The Philippines shocked the football world with their first ever semi-finals appearance in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup. Without a stadium that passed AFF standards, the country was deemed unable to host the home leg. Then Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Jose Mari Martinez decided to play the home leg at Indonesia instead of settling for a neutral venue because he didn’t want to deprive the team of playing in a full stadium―and of course the potential revenue the PFF could have from their share of the gate receipts.

National sports associations meant to help our national teams bask in the spotlight, fail. Instead of the teams, instead of the teams, that end up hogging the airwaves. Controversies and leadership disputes abound in Philippine sports. In basketball, the now-defunct Basketball Association of the Philippines drew flak for sending weak teams composed of amateur players to international sporting events. A leadership power struggle led to the country’s suspension from international events sanctioned by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). In swimming, Mark Joseph, the controversial head of the Philippine Aquatic Sports Association, deliberately scheduled important competitions on the day of the potentially world-record breaking Peace and Unity Swim. While the influential squabble and jockey for power, the effects of their supposed leadership trickle down like acid. As a result, spin-off organizations have emerged: distinct in name, but similar in management—ineffective.

It took a businessman, Manny Pangilinan, to whip the beleaguered basketball association back into shape. Now, after the surprising performance of the Azkals, the man with the Midas touch has thrown his support for the football team—this, after another leadership dispute within the PFF ended when the International Football Association (FIFA) recognized Mariano Araneta as president.

Many other sports suffer from the government’s non-prioritization and lack of funding. The country’s grassroots program is non-existent, a factor which can spell the difference between an Olympic gold and disqualification from the quadrennial event. Countries like the US and China reap medal after medal, because promising youth are often trained at an early age and given government support. Sports infrastructure has been neglected and yet we wonder why the home leg of the Suzuki Cup couldn’t have taken place on our soil. What we put into something is what we get out of it, after all.

The prevailing opinion seems to be that sports aren’t all that important, but it shouldn’t suffer by taking a back seat. The value of sports is intangible: in it we form and establish our national pride (think, Manny Pacquiao); our players learn the value of integrity and teamwork; and through it, ordinary citizens understand what it means to put one’s heart into one’s work.

The success of the Azkals proves the talent of the Filipino athlete given limited resources, and as such, offers greater promise if given proper support. Our sports leaders should sit up and take notice. With their leadership as it is, these associations are nothing more than empty acronyms and idle figureheads.