MANILA, Philippines – No competition exists between two of the most popular national teams, the soccer team Philippine Azkals and the rugby team Philippine Volcanoes.
“No, no, not at all,” Azkals striker Anton del Rosario was quoted as saying in an article posted on abs-cbnnews.com on Sept. 9. This is in response to the question whether the soccer and rugby teams are competing against each other for popularity.
Del Rosario said that does not think much about the public’s comments that the Volcanoes are more popular than his team these days.
“I'm not worried about it. People can think what they think. I mean we are all playing for the same country. People should not be comparing Philippine teams, I mean we are all playing for the same country, for the same reasons,” he stressed.
Both the Azkals and the Volcanoes currently enjoy tremendous popularity in the country due to winning in various competitions abroad.
After their unsuccessful bid at the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, the Azkals are currently gearing up for the Long Teng Cup slated from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4 in Taiwan, among other forthcoming games. The Volcanoes, on the other hand, has just come from a successful run at the recently concluded Asian 5 Nations Division 1 tournament in Korea. They are currently competing at the first leg of the Asian Men’s 7s Championships in Shanghai, China.
Due to these honors, both teams have been picked to endorse a number of popular local brands.
Del Rosario expressed that he has a “few friends in Volcanoes” and hoped that “they will keep it well and be successful.”
Del Rosario joined the Azkals in 2004 and plays center back.
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