By Manolo Iñigo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
DESPITE the global frenzy over the ongoing Soccer
World Cup in South Africa, some diehard sports followers are puzzled why football, or soccer, lacks popular appeal in the
Philippines unlike basketball which commands tremendous following.
As former POC president and retired Col. Julian Malonso said: “Football is a sport best suited for the Filipinos mainly because the ball is on the ground unlike basketball where the ball is on the air, hence giving the tall players undue advantage.â€
Football is not a tall man’s game, explained Malonso, who was president of the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines before assuming the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee in 1980. In fact, two of the world’s greatest football players ever—Pele of Brazil and Diego Maradona, the present coach of Argentina—are just about the same height as most
Filipinos.
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