this.
What a thoughtful post, Lexton. You’re right about finding the balance between support and criticism. In the heat of the moment, one can always justify one’s actions as harsh, tough love. Easy to miss the point and on the other end, also very easy to overdo it. Football is still fairly new to the Pinoy masses; let’s all give each other – as players and supporters – the time to grow well together.
Keep your posts coming!
yes i agree… we all can be better educated on playing performance and the process of football development, this way we can better evaluate… support is good, but constructive support will make the football nation grow faster.
i agree lexton…totally…just so disappointed and hurt with some of your teammates’s girlfriends tweets. Instead of fostering love for the beautiful game and support for the U23s, their tweets are quite irresponsible and divisive, and honestly it pains me to realize that these are the people who shouldinstead be spearheading the cheers, and not the jeers…
Everything you said was right. I am a football fan and I support the team whether they win or not. I may not be a football player but I understand how much hard work the players are putting in every game in whatever situation they are in (not to mention the criticisms they get). Everyone wants to bring honor to the country which is why we should even be thankful for these guys. What I think is that football is really progressing in the country. Even the number of supporters is growing as well! We may think these supporters are just in the football bandwagon, but that is a start. I didn’t know much about football and I guess I was a part of that bandwagon before. But now, I’m trying to understand the game and I’m learning. And I want to keep learning and very soon, play the game too! I know, maybe some are experiencing the same thing as I do. This is a start and with whatever criticism they get, I don’t think they deserve it. These players are like our modern day heroes fighting for our country.
We will keep believing and supporting! Goodluck and Godbless!
i think u touched on the very point i was trying to make… being on the bandwagon is a great thing for the country and the popularity of the sport. if only we can now educate and have more people become familiar with the sport, and the way other countries are development then we can begin to see some bigger steps. i agree that the hype and attention is what is needed to promote anything in this day in age, but it shouldnt be the only thing. as i mentioned there needs to be balance. Balance between the glamor and balance between the harsh realities of needing to produce quality performances.
without the hype, the sport can not get popular, and with the performance and success of the team the sport can not get better. we need both. but educated and knowledgeable balance for both.
I am a great supporter of building up and not tearing down. I like teaching kids and I see the great effects everytime you praise or encourage them for the things they do. And if you must ( and this is only if its absolutely necessary) critize, you have to do it gently and you can see that they understand where you’re coming from and soon enough they will do much better. And you will also have their respect. We adults or in this case U23 Azkals are the same. Building up the morale is better than criticizing our mistakes. No one is ever perfect.
In life there are ups and downs and you can never please EVERYONE. There will always be that someone who has nothing good to say. As long as you did your best, then that’s all we can ever ask for.
you are right… building morale and confidence for all is a must to development
azkals u23 are quite new.. unlike like you and the other senior azkals, cohesion has been established.. but coach weiss admitted that he should have put more home-grown guys during the last match.. because i believe that leonora, fernandez and valmayor are amazing players..
one thing that i admired about you and burkey is that.. you left home and chose to play for your motherland and in the local league.. one big factor that the other u23 fil-foreign will not be able to do.. well the others have their own home clubs anyways..
there is still a huge room for improvement =).. especially with the talented home-grown guys
thanks for the continual support of what we’re doing. I hope i can leave some kind of impact that goes a bit beyond the hysteria and looks of footballers and provide a constructive contribution to the development of the sport and the development of a football CULTURE in the country, that goes beyond the glitz and glamor…
I’m just a new football fan that emerged, just this year, yet I’ve learned so much about football. I never missed the game of the U23 Azkals in the SEA Games, for me, they were really great individually, but playing as a team, they lack cohesion. The reason: they are just new and did not much trained and bonded with one another unlike the other countries. If they could’ve trained together for at least 2 months, they could’ve better. But what amazes me is the fact that even they are NEW they are able to score a goal against Vietnam, which we know one of the hardest competitor in their group.
Every loss they experienced during the SEA Games is also our country’s loss. But, never I felt to stop supporting this guys. I still believe in them. There were many bashers of the Jr. Azkals because they keep on losing, but I stand by their side and support them.
Still, I know the PHL Football will someday triumph and be the best like other countries. Football right now in our country is being reincarnated once again.
MABUHAY ANG AZKALS! LAKAS PINAS!
there is alot of pressure on them as they need to perform and do well. they have so much potential but as u mentioned lack certain things like cohesion. i too hope the can come to a level of performance that truly displays their true quality. with a group such as theirs they will be able to do some incredible stuff, i hope someone with the key to unlocking such potential will emerge sooner then later.
Cheers to the Azkals U23 team that played in the 26th SEAG. Hope the management let those boys play together for as long as they can keep them.
cant wait to see what the future holds for them and for the senior team as these will be the players of the future…