Fans thumb down request
A report from the Aseanfootball.org drew adverse reactions from the regulars at Philfootball.info forum.
(here's the link, http://www.philfootball.info/forum/index.php?a=topic&t=251)
The reason? The report said the Philippines asked the AFF not to reschedule the tournament to close to the Christmas season.
It quoted assistant coach Marlon Maro, "Our preparation was cut short by the Christmas and New Year holidays. We took a 12-day break for the festive period which is very big in the Philippines. It would be good for us if the organisers started the next tournament in February instead of January.”
Whether it was said in jest or it was a serious request, we will never know. But, Maro's request hit the humor bone on a few fans.
BobG, who posted the report and is a regular commentator for pool games for ESPN and Star Sports, said "This is funny!"
Bimbo added, "Hahaha that's hilarious.. what a joke!" and mudd, (I think I have a fair idea who the person is), said, "IDIOTIC request from the Philippines!! C'mon folks, it's all a matter of choice and discipline. You wanna win it badly, do the homework and stop eating so much lechon! You can't have it and eat it, too. In one word, SACRIFICE!"
xyz1000 offered a more objective critique, "While the rescheduling request is a good idea, the reason is preposterous. I think a better schedule would be just before or just after the traditional soccer season, say around May or July. That way it will be easier to get our fil-foreigner players. That's why the World Cup is played during this time. The ASEAN tournament is played every two years, so if they hold it on odd-numbered years there's no chance of conflict with the World Cup. Because it's the Christmas season is just a preposterous reason."
There were still a few reactions, one poster, who agreed the request "do sound stupid" asked whether the players get compensated for donning the country's colors and whether asking for more sacrifice from them is correct.
Another opined that the coach may have been misqouted.
I tend to agree on the misqoute part, or rather, I think it was just taken out of context. Having attended a few press conferences for the SEAG and AFF football, I know that a lot of things happen between asking Mr SoSo "what...why...or how..'' and writing Mr. SoSo said during the press conference,"...."
(I remember after the Cambodia matches in the AFF, when they drew Laos, the coach said, "we got what we deserved" and when they lost to the Philippines, he was asked what was his reaction when RP scored the goal (or words to that effect) he bellowed out, DID YOU SEE MY REACTION!!!i DIDN'T SEE MY REACTION!!! I think none of these things made the papers)
To go to a press conference and to purposedly ask for a change of schedule doesn't make sense. Maybe, Mr. Maro was asked by some media guy, "Coach, you've brought in the Fil-Foreigners, you played three friendlies before the tournament, what else does the Philippines need to have a succesfull AFF campaign?"
Maro blabbers on all things football, and maybe as a parting shot, added the christmas story.
The reporter, then, sensing a better angle, goes with Santa Claus driving the Philippines into (his words) "party overdrive."
Cheers to Philfootball.info, to pinoysoccer.com and to all the regulars in both forums. Cheers to our sense of humor.
(here's the link, http://www.philfootball.info/forum/index.php?a=topic&t=251)
The reason? The report said the Philippines asked the AFF not to reschedule the tournament to close to the Christmas season.
It quoted assistant coach Marlon Maro, "Our preparation was cut short by the Christmas and New Year holidays. We took a 12-day break for the festive period which is very big in the Philippines. It would be good for us if the organisers started the next tournament in February instead of January.”
Whether it was said in jest or it was a serious request, we will never know. But, Maro's request hit the humor bone on a few fans.
BobG, who posted the report and is a regular commentator for pool games for ESPN and Star Sports, said "This is funny!"
Bimbo added, "Hahaha that's hilarious.. what a joke!" and mudd, (I think I have a fair idea who the person is), said, "IDIOTIC request from the Philippines!! C'mon folks, it's all a matter of choice and discipline. You wanna win it badly, do the homework and stop eating so much lechon! You can't have it and eat it, too. In one word, SACRIFICE!"
xyz1000 offered a more objective critique, "While the rescheduling request is a good idea, the reason is preposterous. I think a better schedule would be just before or just after the traditional soccer season, say around May or July. That way it will be easier to get our fil-foreigner players. That's why the World Cup is played during this time. The ASEAN tournament is played every two years, so if they hold it on odd-numbered years there's no chance of conflict with the World Cup. Because it's the Christmas season is just a preposterous reason."
There were still a few reactions, one poster, who agreed the request "do sound stupid" asked whether the players get compensated for donning the country's colors and whether asking for more sacrifice from them is correct.
Another opined that the coach may have been misqouted.
I tend to agree on the misqoute part, or rather, I think it was just taken out of context. Having attended a few press conferences for the SEAG and AFF football, I know that a lot of things happen between asking Mr SoSo "what...why...or how..'' and writing Mr. SoSo said during the press conference,"...."
(I remember after the Cambodia matches in the AFF, when they drew Laos, the coach said, "we got what we deserved" and when they lost to the Philippines, he was asked what was his reaction when RP scored the goal (or words to that effect) he bellowed out, DID YOU SEE MY REACTION!!!i DIDN'T SEE MY REACTION!!! I think none of these things made the papers)
To go to a press conference and to purposedly ask for a change of schedule doesn't make sense. Maybe, Mr. Maro was asked by some media guy, "Coach, you've brought in the Fil-Foreigners, you played three friendlies before the tournament, what else does the Philippines need to have a succesfull AFF campaign?"
Maro blabbers on all things football, and maybe as a parting shot, added the christmas story.
The reporter, then, sensing a better angle, goes with Santa Claus driving the Philippines into (his words) "party overdrive."
Cheers to Philfootball.info, to pinoysoccer.com and to all the regulars in both forums. Cheers to our sense of humor.
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