Dubai: This time last year Kristopher ‘Kim' Relucio was in the Philippines national football squad for the match against Mongolia in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers — but now he's playing jumpers-for-goalposts matches in Safa Park every Friday.
The 33-year-old defender, formerly of Global Manila, Cebu Crazyhorse and Iligan City, emigrated to Dubai in July last year to join his wife in turning his back on the national team, nicknamed the Azkals or Street Dogs, that found overnight fame in late 2010, as much for their Suzuki Cup semi-final-reaching antics as their show-business appeal.
Relucio, who was one of the few in the squad of full Filipino heritage, is now a PE teacher at a local school and, as the Azkals' selection policy relies ever more on footballers of mixed Filipino descent, he hopes local players won't get overlooked.
The Azkals, who last faced David Beckham's LA Galaxy in December, had at least 14 players of mixed heritage in the 23-man squad.
Relucio said: "I don't know whether it's a good thing or a bad thing but as long as it's good for the team it must be positive. The development of Filipino football and the growing recognition they have internationally now is very good for the game in the Philippines, but having said that some of the Filipinos are not having a fair chance to play.
It's becoming increasingly difficult to get in the squad if you're playing inside the Philippines. It's probably easier for the foreigners based on the fact they play their football outside and have had better training.
"But training and development is improving at the local level inside the country too, so things will hopefully improve as a result. I don't want to go back to the Azkals — I think it's time to give the younger ones a chance."
Relucio plays in local amateur leagues and is a key member of the Pinoy Futbol Club which trains at Safa Park every Friday from 3pm to 6pm. Nearing 150 members of all ages just a year since formation, Relucio hopes they can build a competitive team for the amateur league dependent on coaching, sponsors and training facilities.
For information on getting involved with Pinoy Futbol Club, visit their Facebook page or call Melvin Alum on 050 3069520.
Training camp
Azkals in Dubai
The Philippines national team will hold a training camp in Dubai from February 5 to 17 in preparation for the AFC Challenge Cup, with three friendly matches scheduled.
Their first, and so far only confirmed, match will be against Partizan Belgrade on February 6 in Abu Dhabi from 7.30pm, with the venue to be confirmed. Tickets will start at Dh50.
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"It's becoming increasingly difficult to get in the squad if you're playing inside the Philippines. It's probably easier for the foreigners based on the fact they play their football outside and have had better training."
ReplyDelete^^ of course the Filipino based abroad have better chances to go into the team - simply because they are much better than any locals who play in the UFL (apart from Chieffy or the Younghusband brothers). Or is there any player in the UFL who is better than Schroeck, Mulders, Cagara, Lucena, Etheridge, etc.? YOu know the results vs. the 4th class Spanish team from Madrid (both UFL selection and the embarassing defeat Of Air Force)......so it would make no sense now to field more homebased players as long as their level is that weak........when they have reached the same level of the oversea based ones then of course no problem...