PFF's perennial dilemma: Where to host matches

IN Philippine football's recent resurgence, coaches Michael Weiss and Thomas Dooley pointed out one unique aspect that helped the team in its campaigns, especially abroad. There's always a group of Filipinos in the stands, no matter where they play.

The Azkals, having players from all over the world, is a product of the Filipino diaspora and is boosted by it. Europe, America, the middle-east, cold Mongolia or Nepal, you name it, they've played in it with a group of supporters in the stands. Heck, even in the hermit kingdom of North Korea, where Dear Leader holds sway there were Pinoy fans in the stands.

"It's amazing to see such love and support," Dooley once said of the phenomenon, which saw even some Pinoys serving home-cooked meals to the national team when they saw action in the Challenge Cup in the Maldives.

Yep, it is amazing. But what would be more amazing? To see the same love and support, at home.

Like a prophet in biblical times, the Azkals get more support when they're visiting, not at home. Exhibit A is the Suzuki Cup 2016, Exhibit B are the friendlies at home prior to the Suzuki Cup. Or, to be more specific, the friendlies at the Philippine Stadium prior the Suzuki Cup because calling them home matches would be a bit of a stretch. It's like the case of a student studying away from home, a dorm is where he or she returns to every night, but a home it is not.

“The passion is gone,” Stephan Schrock said in a recent interview of the lack of fans in the stands.

Some said it would have been better had the games been hosted by Bacolod, but in reality, there's only one venue for it. The Suzuki Cup requires two stadiums and practice facilities. Bacolod has Panaad and that's it. Cebu has the Cebu City Sports Center and that's that.

If you even have playoff and even All-Star matches of the PBA playing to a sparse crowd in this basketball-manic country, it's a far stretch to expect thousands to troop to faraway Bulacan for the home matches. (A salute to those who went there, especially the Ultras who exerted much effort for 90 minutes and some to make the team feel at home)

What's the solution? Build another stadium in Cebu or in Bacolod for starters but barring that, a rain dance, a séance or praying Digong changes his mind over Macoy's burial is as good as any.

Home is where the heart is but in Philippine football, where does the heart live?