Whipping boys no more. The Philippine football team won over Cambodia, 4-2, yesterday. Pinoy football fans are rejoicing. As my brother said in his report from Bacolod “The word “win” is rarely used in a sentence together with the “Philippine national football team” – the country having been Asia’s whipping boys.”

Diehard football fans of the Philippine team have christened themselves Azkals or asong kalye. As I said in an earlier post: What’s your football pedigree?: Philippine football, like the askal, doesn’t have pedigree and is impoverished for lack of support. The askal, however, is a survivor – a trait RP football needs.

The Sun.Star blog on the Southeast Asian Games has photos of fans wearing the Azkal colors and shirts. I’m crossing my fingers the team would make it to the semifinals.