Philippine’s Take on the “Beautiful” Game

This is a tale of a magnificent friendly only a handful witnessed late July, 2012, a few weeks after the Euro2012 final. Pardon the pictures. They were taken discreetly with a cellphone to avoid influencing the game because of an observer (Read "Hawthorne effect").

BEFORE kickoff, 2 players had this little chat…

“Sinong paborito mo, Chelsea o Manchester United? (Which team’s your favorite, Chelsea or Manchester United?),” asked one to the other.

“Manchester! Nandoon si Rooney eh. Diba nandoon dati si Ronaldo? (Manchester! Rooney’s there. Didn’t Ronaldo play there before?),” replied the friend.

 “Hindi! Dati nasa Madrid siya. Ngayon, Portugal na” (No! He used to be with Madrid. Now, he’s with Portugal.)”, said the first.

For football fans, the last line would sound very stupid and laughable. Only children are excused to say uninformed statements like that. Yet on that July afternoon, the players for that epic friendly were kids. Most were grade school students ages 7 to 12, while a notable few were young teens. They were oblivious to the complicated world of football, only working with the few highlights they saw from the recently concluded 2011-2012 season.

It can be said that grassroots training has a deeper origin in the games on the streets. In a country where basketball is a staple in every community, finding an informal football match is a flash in the pan.

The venue for this fixture was in a small street of a barangay in Mandaluyong city. The pitch—a concrete stretch of pavement—was a slanted road that favored the team attacking the lower end of the incline. Humps served as goal lines, sidewalks were sidelines, and parked cars became obstacles to be avoided at all costs. 

Football in the streets - AlexX Concepcion

Spectators included passers-by, drivers, the manang at the sari-sari store, a few tambays (idle hands), and me. The official match ball was a cheap, worn-out, but well-used sphere that had seen better days – though based on this alone, I sensed I was in for a good show.

The children did a quick draft to choose teams, and kickoff immediately followed after.

The match was horrible to say the least. Tactics were thrown out the window as the kids pressed whoever had the ball. Passes were misplaced and usually intercepted. The ball often hit the parked cars, which panicked the players as if angry fans are throwing flares on the field. The keeper didn’t have much protection as the defense allowed goals to fly in one after the other. After 10 minutes, I believe the score was already 3-2 for the downhill side. Considering how messy the game was, I was surprised, and thankful at the same time, no one was injured with from the players’ careless challenges here and there.

Reception by foot, head, or chest? - AlexX Concepcion

If this was a televised game, I would’ve immediately changed channels after a few drives. But what hooked me in was the enthusiasm and effort that solicited everyone’s participation—from the players to the spectators—in this “beautiful” game.

The kids played with so much joy and vigor as they tried to score. What’s cute about watching the kids play was that most of what they did was based on how the superstars on TV played. Remember that these are kids with limited access and young exposure to anything football. Everyone still considers basketball as the primary sport; as most players wore hoops shorts and top. It was amazing to see the kids attempt headers, chest-receptions, feints, and diving tackles. Even their free kicks included the mandatory discussion between two takers and a fake kick that tricked the defensive wall into jumping. Runs and overlaps were made, and everyone tracked back to defense with little effectiveness when necessary. There weren’t any defensive or bad fouls. Their innocent minds weren’t tainted with the evils of diving. Teams invited and transferred players without complicated negotiations. For me, it was football in one of its purest forms: played simply for the sake of having fun. The energy was overflowing it seemed like the kids felt liberated in the open air after being confined to the basketball court for so long. If only they realized sooner, it was clear that it was possible for them to play a ball game without the need for makeshift hoops.

Through on goal - AlexX Concepcion

The same awe and amazement the kids had towards the sport was also evident in the crowd. We had big smiles on our faces as we enjoyed the show the children were putting up. Whenever somebody new saw a glimpse of the action, he/she paused to observe what was actually going on. To their surprise, they found themselves hooked to the game as well to savor the moment.

Nobody kept tabs on who scored, who assisted, and who fouled who. Statistics like offsides, possession percentages, and shots taken weren’t counted. There are no permanent records of this bad but magnificent friendly. The only take-home from this match was the pure joy everyone had. It didn’t matter if it was a bad game by international standards (besides, most people there didn’t even have an idea of said international standard). It didn’t matter that they were using humps, or that the playing area wasn’t flat and forgiving. What mattered was that everyone present wanted a piece of football. 

In a country where basketball reigns supreme, this is a monumental step in the advancement of Philippine football. I personally saw this comparable to the country’s upset-win during the 2010 AFF Challenge Cup and the games that followed when Younghusband became a household name. This is just one small street in one barangay in one city in the Philippines. How many other streets out there are playing a similar game?

The minutes leading to the full time-whistle were very interesting. First, the absence of floodlights to push the game into the night signaled 90 minutes, and the game trickled into extra time. 5 minutes later, it was already dark, but the players played on. The unquestionable full-time whistle came as parents called the players for dinner, favorite cartoons went on air, or somebody forgot to do their homework. The players shook hands and called it a day. Maybe the following days would be the return-leg’s fixture. 

Full-time: 7-5 to the uphill side?