| Villalva: Depriving the Negrense football fan |
|
|
|
| Friday, 29 February 2008 | |||||||||||||||
 By Henry C. Villalva Offside BACOLOD CITY (SunStar) - There is no doubt whatsoever that the average Negros football fan feels bad about reports that the 2008 Asian Challenge Cup Group 2 Qualifiers slated May 11-18 and earlier announced to be held here in Bacolod City at the Panaad stadium will be held instead in Iloilo City at the Iloilo Sports Complex. We are not privy to what transpired between the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and the Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA), the two football bodies that would have facilitated the smooth preparation and staging here of the said event. One thing is however apparent: the clash of egos or the refusal of both sides to sacrifice a certain amount of pride for the sake of the sport has deprived the Negrense fan of the opportunity to witness another spectacle at Panaad featuring the national teams of Brunei, Bhutan, Tajikistan and the RP team this time mentored by our very own Norman Fegidero, Jr. That Panaad is the best football venue in the country, the only venue that passed the criteria of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) when its representatives came to inspect possible venues for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games and the 2006 ASEAN Football Championship qualifiers is already known. But as we've said here we don't know what's exactly between the PFF and NOFA. We can't comment on anything we are not privy to and we refuse to dwell on speculations. Having talked to Fegidero about his intentions for the national side and having known the guy for a long time as an outstanding RP team striker, we expect him to make some necessary changes for the good of the RP sqauad. Watching the national team being mentored by Fegidero is one thing Negrenses will definitely miss especially if the inclusion of several Negrense standouts in the final lineup will push through. At the same time, the RP team will miss the hordes of Negrense fans filling the Panaad grandstand and rooting avidly for the nationals just like during the 2005 SEAGames and the 2006 ASEAN Football Championship qualifiers. For our part, we wish well the Negros booters Archie Bayquin, Arnie Pasnabo, Floriano Pacilan and Michael Casas of USLS as well as Robert Ca¤edo, Joel Ballo-allo, Joeven Bedic and Lemuel Unabia of WNU who will be joining the first RP team training camp in Manila starting March 3 to be conducted by Fegidero. And to Coach Nonoy, we say: Give it your best. You deserve the post. The RP team needs you and we'll always be here for you!
soccer
said:
|
|||||||||||||||
| yeah..i agree..though its quite a waste for opportunities for Ilongos tow atch the Group of which RP team is playing. Better be the pride of BAcolod in hosting that event, since they have the standard to be played at Pana-ad... |
pinoygalactico
said:
| iloilo sports complex probably wouldnt compare to the standard panaad has, specially for having been the top venue for the past matches that our national team has played. but then again i dont think ilonggo fans wouldnt miss this international spectacle in their homesoil. Iloilo for all we know is a rather quiet football crazy province just like negros. fans all throughout the country including myself and my friends will definitely be there just like last time when the ASEAN championship was held in panaad. its my home province as well so its going to be so much fun. Seeyou all there big RP football fan and supporters alike, there's no greater feeling that you have extended your support as compared to being there in the flesh. |
dominique
said:
| i hate this all! please! in teh name of football.. kakahiya na! one for football! why not make a little more effort... dito na sa Bacolod. pangit nag site sa Iloilo... kakahiya sa ibang teams... pitch pa lang, di na maganda condition,.... please naman oh! |
makintosh
said:
| I'm n0t a football player but i'm a huge fan of this sp0rt... saNa mas sup0rtahan ng g0v't natin t0h c0mpared to basketball... Mas malaki ang chance natin sa football... |
runi
said:
| tingnan nyo mabuti pa yung cebu marami na kong narinig sa kanilang football association na magpapaganda dito para sa grassroots nila, dito sa bacolod wala akong nakita o nabasa dito sa website. sana magkakaroon man nang football festivities kagaya ng cebu. sana lang tayo nang sana pero wala naman makikinig na mga officials, budlay sige hambal waay gapamati! |
runi
said:
| sayang nga, inuna talaga nila yung sarili nila, puro pulitika! kahit anong sabihin nang mga taga negros pipi't bingi lang yan sila. nasa bakuran na mismo ni cojuancgo, ibibigay pa sa iba, sayang talaga, parang wala talagang pakialam sa sariling bayan. huh! de @#*^!!ta sayang talaga sayang!!! |
