So we got beaten in the second leg of the semifinals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup (AMEC) 2024 at the cavernous Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. As expected the hosts practically threw everything at us. Everytime time we build on the offense they always commit a foul to frustrate us. And the Japanese referee also played a key role in that questionable win. That initial goal was out but why didn’t he verify it and declare it as a goal right away? It could have changed the outcome of the game if that goal was not counted.
Imagine the embarrassment if the “lowly” Philippine side eliminated the two-time defending champion Thailand right in front of thousands of screaming fans at home? A Thai player guaranteed before the match that they will make the Philippines cry after getting embarrassed in Manila. But how they did it was beyond imagination and self-respect.
It took them 120 minutes plus to brush aside a pesky Pinoy side. And we almost came up with the win if Jarvey Gayoso had converted in the dying minutes of extra time. If Amani Aguinaldo had converted on the rebound then we could have probably won the game.
The Thais had the Japanese referee to thank for. The coup de grace was giving them just a “yellow” for entering the field while the game is still on. It was rare to see that those who won the game, behaved much worse than the poorest losers I have seen in the past. Thailand took it to another low. Congratulations, War Elephants!
But what made me even more disappointed, mad even, was how some members of the Thailand coaching staff behaved after the game. The amount of disrespect and abrasive behavior they showed to the Philippines is beyond crass and not befitting the supposed best team in the region. Again, the War Elephants played a good game, but they don’t deserve to win. On and off the pitch.
If there was a miracle in Manila, there was a robbery in Bangkok!
But we don’t need to go to Bangkok to see a disrespectful, crass and abrasive example of a behavior.
Not totally lost during the spectacular run of the Men’s team in the AMEC is the controversy surrounding the Philippine Women’s National Futsal Team or popularly called the Pinay5. The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) made a questionable move when it reportedly asked players to attend an ID camp right after Christmas when a camp was already scheduled by the coaching staff in the first week of January or a week before the 2025 AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers set in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. What gives? It was the holiday season when most of us are going home to their families and loved ones to enjoy the break, the Pinay5 is not an exception. It was either lack of common sense or empathy, but whatever it was they could have done much better.
The words used in the letter, a copy of which was sent to The Designated Kitman, were so strong that at first glance, they came off as threats. Like attendance is mandatory and it was implied that players who will not show up will be dismissed from the team.
Coach Vic Hermans, who practically built the team from scratch, was dismissed from Pinay5 and reassigned to the men’s team without any explanation and was fired, while he was out of the country. The fate of Danny Moran, who like Hermans is also responsible for assembling the team when practically no one gave a care about them, remains unknown although there are rumors that he too will suffer Hermans’ fate. One thing is for sure, the team is in shambles with four veteran players, including the captain, resigning from the team due to “lack of planning, unfair demands, and sudden leadership changes.” This also happened just months before the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup 2025 which the Philippines is set to host.
I get it that Pinay5 failed miserably in the last ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship, which we hosted. Losing, 7-0, against Thailand, 6-1 vs Vietnam and 2-1 against Indonesia. If the PFF was not happy with the result, they could have just axed Hermans right after the tournament, why wait until the Christmas season?
The next logical question is ano ba talaga plano, ha, PFF?
This development is nothing new considering what the PFF leadership has done in the past. They parted ways with former Azkals’ team manager Dan Palami. The Filipinas’ team manager Jeff Cheng was also unceremoniously booted out from the Women’s National Football Team. Except for the Men’s side, which is due to coach Albert Capellas and Freddy Gonzalez’s hard work on and off the pitch, nothing has been heard of the Filipinas as of late. From being invited to a friendly against South Korea, which has been a testament of the stature of our women’s team, nothing is being done to sustain the momentum we have generated since qualifying for the FIFA Women’s Cup last year. Heck, they are also the defending champion in the region.
Again, ano ba talaga plano PFF?
On a personal note, kumusta naman ang bagong day care sa Rizal?
Stay safe. Stay happy and Happy New Year, peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat
