JEDDAH: Long before the Philippines football team Azkals outbreaks has captivated the fanatics in the entire archipelago sometime in 2010, the soccer football craze was predominantly existing in some parts of the country.

Soccer is not a popular sport in the Philippines as it is among the neighbors in Southeast Asia. However, this game has a long history in the Philippines since 1895 when it was first introduced in the country by Englishmen. Additionally, when Paulino Alcántara became the first Filipino and Asian player to play for a European club who made his debut as a striker in Barcelona at the age of 15. Also, some Filipinos who studied abroad had taught their friends a little bit about this game when they returned home.

Moreover, some Arabs have popularized the world’s widely held game when they came to the southern part of the archipelago dating back in 1950’s. This game has rapidly attracted many curious yet enthusiastic young men who are also fond of interacting with foreign visitors.

“It was fun those days seeing kids mingling with Arab teachers,” says Haron Macairing a soccer veteran. It cannot be ignored, it seems it has some sort of irresistible detachment with so much affection in that game, he stressed.

“I cannot think of any other soccer fanatic that can beat my fellow Maranao,”. Haron said. The Maranaos of mainland Mindanao Island love this sport so affectionately. In fact, there exists a popular soccer club the ‘Matampay United (Mat. Utd.)’ yet it is considered as unknown due to scarcity of financial and management supports. Though the exuberance, willingness, involvement and physical activeness of Mat.Utd. members present, yet they cannot take the club up to the national standard.

Mat.Utd. has evolved into three teams in a span of over 40 years. It was originally known as ‘Lemon Brothers’ then changed to ‘D Survivors.’ Mat.Utd. is well known in most provinces of Mindanao specifically in the cities of Marawi, Iligan, Cotabato, and Cagayan de Oro.

“We have around one-hundred active players both in the Philippines and abroad,” says Usamah Sultan the team manager. “Apart from the Philippines we also have teams in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which are very active in competing and playing with both local and other foreigners,” Usamah added. “It is so surreal experience because we are not only keeping ourselves physically fit but, we also make new friends which is very progressive improvement for all of us,” he equipped.