The who and the why

Covering the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup has been extremely gratifying. Well, aside from the traveling to different places, it’s the new experiences and making friends. But I have to admit that what really caught me is seeing kids from all over the country trying to live a dream. And that’s to represent their hometown and the national team. However, in their minds, it’s a dream that may never come to pass considering the predilection for Fil-foreigners by the national team.

And so, the press about them is something meaningful for them.

I realized that when I received messages from the players or the local fans themselves. Even a short story about a teammate is huge for them.

Not every one of them travels comfortably. Many of these kids come from small towns and not-so well off families. They are used to making do with budgets like a hundred fifty pesos for meals for the entire day. Now think about that. Whether you live in Manila or Bacolod that is nowhere near enough. Maybe for one meal but not three. The hotel where we may stay may not be the best but it is certainly much better than sleeping in a cheap motel where the sheets smell of a recent shagging.

Not all the provincial coaches or football associations are well off. And it’s even more astonishing that their coaches or managers pay for their lads. Almost every coach I have spoken to all say the same thing – they do this for the love of their game, to help their communities, and to teach their kids values and to stay away from drugs and other vices.

They play for themselves, for a dream, and for a country. That's true home grown pride.

Yesterday, many of them hung out at my hotel room. They were eager to read what is bring written whether on the printed page or in my blog. They wanted to know things about the national team, the tournament, traveling and writing, and so much more. If it wasn’t match day the following day then I wouldn’t mind them hanging out til late but nevertheless, it was enjoyable.

In trying to get the stories about the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup out, it’s difficult because you have to consider many factors. You have to compete against the bigger sports stories of the day. You have people who are of no help to you and give you all sorts of excuses why they don’t run them. And there’s the ever-present question of, “who’s there?”

Quite simply, this is why I write. To put the “who” in there.