"FRIENDLY" AZKALS-HONGKONG MATCH, NOT FRIENDLY AT ALL
THE AZKALS-HONGKONG game was supposed to be a FRIENDLY MATCH. Lamentably, part of the Hongkong audience, showed the AZKALS AND THE PINOYS watching in the stands and on TVs utter disrespect. From the boos while the Philippine national anthem was played; to the dirty fingers directed versus Azkal players and Pinoy spectators in the Mongkuk Stadium; to the debris and garbage thrown against the said Azkal players and Pinoy spectators; to shouts of the Philippines as a SLAVE NATION. The said actions of Hongkong citizens didn't actually shame the Azkals, nor the Pinoys at the stands and at home, but it shamed the people of Hongkong itself, and also humanity itself. Such racist hooliganism simply showed the nadir such people have mired themselves into. That our Azkals players and Fellow Filipinos in Hongkong subjected to such maltreatment didn't pay the violence inflicted on them in kind, showed the panache and dignity we Filipinos have and are capable of, despite dire circumstances. Mahatma Gandhi said that real power resides not in meeting violence with violence, but in meeting violence with non-violence; and not because the non-violent is cowardly, but because the non-violent sees that it's the more ethical, more humane, more reason-based choice. It's an open secret that in Europe, FIFA (the global International Football Federation), and footbal players, coaches, teams even BOYCOTTED games when players/audience became victims of bigotry or racism. Acts of racism and bigotry have been EFFECTIVELY DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY RIGHT THEN AND THERE IN THE STADIUM, DURING THE GAME at least by way of IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF RACISM INSTIGATORS. Objectively, I found the organizers and officials of the FRIENDLY GAME wanting during the game. Albeit, noting that the pertinent Hongkong officials are now making an effort to investigate the matter is positively commendable. But the the Philippine government is definitely wanting in this regard. The least it could have done is to send an official letter re the matter to the government of Hongkong. Such matter may appear minor, but in truth it isn't. It's no secret how many Filipinos are maltreated abroad as OFWs or not. Thus, again, this Hongkong FRIENDLY incident is another link in the long chain of racially-rooted travails to which I think the present dispensation must STILL NEED TO EFFECTIVELY address and remedy. Please make no mistake: Mahatma Gandhi himself said that non-violence shouldn't be made a facade for cowardice. Again, the government inaction is much much wanting. Definitely, it's been passive, but not authentically non-violent in this case.
http://sports.inquirer.net/103391/racist-issue-mars-azkals-win-vs-hk
Philippine Dailly Inquirer
THE AZKALS-HONGKONG game was supposed to be a FRIENDLY MATCH. Lamentably, part of the Hongkong audience, showed the AZKALS AND THE PINOYS watching in the stands and on TVs utter disrespect. From the boos while the Philippine national anthem was played; to the dirty fingers directed versus Azkal players and Pinoy spectators in the Mongkuk Stadium; to the debris and garbage thrown against the said Azkal players and Pinoy spectators; to shouts of the Philippines as a SLAVE NATION. The said actions of Hongkong citizens didn't actually shame the Azkals, nor the Pinoys at the stands and at home, but it shamed the people of Hongkong itself, and also humanity itself. Such racist hooliganism simply showed the nadir such people have mired themselves into. That our Azkals players and Fellow Filipinos in Hongkong subjected to such maltreatment didn't pay the violence inflicted on them in kind, showed the panache and dignity we Filipinos have and are capable of, despite dire circumstances. Mahatma Gandhi said that real power resides not in meeting violence with violence, but in meeting violence with non-violence; and not because the non-violent is cowardly, but because the non-violent sees that it's the more ethical, more humane, more reason-based choice. It's an open secret that in Europe, FIFA (the global International Football Federation), and footbal players, coaches, teams even BOYCOTTED games when players/audience became victims of bigotry or racism. Acts of racism and bigotry have been EFFECTIVELY DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY RIGHT THEN AND THERE IN THE STADIUM, DURING THE GAME at least by way of IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF RACISM INSTIGATORS. Objectively, I found the organizers and officials of the FRIENDLY GAME wanting during the game. Albeit, noting that the pertinent Hongkong officials are now making an effort to investigate the matter is positively commendable. But the the Philippine government is definitely wanting in this regard. The least it could have done is to send an official letter re the matter to the government of Hongkong. Such matter may appear minor, but in truth it isn't. It's no secret how many Filipinos are maltreated abroad as OFWs or not. Thus, again, this Hongkong FRIENDLY incident is another link in the long chain of racially-rooted travails to which I think the present dispensation must STILL NEED TO EFFECTIVELY address and remedy. Please make no mistake: Mahatma Gandhi himself said that non-violence shouldn't be made a facade for cowardice. Again, the government inaction is much much wanting. Definitely, it's been passive, but not authentically non-violent in this case.
http://sports.inquirer.net/103391/racist-issue-mars-azkals-win-vs-hk
Racist issue mars Azkals win vs HK
By Cedelf P. TupasPhilippine Dailly Inquirer
Azkals FILE PHOTO
HONG KONG—Friendly? Not so.
A scintillating victory by the
Philippines in what was supposed to be a friendly match against Hong
Kong took a controversial turn when the host country’s football
officials were forced to confront reports of racist abuse during the
match.
In what was easily
one of the finest performance by the Azkals away from home, Neil
Etheridge provided a quality performance between the posts, preserving
James Younghusband’s first half goal in a 1-0 victory Tuesday night that
was marred by an unruly home crowd at Mongkok Stadium here.
The South
China Morning Post reported on Wednesday that Hong Kong fans at the game
called their Filipino counterparts “slaves,” threw bottles at them and
booed the Philippine national anthem.
The hostile crowd grew increasingly frustrated with every impressive save by Etheridge in a torrid final 20 minutes.
But ugly
scenes marred the end of the match with the home crowd throwing debris
at the Azkals and the Filipino gallery, which were made up mostly of
women and children.
“This win is
even more meaningful for us because of the large number of Filipinos
working in Hong Kong,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami. “We dedicate this
victory to them.”
Hong Kong
Football Association spokesman Benny Chan said it will release an
official report to the public and Fifa after it completes its
investigation.
Philippine football officials said they were waiting for a report from their team before deciding whether to complain to Fifa.
The incident comes as Fifa decided last week to treat racist abuse more seriously by toughening up punishments.
Both teams
were using the match to prepare for more important battles ahead with
Hong Kong sharpening up for their Asian Cup Qualifying match in October
and the Philippines toughening for the AFC Challenge Cup next year.
But the match
was played at a fast pace with both teams pressing high, hoping to win
the ball early and in dangerous areas. The Azkals carved out chances on
the counter-attack and it was a swift move out from the backline that
led to Stephan Schrock making a cross that the Hong Kong backline failed
to clear.
Younghusband
towered over his defender and directed his header beyond the arms of
Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai for his eighth international goal.
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