Maybe we should start a thread on our experiences...the then and now.
"Do or do not. There is no try" (Master Yoda)
Azkals - Philippine Football
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Azkals - Philippine Football » Philippine Football Discussion » General Philippine Football Discussion
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Posted 3 months ago #
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My story started with Don Bosco Mandaluyong, 1979.
1979 - Ninoy Aquino was still alive. Marcos was still the president. Nora Aunor was still the superstar. Rico J. Puno was the coolest singer (with those side burns, high collared shirts and bell bottoms), Television only came in two colors - Black and White. My favorite TV shows were Voltes 5, Mazinger Z, Daimos, Grandaizer, Star Rangers - until they were banned by Marcos. Also, arcade games were also banned at the same time - ie space invaders, pacman etc. Back then, there were still people in my street that owned Carabaos (water buffalos) - they were used as beast-of-burden pulling carts with either vegetables or other goods for sale.
Mandaluyong is an impoverished / working class area surrounded by affluent San Juan (greenhills) on one side and another affluent area of Makati (located across pasig river). I grew up in Hulo Mandaluyong near the Pasig river boundary.
Don Bosco Mandaluyong is a catholic private school located in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The school is administered by italian priests. The school conducts missionary work within the surrounding areas of the school and football is one way to get the children (students of the school and other kids) involved in activities. Since, we see football everyday (ie since we were in grade 1), we somewhat knew it will be our sport. We also see the the priest play it every afternoon and also during weekends. My parents are not sport-minded people. So, they did not really have an opinion whether my brothers and I play football for the school or not.
I started playing football in grade 4 (I was 10 years old). For reasons unknown to me (till today), those who want to play football can only start once they reach grade 4. However, swimming lessons started in grade 2. For reasons still unknown to me, I remember that learning to swim was considered a priority (maybe because Mandaluyong is a low-land estuary of pasig river, it is prone to annual flooding).
Hence, I remember kids who later joined the school after grade 2 getting the surprise of their lives when they find out that swimming is part of PE and that most kids knows how to swim. The ability to swim later became a mark of a "veteran" of the school....meaning if you can't swim it means you did not go through grade 2 with the school and if you can swim, it practically means you are one of the veterans of the school (ie have been there since kindergarten). This became worse when transitioning to high school. Because us "veterans" would identify the "drowners" from the new intake.
PS: people from the visayas islands tend to know how to swim, by virtue of growing in an island surrounded by the ocean. However, for metro manila people, swimming is not a skill normally found in the population.
First term of Grade 4 - practically 70% of the students started football training. I still have my first football boots (Puma, leather, moulded studs). Wearing football socks that practically covered my entire leg was a new thing for me. Shin pads...did not exist back then.
Football field - the school only have one football field. Back then I find it overwhelming to be on it. But looking back, a pitch that have bald spots of sand and gravel is really not up to standard nowadays. But back then, it was all we have.
Football Associations - The school was affiliated with the Rizal FA (RIFA) and Boys Official FA (BOFA). Other schools within RIFA and BOFA were Ateneo, La Salle (Greenhills), San Beda, Xavier, Don Bosco Makati.
Training - the standard formation was 4-3-3 (is LB, RB, Sweeper, Stopper, LM, RM, CM, RW, LW, CF). Training was held once a week and during weekends (weather permitting). Being in grade 4, competition was only between teams in the school. Looking back now, for 10 year olds the concept of 11-a-side in a formation is still hard to understand. I've been in the UK now for more than 70% of my life and I know football in UK starts in Under-6 and gradually learn football through growing up. However, back then we were 10 years old and we got shoved into the deep end of football (ie practically from zero). As a father and of two young boys, playing 11-a side, on a formation, playing on a full field for 20 minutes each half is a tough thing to do for 10 year old pinoy kids who are just starting up. But maybe thats the only way they knew it back then. But the thing is, that is the grassroots (if you can call it that) that I remember.
However, I did learn the basics - passing (toe up, inside of the foot), Kicking (toe down, front lace of the boots, Solid ground shots - hit center spot of the ball, bend supporting leg, forehead looking down, lobs - hit underside of the ball, the swing of the kicking leg should be from the back all the way to the front waist high). Body-to-body marking and jockeying, heading the ball (front topside of forehead, eyes open, the momentum should come from the spine / waist and not the neck).
During the school year, there will be sport carnivals (first half of the year and second half of the year). Football is one of the sport played during carnivals. The teams composed of the different "houses". The house I belonged to was Dominic Savio (Savio was one of the 6 outstanding students of St. Giovanni Bosco). So, there will be a Savio team for Grade 4, 5, 6, freshmen, sophomore etc.
During summer vacations, there will be training camps. Looking back now, I think that is a bit harsh. Considering that training was from 9am till1230 and held during the summer months. I remember feeling very tired at the start of the new school year, because training for football during the summer was an energy sapper.
For the rest of my elementary years (5 and 6), football was played as per above. However, once we entered first year high school, that's when the RIFA inter-collegiate competition started (against other schools) and we had trials to select the first XI (including the second, third and fourth strings). I was lucky enough to be the LB for the first eleven (I still hold the opinion that I was selected because my father helped put the foundation of the new gymnasium free of charge). The team did not do well. I do not remember ever winning a game during my first year high school. Up against teams like Ateneo and La Salle (who have several football fields with grass), I remember them playing fluid football.
PS: in our field we had bald patches with gravel, rocks and stones. So, playing short passing game was rather difficult because its very hard to anticipate the roll of the ball.
My sophomore year was practically the same, in terms of football (this was also the year we migrated abroad). I remember that I kind of stopped growing, because I remember the other kids being taller than me once we returned for the new school year.
This is probably why most pinoys always thought football was for the "elite" - because only the private elementary and high schools have a football program. For the new generation of pinoys who found out football because of the Azkals, they think football only came in Philippines two years ago. No, the PFA was the first sporting association ever in asia (1907) and the AFC's constitution was finalised during the Manila convention (in the 1950's).
Between then and now, football was just forgotten by the general population - until the Azkals (or the so-called celebrity hype of fil-fors) came along.
I remember during my grade 6 and first year high school, our rector at the time Fr. Panfillo, was also a player-coach for a team called Carnation FC (Carnation - brand of milk) in the RIFA-Manila Football league. Sometimes the football team will attend at the ULTRA to watch Carnation play. I also remember watching a RP XI (mostly NCAA collegiate players) playing a singapore U-21 team at the ULTRA. The score was something like 15-0. The only player who really sweated for the pinoy team was the GK.
Back then it was very rare to see RP football on the TV or read about it in the papers. But this year alone, the Azkals have played 10+ international games (not counting tune-up games). That's more than I can remember from 70s, 80s, 90s combined.
Things are looking up for RP football.
"Do or do not. There is no try" (Master Yoda)Posted 3 months ago # -
around 87 or 88 when i was in 2nd grade. i joined our school's football extra-curricular club coz the basketball club dont accept kids my age. turned up that i liked it and i enrolled at the milo best football camp every summer of my elementary years after that.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I'm not exactly sure if it was "learnt", but I first kicked a soccerball probably in 1984 or 1984 in Iligan City, I think I was 10 or 11 then. I had no idea what I was doing then, all I did was kick the ball out of our area, protecting the goal. The game ended 0-0.
After that game, the sport made an impression on me. I want to play it again quick. At the house, football was in my mind. But playing it again never happened again too soon.
I played it again when I was 14. I tried out for our school's (MSU-IIT) varsity. I never made the cut. I've had no solid football knowledge. Even if the coach was gay, my goodlooks did not entice him, sadly. Haha...
Making football known in the Philippines.
Win an Azkals shirt!Posted 3 months ago # -
At age of 6 I first kicked a football for the Shortland United Soccer Club. The home ground was inside an old mining quarry and right beside a swamp / nature wetland area. Yep yep plenty of mosquitoes and sometimes snakes at different times. If the ball was kicked with force behind the northern goal end you would face a nervous trip to retrieve the ball. We played in a black and white strip. My family moved shortly after and by age of 9 we were playing on full sized fields.
Personally at this age a full sized field does not develop a young players skills or technique unless you are truly gifted or receiving top quality coaching. At the same time the gifted or noted players were being drafted into advanced or "super league" competitions. For me I played in non-league competitions until strangely in my very late 20s I decided to trial for my clubs state 3rd division and luckily was selected in the first grade team. Short story though. I was injured in an offield incident and only managed a few reserve grade appearances later in the season.
These days I enjoy being a team manager and giving advice to players if needed.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I first played Football at a tender age of 11 (6th grade) back in 1993. Football was new to us and we only watch it at a side. We were just hanging around the campus playing "sipa" when we see high school varsity players playing the game every afternoon after class. We watched their games at a time when we got interested into trying it out as grade schooler. The football youth program then was its conception.
We were recruited by one of our PE teacher then who has friends with some Physical Education and Athletics director in our school and happens to teach college PE as well. We were from a co-ed private Roman Catholic university in Pampanga. He assigned one of his two top players to teach us the basic rudiments of football. There are of us 35 boys who played then on the grassroots program consisting mostly of 6th graders (ages 11-12) then a few interested 5th graders and 4th graders as well.
We use our hands first (a bit of rugby style) in passing before teaching the basic pass in the game then later passing using feet and kicking. Our equipments then are bare minimum. Just wearing some of those sneakers, shorts and shirts. Because football cleats are non-existent unless you go to Manila to buy some of those cleats for use during training sessions.
We first tasted our game against 6th graders of Don Bosco Tarlac and we failed to win that friendly match. Besides they are a better team and we are just starting then. It didn't deter us in pursuing and playing football again when we got older.
Twist of fate made a decision in my life of learning martial arts then so I shifted to Taekwondo (This was a hot sport for kids then) and became a Team B player representing our school in such competitive event especially Milo Best in Metro Manila during sophomore year in High School back in 1995. I only landed fourth place in that event.
Unexpected things happen, many of the players from our high school alma mater are leaving and bound for college. The club was distressed and needs new players with football background. I reapplied with the team and was accepted as a Team B player for the time being after shifting from Football - Taekwondo then Football again. Because the high school coach then knew me during grade school.
I was reluctantly to show my talents in High school intrams when the high school coach notice my skills as a fullback / midfielder even if I became rusty in playing the game but can still have endurance and stamina to be a better player. On my senior year, I was officially welcomed to Team A as a fullback and made an effort of being with the team paid off as one of the first eleven players.
College, I was trying out for FEU Booters in UAAP but was shortlisted because there are more better players than me from the province who can really play football. So I decided to busy myself in the FEU-ROTC-Phil.Army then when I got selected to train as non-commission officer because of my CAT officer background. I missed playing football then when we were to attend to some event at Fort Bonifacio.
We see people (probably off duty soldiers) playing at ASCOM field then when we reporting to ARESCOM HQ in Makati / Taguig on a one sunday morning at training at the firing ranges.I only played in a one friendly game with some friends from UST Faculty of Pharmacy back in 2002 at UST Parade grounds who are football players from Claret QC and Don Bosco Makati, Xavier during HS days. Until 2011 playing with a weekend club in UP Diliman.
Posted 1 month ago # -
We use our hands first (a bit of rugby style) in passing
- I believe the purpose of this is to familiarize newbies about positioning.
Until 2011 playing with a weekend club in UP Diliman.
- Is it Sunken Garden United?
Making football known in the Philippines.
Win an Azkals shirt!Posted 1 month ago # -
I remember I watched FIFA WORLD CUP championship between France & Brazil in 1998. I don't know anything about football then. but I kept awake that night to watch the championship. From then on I started knowing more about the game they called football
"Respect is the only thing that can never be given. It has to be earned."Posted 1 month ago # -
@ Azkals.
Tumpak! - "Famialiarize us with positions in passing the ball second day" then later on use the feet in passing the ball aftwards in another exercise. It only took us a day to learn positions. Our coach then was a product of Don Bosco but was already in college in our school.
At UP Diliman - We had a practice with other weekend warriors like us but I am not a club member of SFUFC. I am much of weekend player. We once had a tune up game with SFUFC (they usual practice at mornings) and Smart FC (guest team) just to practice and have fun in preparation for a competition in Don Bosco Mandaluyong. One time we invited some office workers (mostly locals and foreigners) at Asian Development Bank - Ortigas to play against them.
Ang dami din naglalaro ng ultimate frisbee sa sunken garden alongside with weekend footballers. buti hindi sila nag-aaway.
@hdebelenjr
You should try playing the game. It's fun running around with slhort shorts and power kicking the ball. LOL!
Masaya pero nakakapagod nga lang._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Recounting some event last saturday (Jan 15, 2012). We were clobbered by seasoned UP student team (non-varsity) just weekend players like us. They have two (2) girls on their team. One is an 19 Economics student, the other one is 21 y.o. BSBA student - both are morena beauties. They are good at the pitch playing football and i did underestimate at first. My heart fell with the 21 y.o. she is very intelligent and I can almost bear the intellectual capacity of a UP student even if I received my college in Manila. Too bad, I am way to old for her and she is with somebody else.
I should have told her I am just 26 y.o. because I can fool some people with my age because I really don't look 30ish enough - babyface ika nga.
Posted 1 month ago # -
@ D. Sanchez,
I tried once here in KSA. Within 10mins of playing just running without even touching the ball it is the same as playing 2 hours of basketball....
"Respect is the only thing that can never be given. It has to be earned."Posted 1 month ago # -
D. Sanchez,
That is soooo Baduyyyy !!!! (with a Yuck, capital Y) !!!!!
Playing football (sweating and panting) is not a good move when trying to chat up girls (on the same pitch during a game, may I add).
Boy: Centre Forward ka ba?
Girl: Baket?
Boy: Dahil ako yung sweeper, to sweep you off your feet !!!!
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Boy: Goal Keeper ka ba?
Girl: Baket?
Boy: Dahil gusto kong maka -iscore sa yo.BOOOOOMMMMM !!!!!!
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Boy: hindi ka pa off-side
Girl: Baket?
Boy: kasi you are still in my line-of-sight
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Boy: buti na lang may extra time
Girl: Baket?
Boy: dahil kailangan ko ng extra 15 minutes para ka-on kita sa field.
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Boy: Nike ba boots mo?
Girl: Baket?
Boy: Kasi, I "just want to do it" with you
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Use what I have pass onto you and use it wisely....may the force be with you !!!
"Do or do not. There is no try" (Master Yoda)Posted 1 week ago # -
Nice pick-ups lines.
"Respect is the only thing that can never be given. It has to be earned."Posted 1 week ago #
