Editorial: Why can't we just get along and be on the same page?

Photo credits: The Philippine Football Federation

With barely a month left before the 32nd Southeast Asian Games that will be held in Cambodia, the Philippines U-22 squad began under newly-appointed head coach and former Azkals team captain Rob Gier, however, other than managing the U-22 squad, he's in for more headaches possibly even beyond the upcoming tournament.

It is almost a known fact already that for our national squad, regardless if it's the senior team or the age-groups squads, the maximum prep time they get is about a month before a tournament and, as always, our national teams produce mediocre results and that the blame would always be towards the prep time given to them.

But. ... In the case of this year's representative for the 32nd SEA Games, the Philippine contingent will be very well represented by the Azkals Development Team who's been together since the start of the 2022-23 PFL Season. With this being said, we can no longer use the excuse "Kinulang sa preparation".

And that's why these posts above this next part really baffles me. How come we can still say these things despite having a program that is already in place to prepare the young ones for bigger competitions? Is it because of a new coach that just arrived a month before the SEA Games?

Let it be known that Rob Gier made his intentions clear around last year that he wants to go back to the country and guide the young ones to a brighter future. This is coming from a former national team captain who went on to earn his badges overseas to give back to the country.

However, the problem here is not with Gier nor with the complaints of the other coaches whom we believe are supposed to be part of the coaching staff for the upcoming SEA Games. There must've been a disconnect between the U-22 squad and the PFF Technical Department, specifically, under the national team management.

In my opinion, those who are complaining about the lack of preparation under the tutelage of Rob Gier isn't the ones at fault. They should've been the key to bridge that connection with the ADT whose been together since the start of the 2022-23 PFL season knowing that Gier only has more than two weeks to assess the team and implement his strategy.

It is possible that Gier picked his coaching staff for the SEA Games, it is also possible that it was handpicked for him by the PFF Technical Department. Either way, those coaches who helped along the way to build a solid team with the ADT should be part of the squad heading to Cambodia.

But don't get me wrong, I also question the intentions behind the statements made by coach Villarino and Muescan. As what we've already pointed out, the ADT has been together since the start of the 2022-23 PFL season which was back in April of 2022. That's more than a year of testing and selection for the best players to field for the SEA games which will be happening this year.

If that's not a lengthy preparation for our Young Azkals, then what is? Yes, there's a change in the chain of command, but that doesn't change the fact that these players have been around for more than a year and scouting report suggest, those who really stepped up deserves a spot in the final 23-man squad.

And to think, the comments were made by those who were not even part of the Azkals Development Team coaching staff as of the current PFL season. We haven't even heard anything from ADT's head coach Jovanie Villagracia. If there's anyone who's comment would be valid and well-understood, it's his comments because of him being at the helm for more than a year with the ADT.

We're at a point where the Philippines are in a comfortable position to earn ourselves medals in SEA games football for both men's and women's team. We no longer need these kind of negativities around the team, let alone for a squad or a program that has been self-destructing for more than three years now.

The 32nd SEA Games is an avenue for the men's team to salvage its reputation and tell everyone that we're still around and we can fix the mess that we are in for a few years now. It's the tournament where they could say that let us just do our job in making the country proud and bring home a medal for once.

Why can't we just all get along, live a life where everyone works for a common goal instead of putting each other's personal interest ahead of everything else? WHY ... CAN'T WE JUST ... GET ALONG?

Disclaimer: The views and opinions of this writer does not reflect the views and opinions of the organization, its writers and contributors.