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The untold story of the Azkals
By Al S. Mendoza
WHEN one desires, it’s virtually done.
The Azkals had desired to make it. They made it.
First, the Azkals had their dream in their minds.
The AFC Challenge Cup can be won, they resolved.
And they succeeded.
Meaning, they believed they can hurdle the initial obstacles to get to the AFC tournament proper in 2012. How?
One, beat Mongolia in two games. They did.
They won Game 1 (2-0) and, although they dropped a 1-2 setback in Game 2, the Azkals advanced with an aggregate score of 3 goals in two games against Mongolia’s 2 goals.
They struggled in wintry Mongolia in Game 2 after posting that 2-0 win in Bacolod over the same team in Game 1.
Two, hurdle the Stage 2 eliminations in Myanmar.
After drawing twice against Myanmar and Palestine, the Azkals faced what many believed as an uphill battle against Bangladesh.
Not to brag but before the Azkals faced Bangladesh, I predicted an Azkal victory.
I believed in their hearts, more than their determination to win.
You see, the Azkals should have beaten Myanmar in the round-robin series.
But a lucky goal in the dying seconds of the match saw Myanmar level the count at 1-1.
But then, although the Azkals could only eke out an 0-0 draw against Palestine, they were merely saving their best for last.
Against Bangladesh, the Azkals poured it on and, in the end, scored a crushing 3-0 win for the emphatic victory that threw the Filipino nation in euphoria.
The Azkals could only place second but that did not matter a bit.
The Top 2 after the elimination would advance in next year’s Elite 8 of the AFC Challenge cup.
Months from now, the Azkals would gun for the Asian crown – a first for Philippine football.
There are lessons learned here.
First, the Azkals are a hardy bunch of big dreamers. They are unknown, but they wanted to be known. To achieve that, they worked hard, persevered, tested their limits.
Second, they didn’t think of outside help. They did everything on their own – literally. Who would help them but their own selves?
Third, they had scant resources but they had the biggest of hearts. They didn’t have the wherewithal but their heart pounded everything into perfection.
After all, heart, more than anything else, is the foundation of almost every success.
I’ve been a sportswriter for so long, but it is only now that I’ve known of a team that had worked so aggressively, in their own quiet way, to gain recognition.
Sometimes, you don’t need the hoopla, the fanfare, to reach the spotlight.
That is the greatest story behind the Azkals’ success.
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