THE past two years have been a roller-coaster ride for the Philippine football.
From the grassroots to club scene to the national levels, results have been a mix of extremes.
Good thing the Filipino community is made of sterner stuff to weather all these challenges.
And for now, let us focus on the positives, especially that the next few months will have an unusually busy football calendar.
At the local front, the Central Visayas Football Association team is fighting for one of two slots to represent the Visayas in the PFF U15 National Championships.
The team avenged its defeat to Negros Occidental Football Association with a 3-2 away win in Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City last Saturday.
The impressive feat takes the CVFA boys tally to seven points following two wins, two defeats and one draw.
With the CVFA boys’ finally getting its bearings, they’re in a good position to make it to the finals.
Women’s football is also in for plenty of action for the remainder of the year.
But the excitement rises to fever pitch this week as the Philippine Women’s National Team plays its first match against Malaysia in the AFF Women’s Championship in Thailand.
Vying for Southeast Asian supremacy along with the Philippines in Group A are Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
The PWNT are looking good after blanking Macau 11-0 during a friendly last Saturday, and hopefully they carry this form and momentum in the regional tournament.
And while the PWNT footballers are busy with their national duties, club football at the local front goes into high gear with the Philippine Women’s League, which started last July 27.
Now on its third season, the PWL comprises 10 teams, most of which are based on Metro Manila.
The PWL hosts the best lady footballers in the country, but what even makes the league more impressive is that its schedule of matches have been calendared until the end of the year.
All these developments, plus the Azkals upcoming World Cup Qualifying campaign that starts next month and the SEA Games in November, bodes well for the beautiful game here.