Fair Play: Thank God it's football
IT SPEAKS a lot of the man’s popularity when, after receiving the Presidential Award during the SAC-SMB Sports Awards, fellow awardees lined up to have their photos taken with Dan Palami, the Azkals team manager.
Palami is the second national figure who was a recipient of a SAC award, the first being Manny Pacquiao himself back in 2009. And, it was really heart-warming to listen to Dan talk because he acknowledged the role Cebu and the Cebu media played in Philippine football and he promised he will pay us back with an Azkal visit.
“You were there with us in the difficult beginnings, so should you be in the glory days,” Palami said.
Back in 2008, the Azkals came to town and they were very much under the radar save for some hardcore fans. They played the Cebu All Stars and won, 6-0, with Phil Younghusband scoring a hat trick.
This summer, Palami will move heaven and earth to bring them back.
“Sir, ayaw kalimti Cebu ha,” I pestered Dan again for the nth time when we had our gathering at Café Laguna after the SAC Awarding.
“Of course,” he said. “All we need is a decent pitch for training.”
And I shamelessly promoted three—the Don Bosco Boys Home in Liloan, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu field and the Aboitiz Sports Field.
Basti Lacson of Aboitiz, who sat with Dan during the awarding, also offered use of the Aboitiz Sports Field.
Dan promised he will send someone to inspect the three fields if they are fit for Azkal use and he also said that they will not bar fans from watching their training sessions.
“How can we promote football if we do that?” he said when I pointed out that the team can train in seclusion at Don Bosco Liloan.
Of course, training sessions and future plans were not the only things we discussed.
Joel Pascual, Paolo’s dad, had to leave early. So did Dong Secuya, Jingo Quijano, Dr. Rene Bonsubre, Jun Migallen, Cheska D. Geli and Marian Baring, leaving Dan with football nuts Graeme Mackinnon, Noel S. Villaflor, Cedelf Tupas of the Inquirer and me.
And of course, when such a group gathers, everything and anything football is the center of discussion.
I learned so many things that night, about the Azkals, the detractors, the fans, the media, the planned league, the ex-coach and even about how Dan provided the car and driver for a certain Azkal’s date with a certain angel.
But those discussions, done under the influence, will never see print (Did I just hear a sigh of relief, Dan?).
We had our nightcap at TGIF and before leaving, Graeme asked the waitress, “Do you know him?”
“Of course! He’s Dan Palami, the Azkal!”
Thank God it’s football.
Palami is the second national figure who was a recipient of a SAC award, the first being Manny Pacquiao himself back in 2009. And, it was really heart-warming to listen to Dan talk because he acknowledged the role Cebu and the Cebu media played in Philippine football and he promised he will pay us back with an Azkal visit.
“You were there with us in the difficult beginnings, so should you be in the glory days,” Palami said.
Back in 2008, the Azkals came to town and they were very much under the radar save for some hardcore fans. They played the Cebu All Stars and won, 6-0, with Phil Younghusband scoring a hat trick.
This summer, Palami will move heaven and earth to bring them back.
“Sir, ayaw kalimti Cebu ha,” I pestered Dan again for the nth time when we had our gathering at Café Laguna after the SAC Awarding.
“Of course,” he said. “All we need is a decent pitch for training.”
And I shamelessly promoted three—the Don Bosco Boys Home in Liloan, the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu field and the Aboitiz Sports Field.
Basti Lacson of Aboitiz, who sat with Dan during the awarding, also offered use of the Aboitiz Sports Field.
Dan promised he will send someone to inspect the three fields if they are fit for Azkal use and he also said that they will not bar fans from watching their training sessions.
“How can we promote football if we do that?” he said when I pointed out that the team can train in seclusion at Don Bosco Liloan.
Of course, training sessions and future plans were not the only things we discussed.
Joel Pascual, Paolo’s dad, had to leave early. So did Dong Secuya, Jingo Quijano, Dr. Rene Bonsubre, Jun Migallen, Cheska D. Geli and Marian Baring, leaving Dan with football nuts Graeme Mackinnon, Noel S. Villaflor, Cedelf Tupas of the Inquirer and me.
And of course, when such a group gathers, everything and anything football is the center of discussion.
I learned so many things that night, about the Azkals, the detractors, the fans, the media, the planned league, the ex-coach and even about how Dan provided the car and driver for a certain Azkal’s date with a certain angel.
But those discussions, done under the influence, will never see print (Did I just hear a sigh of relief, Dan?).
We had our nightcap at TGIF and before leaving, Graeme asked the waitress, “Do you know him?”
“Of course! He’s Dan Palami, the Azkal!”
Thank God it’s football.
Comments
I was not satisfied during the Friendship Cup held last Sunday @ CIS grounds.
Obviously the officials need some improvements since they are not competent. Now I think the only way to do that is that they need to implement QA(Quality Assurance) and Calibration on their officials. I had been playing futbol since Don Bosco high school varsity until my college years in USC as varsity also. The veteran referees now as I noticed plays for Hiroshi. And what is left to officiate are those young immature and DUMB referees, I wanted to mention one but it might be too obvious. Just one observation from this referee is that he is the only referee that doesnt know hot to play futbol, or even kick a ball. Could you respect a referee like that?
These referees should practice QA, i think in order for that to be addressed is that the commitee should conduct a survey to the clubs and players that are joining their tournaments.
I may say that immature and unqualified referees can certainly attract injuries and brawl. They dont properly assess their decisions that are based on ego. Is it because they have those yellow and red cards? That lead them to show-off if one player tries to protest their decision. If they try that stint in Mexico or in Brasil, they surely will be executed by the crowd.
Let us now try to hear what the players and coaches has to hear from the commitee's officials, then Im pretty sure we wont hear but see the UGLY truth.
@JP, officiating has always been a problem, especially with football festivals. There aren't that many good referees here and you need a lot of them during football festivals.
I really hope the coming seminars, referee courses can help address this problem. New fans, new players may get discouragedif they feel they are being shortchanged by the officials
If commitees know that their officials are incompetent then let them join a training camp before they collect money from top quality companies and clubs, with their low quality officials. How pathetic it would be to know that Cebu loves futbol but futbol will never love Cebu!