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Watched the football game live! Philippines vs. Indonesia – Suzuki Cup

December 16, 2010

We watched the game live at the Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta! And what an experience! It was my 2nd time to watch a football game in that stadium, and the first time we said we should see a game when the Indonesian team is playing – just for the experience! (They take football very seriously here – it’s like an Ateneo La Salle game twentyfold – or maybe fiftyfold!) At that time, we were not  thinking about the Philippines getting into the Semi-finals of the Suzuki Cup yet. Little did we know that they would and our first time to watch a game with Indonesia is against the Philippines!

Azkals vs Merah Putih
That’s me in my “Gising Pilipinas” shirt in a sea of red and white! The entire stadium was packed to the rafters with around 75,000 Indonesians!
Azkals vs Merah Putih

Azkals warming up before the game

We only got our tickets today, by the generosity of some friends in Nike and the Philippine Team, who sadly got only a very small allocation. Isn’t it strange considering it was supposed to be our “HOME” game? We couldn’t even buy tickets if we wanted to because they said it was sold out after the first day. Hmmmm…. So we got what we could, and our tiny contingent was chopped to pieces. 4 people here, 3 people there… But we brought our flags, and raised them when we could. Funny though was that to my knowledge, only 3 of us wore our Pilipinas shirts!! I really was scared at first because I got many TAKE CARE warnings from friends who have lived here before. Thankfully, when we got to the stadium everything was peaceful. People were nice and polite to us; and were always ready to return our smiles. We came in the spirit of fun and excitement and that’s what we got in return.

Azkals vs Merah Putih
The Press
Azkals vs Merah Putih
The Guards

Watching the team play really reminded me of my Ateneo days, since the colors are Blue and White. And yes the nearest thing I’ve experienced to this are the very spirited Ateneo vs. La Salle games. The only thing is there are NO Ateneans to cheer for their team and there are 75,000 La Sallians… in RED! LOL! Oh and the guards outside have sticks.

Azkals vs Merah Putih
The Merah Putih (Red and White) Fans in all their glory

This is but a fraction of what it must feel in the FIFA World Cup, but it was awesome! The air was charged with excitement. Far from the stadium you can already hear the battle cries – the Merah Putih fans were whipping themselves into a frenzy!

Azkals vs Merah Putih

Proudly bearing the Philippine flag. We had a massive one too, which we held up during our National Anthem.

Azkals vs Merah Putih

I wonder how they pick the kids for these games? Do they bring em to the friendlies… or do they choose in the host country?

Azkals vs Merah Putih

Photo op before the game. (Etheridge towers in the middle in white!)

Azkals vs Merah Putih

By the way I love that our coaching team are in suits (though they must be dying in the heat!) because they look so dashing and so professional! Especially Head Coach McMenemy.

Azkals vs Merah Putih
Notice the “moat” between the audience and the field?

For some reason every time the ball was with James Younghusband, the crowd would boo… I wonder why?? (Is that guy grabbing his shirt? Just curious.)

Azkals vs Merah Putih
Azkals vs Merah Putih
In action!
Azkas vs Merah Putih
The only problem I was the smoke! At one point the stadium was enveloped a hazy cloud of white.

Aside from many people smoking in the Stadium, (Almost everyone smokes here in Indonesia) when they scored the only goal of the match, the crowd started unleashing fireworks into the air and flares! It’s not healthy for the football players as well… when they are running so much their body needs fresh air, not smoke!

Oh and though I enjoyed the game and I just feel so lucky that I was able to watch it live, I felt sad that the “home” game wasn’t ours at all. The Philippine team should have felt our all out support in at least one game in the Semis! I loved seeing the love and support of the Indonesian fans to the Merah Putih – it was overwhelming and I am sure helped boost the spirit of their players. If only we  could have given them that same support in the Philippines – or in Singapore at least where there would have been many Filipinos watching. But Martinez took that away from us when he gave up our right to have our home game in a neutral country.

SO did you get 50% of the ticket sales as promised by deposed PFF President Martinez??? This was his sole reason for having our “home” game in Indonesia instead of Singapore right?!? According to this article, all we got  were free airfare and accommodations for the team. Way to go. I hope the article is wrong, but because of Martinez’ decision, there were barely 50 Filipinos scattered in that Stadium, and some of them even too scared to wear our colors in fear of a riot. And we almost didn’t get tickets to our own game! We don’t even know if we can get any for Sunday. Sad indeed =(

Time to think happy thoughts since I’m way past my bed time. I wasn’t sad that we lost 1:0 because the team fought the good fight and held their own. Good job Azkals! Considering Indonesia beat Malaysia 5:1 and Laos 6:0 (and these are football loving countries unlike us) they did excellently! Sunday even better I am sure!

I hope you enjoyed the pics I took! Forgive the quality since I don’t have one of those super zoom lenses that the sports photogs have! =) Tomorrow I’ll try to post some videos too!

Totally excited that we’ve been invited to a luncheon with the Philippine football team tomorrow! I’ll get more up-close pics of the Azkals. Stay tuned! =)

  • Philippine Team wins! Biggest shock EVER in the history of the Suzuki cup!
  • Video highlights of the Philippines’ upset over Vietnam
  • Philippines’ “Home” game to be played in Indonesia – Suzuki Cup
  • Football Hotties – Philippine Edition
  • Read about our frustrating experience getting tickets for the Semi-finals here

18 Comments · What's Happening

Comments

  1. Dave says

    December 16, 2010 at 8:19 PM

    So we lost game 1 huh… 🙁 hopefully that doesn’t damped the Azkal Spirit!

    Reply
  2. Rosey says

    December 17, 2010 at 12:59 AM

    Aya, Head COACH, not COUCH. hehe. Nice blog! Can’t wait for the videos! 😀 Today’s your lunch with them, right? Tell Christoff I said hi! 😀

    Reply
    • thediplomaticwife says

      December 17, 2010 at 3:26 AM

      Thanks Rosey! What can I say I was doing it at 3 in the morning! Still tired but gotta prepare na for lunch! Thanks! Feel free to repost!

      Reply
  3. Doubleside says

    December 19, 2010 at 4:11 PM

    Well, today Indonesia won again.

    Reply
    • thediplomaticwife says

      December 20, 2010 at 6:20 AM

      Congratulations on your team winning! We cannot say we are disappointed because we are SO PROUD of our team! We Filipinos are not a football country like Indonesia, but the Azkals showed they could hold their own. EVEN if they are a young team! They did even better than Malaysia who lost 5:1 to Indonesia and Laos who lost 6:0. AMAZING defense by the team and goal-keeping by Neil Etheridge!!! You’re Uruguayan did good! 🙂 We should learn from Indonesia and naturalize our own! A spaniard perhaps? ;P

      Reply
  4. Trinie says

    December 20, 2010 at 2:32 AM

    Your blog’s amaziiing. And…i’m so jealous ’cause you got to watch game 1 live 🙁 Glad you wore your Philippine shirt proudly among the sea of Indons! Cheers!

    Reply
    • thediplomaticwife says

      December 20, 2010 at 6:33 AM

      Thank you so much! We were very lucky indeed that we got to watch both games live. And we are lucky that we didn’t get to experience what our fellow Filipinos experienced during that first game – which led to many of them opting to watch the 2nd game on TV. They were thrown water bottles from the bleachers and had to leave the first game before half-time because they feared for their safety. 🙁

      Reply
      • Trinie says

        December 20, 2010 at 1:08 PM

        Yeah, on TV the crowd looked very much into the game! Sayang, more Pinoys should’ve watched! 🙂

        And to @Nannie, sorry if I used “Indons!!” And you’re right…Gier’s smile is to die for!!

        Reply
        • thediplomaticwife says

          December 21, 2010 at 8:36 AM

          @Trinie, more pinoys DID want to watch the game unfortunately…http://wp.me/pRFRb-Yy

          @Nannie – just like we use Fils/Phils to shortcut Filipinos or Philippines I was doing a shortcut for Indonesians. I am sorry I have to do this sometimes because my wrists are hurting already as i have a wrist injury. It is not meant to offend. Thanks for your kind understanding.

          Reply
  5. Nannie says

    December 20, 2010 at 8:45 AM

    The Philippines did a great job! If your country taking care of football seriously, it would be good since in South East Asian the king of football refers to Thailand IMO. If football is well recognized all over South East Asian country then we have more qualified games 🙂
    Sorry for the inconvenience that you have experienced in GBK. The fans should be well mannered and polite and they should not bring fireworks or something that can be harmful to others especially to the players.
    Btw, Rob Gier’s smile is very cute 😉

    Ps:
    We’re Indonesians not Indons.
    Thanks for using Indonesians instead of Indons 🙂

    Reply
  6. hehe says

    December 27, 2010 at 6:04 PM

    hmm..

    you’re pretty. 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Lunch with The Azkals/Philippine Team « The Diplomatic Wife says:
    December 18, 2010 at 9:04 AM

    […] Watched the football game live! Philippines vs. Indonesia – Suzuki Cup […]

    Reply
  2. The irony of it all – Indonesians in Malaysia concerned about not getting tickets « The Diplomatic Wife says:
    December 21, 2010 at 8:06 AM

    […] understand how this situation would happen during and AWAY game. But for the HOME game (which the deposed President Martinez unwisely gave up)??? It was really the wrong move. What on […]

    Reply
  3. Tomorrow…. « The Diplomatic Wife says:
    December 21, 2010 at 10:08 AM

    […] Today I’m going to rest. I am exhausted from all the excitement and my brain doesn’t wanna work. And I am slightly sad too – it’s the natural crash after such a wonderful high of the Philippine vs Indonesia Suzuki Cup Semi-finals. […]

    Reply
  4. Philippine Team wins! Biggest shock EVER in the history of the Suzuki cup! « The Diplomatic Wife says:
    December 21, 2010 at 3:42 PM

    […] Watched the football game live! Philippines vs. Indonesia – Suzuki Cup « The Diplomatic … on December 16, 2010 at 7:54 […]

    Reply
  5. Pinoys send-off Azkals! Philippines vs Indonesia 2nd Leg Suzuki Cup 2010 « The Diplomatic Wife says:
    December 28, 2010 at 5:33 PM

    […] because we wanted to convoy with the team or go with the other supporters so that we weren’t an island in a sea of red like the first game! Go Philippines! Go […]

    Reply
  6. Philippine Footy/Azkals ✪ A once in a lifetime experience – Part I « The Diplomatic Wife says:
    February 9, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    […] to cheer (albeit not as strong as the Indonesians) and hold our flags up high with no fear! (unlike last time) Raising up our flags […]

    Reply
  7. OMG. Neil Etheridge = smoking hot new Folded & Hung Endorser | The Diplomatic Wife says:
    November 21, 2013 at 5:47 PM

    […] that habit during the Suzuki Cup where I watched him live here in Jakarta twice! See pics here: Leg 1, Leg 2 A and Leg 2 B.) but this is definitely more […]

    Reply

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Hello! I’m Ayessa, trailing spouse to a diplomat, mama to DiploBaby and DiploDog and founder of Declutter MNL. I love talking about how to achieve a minimaluxe lifestyle one step at a time.

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