Philippine Azkals: The Men Who Started it All (Part 2)

This is Part 2 of a series of posts about the men behind the rise of the Azkals. Click here to go to Part 1.

At that very moment, Simon McMenemy, the coach of that team which would soon leave the dark age of Philippine football, stood on that ground that was a potential haven for emerging talent. Together with team manager Dan Palami, he wanted his team to be the best they are with.

Palami, that Waray manager who came to action for a struggling team, made huge sacrifices for his wards. He spent his own money to subsidize the air fares of  majority of the players. He sponsored the meals of the players before and after every training session and every game. He sits down with the team at the sidelines during every game. He sometimes provides emotional support for those who miss their loved ones overseas. As I said previously, he takes care of these men like they were his children. With him on their sides, their morale just accelerated like an F1 racing car.

McMenemy, on the other hand, took the first step to improve that team. He took notes on his observations on the Azkals' previous fixtures - what worked, what didn't seem to work and what can be improved. What made him comfortable being with the team was the attribute of Filipinos being able to converse in English well. Language barriers didn't seem to bother Macca as he is able to talk to everyone without bothering delays.

And looking into the lineup that Palami conceived, he soon found out that their wards are more promising than before. Being with the English style of football for almost two decades of his life, Macca discovered a backbone that is surprisingly an infusion of both English and Filipino heritage and experience: a goalkeeper who plays for Fulham in the Premiership (Neil Etheridge), a centre-back who played for Wimbledon, a former Football League team (Rob Gier), a centre-midfielder who played for various mid-tiered English teams (Chris Greatwich) and a striker who is a former reserve player for Chelsea in the Premiership (Phil Younghusband).

With that lineup that was considered a rare find in the British isles and the Philippine archipelago, Macca was sure that his team had a serious potential many of the average Filipinos had not dared to know.

And that was not all. He made sure that the leadership was at its top shape. Co-skippers Chieffy Caligdong and Aly Borromeo were Macca's source of his hopes to make everyone in his team steady and aim for goals. His desire for Chieffy was to make him known as a man who could break in the defense and aim a shot. His desire for Aly was to keep a clean sheet for the team, having a defense line that's steady along with that British-laced backbone.

And everything was set. No-one from that team, even for Palami and McMenemy, would expect that their victories will soon wake up a deeply slumbering footballing nation that was the Philippines.

At that unchartered territory that was the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup main tournament, at the time Palami and his wards sang Lupang Hinirang amidst a rampaging, hostile crowd, everyone was set on a calm, aiming for a good run. While their opponents' fans continuously scream, make faces and put their thumbs down to the Filipino booters, the manager and the coach was confident as they ever was, knowing it will never be an ordinary battle for the Azkals.

And that miracle happened in Hanoi.

The Vietnam team was slaugthered right at home, and those shots from Greatwich and Younghusband silenced its hostile fans. As the Pinoy booters hug, kiss and wave at each other in victory, all they knew was they have just beated a more favoured team, a team that fans from every part of South East Asia (including skeptical Filipinos) expected to win. But little that they know that they just awakened a nation long deprived of football (soccer to most of us then).

Dan and Simon could not believe their eyes that their team just beat the defending champions. As they hugged each other in happiness and pride, they knew everything they sacrificed paid off. Simon moved on to greet Vietnam's team coach for the spirit of fair play, but he was soon given an unwelcoming gesture.

It was epic to see the begging-off of the coach who was just humiliated by "weaklings" led by a young, energetic coach and managed by a visionary manager. Everyone at My Ðính was silenced, except the Philippine team, who cheered in high heavens for that miracle.

All thanks to the man.

When the year ended, people had found out Macca's coaching license expired a long time ago, forcing him to leave the team. But while Macca may have moved on to other places, he just left a legacy, a legacy that the world will forever remember. His hyper-defensive strategy just worked well in style. A stylish start of football renaissance in the Philippines would have not been possible without the young man who was just there to guide a very promising team. He now passed on that experience with the Filipino booters to the teams he is currently holding. It was indeed a great boost to his career.

While away in Philippine soil, Macca still communicates with his former wards, especially through social media. Looking at his Twitter page, he still mentions many of the Azkals and its managing staff to know what they are doing and how they are improving football in the nation. Seems he couldn't let go of the Pinoy that has also ingrained in him.

Now he is forever in their hearts and our hearts as well.

He was then replaced by a German, a towering prowess of Teutonic efficiency and discipline. Little by little this man would lead the team to even greater heights.


More on Part 3.
KENNETH