NEIL ETHERIDGE FAILS ULTIMATE TEST OF FILIPINO CITIZENSHIP

I have always doubted the Filipino citizenship of Azkals' goalkeeper Neil Etheridge. But the president of the Philippine Football Federation swears that all the Fil-foreigners in the national football team are legitimate Filipinos. The good president stands firm in his claim that all the Fil-foreigners of Azkals are Philippine passport holders.
But recently, major newspapers carried the news that Neil Etheridge, Rob Gier, Simon and Chris Greatwich will not see action in Mongolia for the second match of the country in the AFC Challenge Cup. Etheride has a contract with Fulham which he wants to honor, effectively preventing him to play for the crucial match set March 15. Etheridge, third in Fulham's goalkeeper list, has just signed a two year contract with the club. I am simply stunned that the highly popular goalkeeper of the Azkals values his place in Fulham more than his place in the national team. Etheridge's decision, as well as the three other Fil-foreigners', proves that citizenship goes beyond the procurement of a passport. Ultimately, citizenship involves the heart and desire to put country above everything else.