Fr. Emeterio Barcelon, SJ
By Fr. Emeterio Barcelon, Sj
The World Cup in Russia is exciting not only because of unexpected results, but also because of the friendships that it generates. Iran beat the US while Mexico beat the defending champions Germany. The great power houses as Brazil and Argentina were held to draws by their opponents, In football it is not only team work by the team that is needed but also individual virtuosity of strikers as well as virtuosity of goal keepers. It is an exciting game especially if you played it as a youth. Not only that, there is audience participation. The shouting and jumping gives the onlookers physical exercise that would not be possible in tennis or watching golf. In basketball there would be some audience participation but not as in football.
Many have noted that this would be a game that would be better for Filipinos for we do not have the height necessary in basketball. But football demands great stamina that we also do not have. But we can develop that. The running back and forth in a larger playground demands stamina that most Filipinos have not developed. Once I had a Filipino Chinese student in the Ateneo High School who was the hero of .his classmates. He was almost square. At that time we played football or soccer and run wherever the ball was. But then a Chinese scholastic who once played soccer for the Chinese National team taught us that control of the ball was critical. In receiving the ball it was necessary to stop the ball for control and only then can you kick the ball. It always fascinated me how professional players would pass the ball to each other to keep possession of the ball. Passing the ball is a great art in football. Unlike basketball scoring can be boring in football or soccer. The score usually does not reach five while in basketball the professionals almost always reach 100. The techniques of passing and control of the ball is an art in football. The scoring can be boring. But a goal can be exciting and exciting for it needs not only the technique of sending the ball to the goal but also how to outplay the goal keeper
In the last century there was a Filipino playing in Spain who was famous as a soccer player because in soccer, individual versatility and ability is important. We can hope that someone can rise to that fame in the near future. Soccer has been more popular in the recent past. But it will probably not be as popular as basketball in the country. First of all we have not developed the stamina needed for soccer but this can be overcome. The more probable reason is that there is a rainy season. Soccer is played in a field which is expensive to cover with good terrain for the ball to roll unlike the limited space in basketball. Otherwise you have to play it in the mud which some enthusiasts do. We are not in step with the world. We prefer basketball but most of the world prefers soccer. Hopefully we will develop the stamina for playing good soccer. The aficionados in soccer are sold solid to the game. For some reason the islands of Panay and Negros have developed a love for the game.
Fifa World Football has made a good contribution to world friendship and sportsmanship.