Cohesion, chemistry key issues in Azkals training
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Azkals team manager Dan Palami is hoping that the two-month training period for the AFC Challenge Cup will give the Azkals enough time to develop much needed cohesion and chemistry with each other.
After ending a historic year with a 6-1 loss in a friendly against MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy, the Azkals will be participating in the Challenge Cup in Nepal this March. Head coach Michael Weiss is planning to begin training on January 2012, which will give the team two months of preparation.
But the Azkals once again face the problem of getting their Fil-foreign players, many of whom are committed to clubs in Europe.
"We have been unable to be as cohesive as we want to be because of the problem of having to get players from clubs," Palami said in an interview with ANC.
The Philippine team management is trying to solve this problem by holding a training camp in a place more accessible for Europe-based players, such as the Gulf region.
"We feel that getting out camps, and putting out camps where it is easily accessible for these players to go... will allow us to achieve that chemistry among the players," Palami said.
"Finally, when the game time arise, when the tournament proper starts, the cohesion that we have been so frustratingly seeking will now manifest itself on the pitch."
Palami said that Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Nonong Araneta has already sent out requests for possible training camp venues in the Gulf region.
Aside from cohesion and chemistry, Azkals coach Weiss said they will also address the players' physical fitness after observing that many of them were tired after 60 minutes of playing against the LA Galaxy.
The Azkals were drawn in a dangerous group in the Challenge Cup, as they face former champions in North Korea, Tajikistan and India.
"We'll be competing against three former champions, and it's imperative that we prepare hard for this and that we get the best players," Palami said.
He said that the Azkals will still have to rely on their Fil-foreign players to ensure that they will be competitive in the Challenge Cup, as the PFF has only recently begun its grassroots development program.
The Azkals will still have a training camp in the Philippines, along with a friendly match against a 3rd division Spanish club in January. They also plan to play a friendly against either Vietnam or Malaysia on February 29, which is international match date.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/12/07/11/cohesion-chemistry-key-issues-azkals-training
