We’re all Filipinos on pitch: ‘Azkals’ on nationality row
abu dhabi — Several players in the Philippines national team have strong European connections. Born to Filipino mothers, many of the players’ fathers are from European countries.
For instance, striker Javier Patino, who impressed in the team’s 1-0 defeat to South Korea in their Asian Cup opening match, was born in the Community of Madrid to a Spanish father. Michael Falkesgaard was born in Copenhagen to a Danish father. John-Patrick was born in Hesse to a German father and plays in second division of Bundesliga.
So does this give the ‘Azkals’, who play China on Friday, an unfair advantage? Falkesgaard blasted such viewpoints and said: “On the pitch, it’s about the game and not where you are from and the nationality you are born with. We are all Filipinos on the pitch. We will see who is going to win.”
Philippines coach Sven-Goran Eriksson echoed similar sentiments. “I don’t know how this works. As long they have Filipino passport and haven’t played for any other country, they can be available to play (for Philippines). Is it good or bad? I think it’s good,” he said.
Eriksson said football as a sport is growing in the Philippines and he liked the challenge of being a coach during this phase.
“We are not number 1 on the Fifa rankings. But football will grow in the Philippines. In next 10 years, football will be more important than now. Today, it’s more basketball than football. We have many good football players in the Philippines,” the former England coach said. Eriksson also has prior experience of managing Chinese clubs Guangzhou and Shanghai SIPG between 2013 and 2016. But the Swede said such stints will only offer him a slight advantage over China.
“Maybe there is a little advantage. Of course, I know the players. There are three players from Shanghai SIPG – goalkeeper Yan Junling, Shi Ke and Wu Lei. But today with the videos and scouts travelling around the world, there are no secrets. Chinese coach Marcello Lippi will know exactly how we play.”