Azkalmania triggers business boom

By Joaquin Henson

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The rising popularity of the Philippine national football team has converted this Negros Occidental capital into the epicenter of Azkalmania where fans from all over the country are congregating to witness the game against Mongolia in the opener of the Asian Football Cup (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifying home-and-away series at the Panaad Stadium here Wednesday night.

City Mayor Bing Leonardia said hotels are slowly filling up but assured the public that rooms are still available. However, popular hotels like L’Fisher and Luxur, where the Azkals stay, are fully booked.

Enterprising businessmen are producing self-styled Azkals T-shirts. Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano Araneta, Jr. said Mizuno is producing “official” T-shirts carrying the PFF logo to be sold at the venue for P500 apiece. Nicky-Boy Puentevella has come up with his own unique design and his shirts are selling for P400 each. Dieter Soukup, a German who lives here, has rolled out a series of Azkals T-shirt designs through his company Inkmaxx.

“I’m a football fan and Inkmaxx supported the Philippine team in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games in Bacolod,” said Soukup. “Our Akzals T-shirts sell from P119 to P199 only and are available at our stores and hopefully, at the stadium on Feb. 9. We accept on-line orders. Shirts to be sent by forwarder carry a freight charge of P100 for one or two shirts, P200 for three to five, P250 for six to 10 and P20 per shirt for 10 or more. My designs are on facebook.”

Philstar