Our little “barangay” has issued letters to certain teams as it prepares for a tournament which will unfold two months from now. The letters were actually call-ups to teams, requesting to make their players available for practice for the inter-barangay tournament.
Problem is, one of the letters was addressed to the coach. The other letter was addressed to the team manager. Why write to the coach of a particular team and not to the manager, like what they did to the other team? Why not extend the same respect or courtesy to all? There is probably nothing wrong with this. I heard that they want to save money and start the preparations for the inter-barangay tilt right now. Which is good actually. Very rightly so. After all, the competition is no joke and preparations are no laughing matter especially if you have people who make things difficult for the team just to go to the venue of the tournament. Unlike their current “apple of the eye” squad.
The “barangay” officials probably had their reasons. It could be a simple oversight, a miscommunication or The Designated Kit Man is just being overzealous over some things beyond his concerns.
I just hope it is not because they do not know a thing or two about respect.
The letters are not simply letters. They tell a lot. They tell how people value other people. They tell also how people easily forget things or even the history on how the “barangay” came to be what it is right now. The letters also represent how these officials now see and regard the people who are part of the team that they probably care less now. The people probably mean less to them now so it was better to write the coach. “‘Wag na natin sulatan ang team manager, ok na si coach.”
How could they easily forget?
It is because of these individuals who started to build and believed in the team or the ones who supported it when no one gave a damn about it and the supporters who stayed regardless whether the team is winning or losing—you just can’t simply forget those things just because it is no longer convenient or in demand.
If you can’t do this from the start, then what more can the ordinary residents of our little place expect when the basic and expected can’t even be given to all. It is not just fair but the correct and proper way to do.
Whatever we do, it should always start with something that is basic but important. Because the bottomline is so simple: Respect begets respect.
On a more positive note, the Philippine National Women’s Football Team capped their two-game friendlies in Costa Rica with a 2-1 loss against the host after drawing their first game 1-1. Despite the loss, head coach Alen Stajcic had this to say.
“It’s great experience to come to a beautiful country and football-loving culture like Costa Rica. It was tough for us on the pitch with 8-9 injuries and illness in the squad. We showed some flexibility in our squad with different combinations and players playing in different roles.”
The Filipinas took the lead after the first half, 1-0, at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Ayma in San Jose, but the Las Ticas came back with goals from Racquel Rodriguez and Gloriana Villabos in the final half to get the win. Carleigh Frilles gave the lead to the Philippines off an assist by Isabella Flanigan before the end of the first half.
“I believe we competed well against an experienced World Cup opponent. However, it’s clear we need to improve the technical part of our game. The team showed great heart, commitment and discipline which we are pleased with excellent experience overall playing a Latin American country for the first time ever (away from home) and proving once again that we are constantly working hard and improving for the upcoming World Cup,” Stajcic added.
In the first friendly, Katrina Guillou rifled home a last second strike in stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw for the Filipinas. The game showed once more the Filipinas’ resilience and great character fighting until the final minute.
Great job ladies and to the coaching staff as well.
Next event for the Filipinas will be the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 draw on October 23, 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand.
Heard also that a major announcement will be made soon regarding the Philippine Azkals. Hopefully, it will address not only the preparations for the forthcoming Mitsubishi Cup, but also the direction that the team is set to take in the coming years.
I know I’ve been saying all these things over and over again. But ever the eternal optimist when it comes to my favorite team, I hope this one is really true and will happen soon.
Not just to calm the nerves of the long suffering Azkals fans, but more importantly, to shut down those who have been bashing the team for several months now, the know-it-alls and the so-called fair-weather fans.
Please watch the 3PTS-Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports this Sunday, October 16, 2022, 2-3 p.m. at DZME 1530 kHz and the station’s FB page with The Designated Kit Man, Dennis Principe and Rommel Miranda. Guests include Rafael Renzo Cahilig and Christine Erine Alejandro of the Powerlifting Association of the Philippines; downhill skateboarder Tom Romualdez; and basketball coach and trainer Erick Butler.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat