Philippine Azkals: The Men who Started It All (Part 1)
All it took was a shocking, stunning, gut-wrenching, heart-stopping upset. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese at the My Ðính stadium in Hanoi, with millions who were watching on TV screens across South East Asia, could not believe their eyes as their team lost to whom they've called whipping boys, minnows, and weaklings. And those brave men whom they've labeled with came out in high spirits that they have finally overcome the odds. With that victory, the world had their utmost respect and appreciation. Who to thank for? The man who started it all, Dan Stephen Palami.
For many years the men we fondly call the Azkals had hoped for someone who would nurture them, support them and care for them, even if their fellow countrymen never dared to know them all. Someone who would be there all the way, through their ups and downs, through their joys and sorrows. Someone who will not be moved by the cruelties of the corrupt place that was Philippine sports. Someone who would sacrifice everything, even his own life, to lift up a team and a sport that has been in the dark for decades in the country. And finally, he came.
It was December of 2009. The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) was looking for that man who would take up the challenge to manage the national football team. That man must have a vision for football, and would be willing to help them against all odds. And they finally found Dan Palami, a Waray born and raised in Tacloban City. He is a businessman who was (then) the Chief Executive Officer of APT Global, a railways company that is involved with Manila's Light Rail Transit (LRT), and is the president of the Leyte Football Association (FA). He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) who graduated with a degree in Accountancy at the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas - Tacloban College, and a former law student of UP Diliman College of Law. A football player in his youthful days, he is in active involvement with football in the Eastern Visayas through his leadership in the Leyte FA.
The PFF approached Palami to offer the job to manage the nationals, as he was fresh from managing the Under-19 national team then (which was also humiliated by that time during a certain regional tournament months before). However, it came with a very crucial condition - he must manage everything by himself and he must isolate from the intrigues the PFF was dealing with, including the alleged corruption of then-president Jose Mari Martinez. Palami was left with a critical task to do, that is to manage the Azkals like his multi-million peso company. With all his options on the table, he was ready to take up the challenge.
Way back then, the Azkals were a team that never seem to win, and were a team that was constantly humiliated even by its regional neighbours. With that in mind, Palami thought of strengthening the national team lineup. The national team already had skipper Aly Borromeo, who was already a skillful and influential leader. It also had defender Anton del Rosario who keeps the defense handy, and winger Chieffy Caligdong and striker Ian Araneta who were consistent goalscorers. In addition, they also just had Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, (then-) Grays Athletic defender Robert Gier, (then-) FC Veendam midfielder Jason de Jong, and brothers Chris and Simon Greatwich, who are playing in college soccer teams in America. The team's player pool was deep in itself but Palami thought it wasn't enough.
British-born former Chelsea reserves Phil and James Younghusband took a hiatus in international football in 2007 due to a row with the PFF, allegedly for corrupt practices and lack of support, and went on to take careers as commercial models. Fortunately, Palami approach them and encouraged them to return to the national team, and since then, their hopes in making football known in the country were rekindled. Palami is also credited to recruiting other foreign-based Filipino footballers, such as Manny Ott and Mark Drinkuth of Germany, Gino Pavone of America, and Ray Jonsson of Iceland. He is also a key influence of recruiting and re-recruiting local players such as 16-year-old goalkeeper Christopher Camcam from Southridge School (now at Kaya FC), veteran goalkeeper Eduard Sacapaño of Philippine Army, Jerry Barbaso of Global FC, Roel Gener of the Philippine Army, Mark Ferrer of Philippine Air Force, Nestorio Margarse Jr. of Philippine Army, Peter Jaugan of Philippine Air Force, and striker David Basa of the University of Santo Tomas, among many others.
As the lineup grew, another challenge was brought up. They needed another coach. British Desmond Bulpin had to leave the team, and someone had to fill in his position. With help from Chris Greatwich, he acquired the coach they were looking for, Simon Alexander McMenemy.
Then 33 years of age, he had coached Worthing FC, a non-league football club based in south-east England. Born in Haywards Heath, a small town in the county of Sussex just near London's Gatwick airport, Macca, as fans and team-mates call him such, was deemed as an energetic figure, a man worthy to see greater heights, and someone who can lead his team on top. He begun coaching due to his frustrations with injuries that made him left professional football at an early age. But that frustration never let him down, as he was expected to properly mentor a national team.
Knowing that he faces a team that didn't seem to win and a sport that didn't seem to attract Filipino crowds, he had to do something extraordinary. Together with Dan Palami, he made sure the team was in high spirits, as fit as can be, and has the urge to succeed for the pride of the country.
What Palami did was unbelievable, even for sporting honchos. He is always with the team. He joins the team during their travels. He sits with them on the bench. He made sure there was food after every training and every match they played. He, together with Macca, brought up the team like they were his own employees, or better yet, as if they were his children.
More of this story on our Part 2.
KENNETH
