BY JOSEF T. RAMOS CORRESPONDENT
THE ambition of the Filipinos of qualifying to the FIFA (Federation Internationale De Football Association) World Cup—the world’s grandest sporting event in history—remains a dream for now. National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) president, lawyer Roland Tulay, a football fanatic since childhood, absolutely agrees.
Although the rise of the “Azkals” is becoming so popular nowadays, Tulay, an alumnus of the University of the Philippines, admitted to The Manila Times that it is still a long, long way to go for the Filipinos to be on the very top of football.
“In reality, none,” said Tulay, when asked if there is a possibility for the Filipinos to be in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. “We need to become a super power nation in football in the Southeast Asia first and then we need to conquer the Asian region too.”
At least a minimum of 10-year preparation, he said, is needed to develop the country to be a World Cup caliber country. Even if we top the Southeast Asian region, it is very far to get one seat in the 32 slots available from six confederations in the World Cup.
“FIFA allocates certain numbers of slots in every continent. At least we must be in Top 2 in the Asian region to qualify there. We need to prepare now,” Tulay said.
Unlike other Southeast Asian nations, which occupied by the Europeans, the Filipinos were colonized by the Americans for more than 40 years and were influenced to play baseball, volleyball, tennis and the much popular basketball.
“If you walk around the streets, there are many basketball courts. Football pales in comparison to basketball,” said Tulay, who also wishes to put Philippines to the elite football map in the future.
“Football is also an elite sport since there are only few football fields particularly in Metro Manila,” he said.
Tulay also commended the Azkals for their impressive feat in the 2010 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Football Federation Suzuki Cup after barging to the semifinals in December.
“Most definitely the football popularity has improved after that victory which also created awareness,” said Tulay. “And the Azkals’ win against Vietnam is a milestone and priceless. Pride remained there despite the 0-1 loss in both semifinal legs against Indonesia too.”
One of the biggest keys to turn Philippine football successful is funding. “It all boils down to funding support,” he said. “Dan Palami has done a lot to football. He has the formula and he supports them.”
Palami is the team manager of the Azkals who will play against Mongolia in the 2011 Asian Football Confederation Challenges Cup qualifying stage on February 9 first leg at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City and the second leg is in Mongolia on March 15.
“I’m confident we can win against Mongolia in Bacolod, but I’m not sure if we can play in high altitude side when we get there in Mongolia,” said Tulay, who is not against the entry of Filipino-foreign players to the national team.
Tulay, who just assumed the NCRFA presidency on January 1, embarks in aggressive recruitment and promotion of football around the Metro Manila region as NCRFA head.
He is also planning to set up a three-division football tournament that will run from February to December this year where teams can be relegated and promoted.
Tulay also mentioned the importance of having good referees and tournament leagues besides having a FIFA standard football venue to develop football to high level.
“It is the job of the Philippine Football Federation to construct a FIFA-standard venue,” said Tulay. “It takes a lot of money and political will to make that possible [construction of football venue].”
Manila Times
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