ON BEING A NATIONAL ATHLETE

I have always been so critical of the Azkals. I have always criticized the team for its poor performance in various international tournaments despite the financial resources of the team. And I have always been most vocal with the Azkals' off-the-pitch behavior. Certainly, being linked to rape and sexual harassment allegations are behavior not befitting national athletes.

Being a national athlete carries a big responsibility.. A national athlete is not only expected to do well in competitions. But a national athlete is also expected to be a role model for the youth.

So even in the most unguarded and vulnerable moments, a national athlete must be smart enough to know his or her limit. He or she must not do something that will damage his or her reputation forever. No amount of provocation must make a national athlete do something that he or she may regret later on.  No amount of money must make a national athlete compromise his or her values. A national athlete must be made of sterner stuff. A national athlete loses his or her identity and puts on the identity of the people that he or she represents. He or she must always and forever be thinking of representing the country the best possible way.