http://www.inquirer.net/sports/articles/Azkals-to-use-thermal-gear-in-Ulan-Bator.html
Azkals to use thermal gear in Ulan Bator
Cedelf P. Tupas
MANILA—The Philippine football team will use technologically advanced winter gear that will help the Azkals cope with the sub-zero conditions in the second leg of its AFC Challenge Cup duel with Mongolia in Ulan Bator.
Mizuno, official outfitter of the national team, is providing the Azkals with specially designed thermal gear similar to the ones being used by Japanese athletes in the Winter Olympics.
“We have been guaranteed by Mizuno that this gear will be enough for our players to cope with the cold in Mongolia,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta during the ceremonial turnover of the equipment at the PFF office yesterday.
Master Sports general manager Paolo Cagalingan, whose firm is the exclusive distributor of Mizuno, assured that the gear will keep the players warm.
“Without sounding technical, our Breathe Thermo fabric that the players will use self generates heat that our bodies generate during physical exertion,” said Cagalingan.
The temperature in Ulan Bator was at -10 yesterday, but Araneta expects it to be around -1 to zero degrees during the match on March 15.
“With our gear, I think we can do better in Mongolia than in Bacolod,” Araneta said, referring to the 2-0 first leg win.
Meanwhile, Angel Guiriado Aldeguer, a 6-foot-2 Spanish striker, has started training with the Azkals and could join the squad if the Azkals progress to Myanmar for the second round.
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