History of Football
The oldest history of this game can be traced back in China. The game was played extensively during the following period of the Han Dynasty ( 206 BCE – 220 CE). Tsu Chu literally means football
“…In 1913, when most of Asia probably had not even heard of the game, the Philippines set about creating football history when they organised the first ever Asian international match. Something never to be forgotten, Philippines played China in Manila with the hosts winning the game 2-1. That was the start of a game that would extend to the length and breadth of the Asian continent.
But a change of guard – the Spanish invaders left the islands to the Americans – resulted in the game losing its popularity in its birthplace. Football, instead of becoming the number one sport amongst Filipinos, ended up playing second fiddle to American sports….”
“…Meanwhile, SMC protege Juan Cutillas, after leaving the country in 1965, came back a balikbayan doctor in 1968 and started to crowd the football headlines. Armed with a Physical Training diploma from Madrid, a Spanish national coaching license, a doctorate in medicine and a lot of corporate influence, Cutillas literally made football “tsunamis.”
The Spanish doctor steered a spectacular win by a Philippine Selection over a visiting pro team, Dallas Tornadoes, 2-1, in 1968. The former Atletico Madrid midfielder coached the San Beda Red Lions and led them to three consecutive NCAA victories in as many seasons since 1968. From that year on, Cutillas has handled the national football team as coach and other sports as trainer. The only time he did not coach a national team was in ’73 and ’74 when he was relieved by Florentino Broce. Cutillas also led the SMC team to five championships in seven PFA tournament stagings.
In 1971, Cutillas, going through with tradition, selected four top-caliber Spanish players and one Chinese to beef up the Philippine Selection. The formula again worked as prestigious tournaments insisted on having them on the field.
Participating in such prestigious events as the Merdeka Invitationals, Pesta Sukan, Indonesia’s Anniversary Cup and the President Park tournament, the PH Selection managed to come up with rare feats in beating Thailand, Singapore and mighty Korea. Simply stated, it is PH football popularity resurrected.
That’s as far as football has gone in the PH. For when the Spaniards Lozano, Cuenca, Gutierrez and Roxas left the football scenario due to lack of funds, basketball went in for the kill as it grabbed the spotlight and the crowd. It’s turning professional in 1974 is but a nail in football’s coffin….”
Despite being the oldest national team in Asia, the PH did not take part in preliminaries for a FIFA World Cup until the 1998 tournament. Unfortunately, they have only been able to dream of qualification so far.
On July 3, 2011, the PH recorded their first ever victory in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, beating Sri Lanka 4-0 in the second leg of the first preliminary round. The PH Team Azkals advanced 5-1 on aggregate, drawing 1-1 in the first leg before winning at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Awesome Pinoy! ” The Askals “