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Posted 1 year ago #
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Azkals would’ve done Chua proud
The Philippine Azkals have certainly come a long way.
I did some research on them the other day and was surprised to find out that brothers Phil and James Younghusband, as well as some members of the present national team, started playing for the Philippine football squad six years ago in 2005 when the Southeast Asian Games was held here in the Philippines.
Interestingly, Phil Younghusband, who was then only 18 and was a reserve of the Chelsea team in the English Premier League, was “discovered” by a Pinoy youth who saw his name in a computer game.
The kid, who obviously had a passion for football, relayed his discovery to the Philippine Football Federation, headed at the time by Johnny Romualdez, who lost no time in conducting a background check on the Filipino-Briton.
* * *
The Younghusband brothers did not think twice about playing for the Philippine team when the offer was made.The Philippines was familiar territory to them, having made frequent trips to their mother’s homeland for holiday vacations.
The Younghusbands’ parents, Phil Sr., an Englishman and Susan, a Filipino, met here in Manila almost 30 years ago, but established base in England where the brothers were raised.
Both Younghusbands were reserves of the Chelsea team. The 5-foot-11 Phil, a striker, was expected to play the more important role.
James, 21, stands 6-1 and is a midfielder. The brothers were influenced by their father’s love of football. They joined the Chelsea program when they were very young.
The Younghusbands said they had no plans to stay here in the Philippines but were willing to play again in the next SEA Games.Most of the information I have written above were culled from a couple of articles written by scribe Nelson Beltran in November 2005 datelined Bacolod City, venue of the soccer competitions in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.
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“When Phil and James came here, the Philippines had not won a single game in the SEA Games for l0 years,” recalled Nelson, who was invited by the late Tony Chua to cover the soccer games in Bacolod.A former football player, Chua was then vice president of the Philippine Football Federation, although he was better known as PBA governor for George Chua’s Red Bull team.
The Younghusbands’ target, according to Nelson, was to win a medal. It didn’t matter what color. “They said any color would do.”
“But their wish was not granted, although we broke the 10-year losing streak. We won only one game—over Cambodia (4-2) in the 2005 SEA Games. Hardly anybody wanted to cover the football games at that time, but since Tony Chua was a good friend, I consented to go to Bacolod,” Nelson said.
It’s sad, he said, that his friend did not live to see the surge to glory of of football here in the Philippines.
“It was his first love. He really worked hard for that sport,” Nelson said.
As if I didn’t know. Even during the time when he was chair of the PBA in 2007-2008, Tony would seek sponsorship and donations from PBA clubs for his football team.
It was only his boss and his pal George Chua—then of Red Bull, now of Barako—who would respond.Like Tony, George was also a former football player. I don’t know how long he served as RP football’s team manager.
Their “till-death-do-us-part” friendship was actually formed in the football field and extended to the hardcourt.
Tony was still PBA governor for George Chua’s Barako Bull when he drowned in the raging floodwaters of typhoon Ondoy in 2009.
But wherever he is, I’m sure he must be very happy, for his dreams for the sport he loves have been fulfilled, far beyond his wildest imagination
http://www.inquirer.net/sports/articles/Azkals-wouldve-done-Chua-proud.html
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
P31 million needed for international, SEAG campaigns
MANILA, Philippines - Philippine football would need P31 million to fund its campaign for the whole year as they gear up for various international tournaments, including the ongoing AFC Challenge Cup, the World Cup eliminations and the Southeast Asian Games.
“I’ve talked with the PFF (Philippine Football Federation) officials and we would need P31 million to bankroll our team for this year’s campaign alone,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami during the Azkals visit to The STAR at its Port Area offices yesterday.
“It’s expensive but it’s worth it,” said Palami, whose team is in the thick of preparations for their second AFC Challenge Cup game against the Blue Wolves of Mongolia on March 5 in Ulan Bator.
Palami has also set his sights on the 26th Southeast Asian Games slated Nov. 11-25 in Jakarta, Indonesia where he and the Azkals hope to deliver the country its first ever medal in the biennial meet.
“We’ve discussed our chances in the SEA Games and we feel winning a medal is realizable,” said Palami.
Accompanying Palami to The STAR were PFF president Nonong Araneta and chairman Johnny Romualdez, Azkals team captain Aly Borromeo and mainstays Roel Gener, Nestor Margarse and Ricardo Bacite.
The Philippines, which opted not to field a team in the last two SEAG editions in Thailand and Laos, is eyeing its best finish in the SEAG since winding up fourth with a big win over powerhouse Malaysia in the 1991 Manila Games.
But the SEAG task will be tough since the Azkals could only retain six players from the same team that made it to the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup and the squad that beat Mongolia, 2-0, in the opener of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifier series in Bacolod two weeks ago based on the meet’s 23-years-old-and-under rule.
This means only goalie Neil Etheridge, who is playing for British club Fulham, Simon Greatwich and Jason de Jong are among the six who will get to see action in Jakarta.
But Araneta pointed out that they would fill in the void by holding a regional Under-23 meet this summer featuring the best and rising players in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
“With this tournament, we’ll get the chance to scout who really deserve to make it the team and I’m pretty confident we could form a strong team capable of meeting expectations,” said Araneta, whose PFF recently received P101 million financial support from Smart and Air21 in the next 10 years.
Romualdez, a former PFF president, was quick to say that the Azkals and the Filipino fans should temper their expectations because he knows the SEAG competition will be strong particularly from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
“As much as I want to be as optimistic I have to warn you that the opposition is going to be tougher,” said Romualdez.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=658199&publicationSubCategoryId=69
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
Palami confident of Azkals chances
MANILA, Philippines - National football team manager Dan Palami said yesterday he doubts if Mongolia will score against the Azkals in the rematch of their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifying home-and-away series in Ulan Bator on March 15.
“Our defense will take care of their offense,” said Palami during their visit to The STAR. “Our defense is intact and I expect their defense to open up because they’ll be attacking to try to score goals. I think our midfield will be able to control their offense.”
Palami said he’s confident that goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will be allowed by his English club Fulham to play in Mongolia. Etheridge, 21, was born in Enfield, a London borough, and traces his Filipino roots to the Dula clan of Tarlac. He joined the Chelsea football academy in 2003 with the Younghusband brothers, James and Phil, also Fil-British players. In 2006, Etheridge was enlisted by Fulham. Two years later, he made his debut with the Philippine team in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers.
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano Araneta Jr. said if Etheridge is permitted by Fulham to play only either in Mongolia or the Challenge Cup group stage in Bangladesh, he would suggest skipping the rematch in Ulan Bator.
The group stage competitions are set on March 20-31. If the Philippines overcomes Mongolia, it will advance to play Myanmar, Palestine and Bangladesh in Group A of the Challenge Cup. The top two finishers will move on to join six others, the top two placers in three other groups, in the eight-team Challenge Cup finals. Myanmar is the only country ranged against the Philippines from the qualifying stage that has a higher FIFA ranking. Myanmar is No. 149, the Philippines No. 152, Bangladesh No. 157 and Palestine No. 178.
If Etheridge is unable to play in Ulan Bator, his place will likely be taken over by reserve goalie Eduard Sacapano, a 30-year-old veteran from the Philippine Army.
Palami said only 18 players will travel to Mongolia. A spot in the roster is being held for Danish-born Jerry Lucena, a midfielder with the Danish Division I club AGF Aarhus.
If Lucena is issued his Philippine passport, he will join the Azkals in Ulan Bator, said Palami. Lucena, 30, was born in Esbjerg, Denmark, to a Filipino father and a Danish mother. He played for the Danish under-21 selection in 2001.
Palami said the full complement of 23 players will fly to Bangladesh if the Azkals make it to the group stage. A possible addition to the lineup for Bangladesh is Filipino-born William Espinosa of Laguna. The striker was raised and learned football in Germany where his surname was legally changed to Gueridon although his passport still carries Espinosa. He was one of four Azkals who scored in a recent practice match against a Korean team, reinforced by two Filipinos, from the Central Philippine University of Iloilo.
Azkals coach Michael Weiss confirmed in an e-mail to The Star that “we will stick with the team but will have vacant positions for tryouts.” Weiss said the Azkals start training in Baguio on Monday and are tentatively scheduled to fly to Mongolia on March 8.
Araneta said if Mongolia won’t provide a facility for practice, the Azkals might take a side trip to Japan to get used to winter conditions. “If we can’t train in Mongolia one week before the competition, then we’ll request Japan to assist us for the team to train and acclimatize to the cold weather,” he said.
Weiss said the immediate goal is for the Azkals to play in the Challenge Cup finals. “We’ll go as far as we can in the Challenge Cup,” he said. “I think we should be able to beat Mongolia and perhaps, finish in the best eight.”
The Philippine team will be reconfigured for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Palembang, Indonesia, in November because the age limit is 23. But while the Younghusbands, Aly Borromeo, Ian Araneta and Chieffy Caligdong won’t qualify, there are more than enough eligible players, including Etheridge, Jason de Jong, 20, Simon Greatwich, 21, Mark Drinkuth, 19, Mark Ferrer, 21, David Basa, 21, Manuel Ott, 18, Jerry Barbaso, 22, Gino Pavone, 22 and Christopher Camcam, 16.
Palami said unfortunately, Lucena and Espinosa are over the age limit for the SEA Games.
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=658198&publicationSubCategoryId=69
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
I like reading this News Section..:-)
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks nguwerng :)
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
Who will captain the Azkals in the SEA Games in November?
Etheridge or Greatwich Phl XI skipper
MANILA, Philippines – Fil-Britons Neil Etheridge and midfield Simon Greatwich appear to be front runners for the position of team skipper of Philippine Azkals team to the 26th Southeast Asian Games slated Nov. 11-25 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Current team skipper Aly Borromeo and manager Dan Palami felt either Etheridge or Greatwich, members of the RP squad that beat the Blue Wolves of Mongolia, 2-0, in their AFC Challenge Cup duel last Feb. 9, would fit the bill for the Jakarta-bound Azkals.
“They’re (Etheridge and Greatwich) both capable but we’ll see what happens when we already have the team,” said Palami during his visit to The STAR with some members of the Azkals and Philippine Football Federation officials Wednesday.
“I think Neil Etheridge would do but he’s not here often though,” said Borromeo.
“Simon Greatwich could too,” he added.
Palami, however, said the two players could be named co-captains of the Under-23 SEAG squad.
“That’s possible but we will wait for the team to be completed before we decide on it,” said Palami.
Among the current members of Azkals, only six are eligible to play since the SEA Games allows only players 23-years old and younger to see action in the biennial meet.
Aside from the 21-year-old Etheridge, who plays for Fulham in the English Premier League, and Greatwich, also 21, who is with the Hartwick Hawks in college, 20-year-old midfielder Jason de Jong, 21-year-old David Basa and Fil-Germans 19-year-old Mark Drinkuth and 18-year-old Manuel Ott are shoo-ins for the team.
The rest of the slots will be filled after the PFF stages a regional Under-23 tournament where the best players from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are expected to vie for berths.
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
More talent in Azkals’ player pool
Cedelf P. Tupas
First Posted 01:59:57 18/02/2011Filed Under: Football, Soccer, PFF, Azkals, Michael Falkesgaard, Patrick Reichelt, Manuel Ott, James Hall
MANILA---The Philippine football team has widened its player pool for the AFC Challenge Cup group stage qualifying with the inclusion of foreign-based players and those taken from the tryouts that German coach Hans Michael Weiss conducted last month.
Among the additions in the 48-player list that will be submitted by the Philippine Football Federation to the AFC are Filipino-Danish goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard, Filipino-Germans Patrick Reichelt and Manuel Ott and Filipino-Scottish James Hall.
Falkesgaard, 19, is a goalkeeper currently playing for Brondby in the Danish second division.
He has represented Denmark in the Under-19 and Under-20 levels, but Azkals team manager Dan Palami is still inviting the 6-foot-3 Falkesgaard to join the national team since the International Football Federation (Fifa) allows players to switch countries at any level.
Palami learned about Falkesgaard from Filipino-Danish players Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena, who are also expected to see action for the Azkals if they make it to the group stage qualifying in Bangladesh.
Reichelt, who stands 5-foot-10 and can play striker or winger, is attached with Energie Cottbus II in the German fourth division, while Hall signed a one-year deal with the English Premiere League club in 2007.
Hall, 21, has long been in the Azkals’ wish list but injuries and his commitment with Everton before prevented him from suiting up for the Azkals. He, along with younger brother Ryan, was in Bacolod to watch the Azkals beat Mongolia, 2-0.
The 18-year-old Ott, who plays for FC Ingolstad, started in the three games for the Azkals in the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying event in Vientiane, Laos last year.
Palami is still hoping that Filipino-German rightback Stephan Schrock, who plays for Greuther Furth, will be able to beef up the squad if it makes it to Bangladesh.
Posted 1 year ago # -
for got to post where i got the link http://www.inquirer.net/sports/articles/More-talent-in-Azkals-player-pool.html
Posted 1 year ago # -
16 year old Chris Camcam now has a competition. :)
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
how many of the team members are from the phil army??? si sir Yanti, sir Chieffy and Sir Eduard??? is that right meron pa po bang iba?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Chieffy is Air Force, so are the following:
Rey Palmes
Joebel Bermejo
Mark Ferrer
Yanti Barsales
Peter Jaugan
Ian AranetaArmy:
Nestorio Margarse
Roel Gener
Eduard Sacapaño - GKMaking football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
Azkals seeded into main draw in 2012
MANILA, Philippines - Owing to their fairytale stint in last year’s tournament that made them a hot property among sports fans, the Philippine Azkals have been seeded into the main draw of the 2012 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.
PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta told The STAR yesterday that the AFF placed the Phl Azkals as the No. 6 seed in Suzuki Cup hostilities next year in Thailand and Malaysia.
This means the Filipinos booters, previously among the region’s whipping boys in football but have since been on a resurgence, will no longer have to undergo the qualifying stages for the lower-ranked teams set in Myanmar, in order to play in the tournament proper.
The Philippines will join Southeast Asia’s top teams Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, defending champion Malaysia, and Singapore in 2012’s main competition .
“The AFF recognizes the capability of the Azkals and we’re happy that they seeded us for the first time in the Suzuki Cup. The efforts and hardwork of the team headed by Dan Palami are really paying off now,” Araneta said after the AFF Council meeting in Malaysia yesterday.
In 2010, the Azkals had to play against Laos, Timor Leste, and Cambodia in a round-robin qualifier, finishing runner-up to join winners Laos in the main draw against the seeded nations. The final tournament saw the Azkals’ rise to prominence, thanks to a 2-0 victory over Vietnam and draws with Singapore (1-1) and Myanmar (0-0) en route to a semifinal stint. The Pinoys eventually lost to Indonesia via 0-1 scores in the two-leg semis.
With Phl already in, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Laos and Cambodia are left to dispute the two remaining slots to next year’s tourney proper.
Meanwhile, Azkals Fil-Dutch mid-field Jason de Jong signed up with Sriwijaya FC in the Indonesian Super League but will remain committed to the Phl squad’s international campaigns like next month’s AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match with Mongolia.
Palami said this hookup with the Indon league will not stand the way of De Jong’s stint with the Azkals.
“Priority is still Azkals,” Palami said in a text message to The STAR yesterday. “(De Jong’s) Club contract also requires release of player when national team requires their services.”
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
hello agent ask lang po kung si dennis cagara ba ay member na ng team azkals
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes he is, but passport problems still to be solved.
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
Azkals hold training camp in Baguio and Japan
The Philippine Men’s National Football Team left for Baguio City yesterday to prepare for their upcoming AFC Challenge Cup away match with Mongolia on March 15. In an interview with national coach Hans Michael Weiss in Bacolod City, the German said that the cold weather conditions of the City of Pines is part of the strategy to acclimatize the team to the cold weather conditions of Ulan Bataar.
The Philippines could be missing the services of starting keeper Neil Etheridge and defender Rob Gier for the Mongolia leg. Etheridge’s English Premier League team, Fulham, is currently in 12th place of the 20-team league with a 6-win, 13-draw, 8-loss record. Gier in the meantime has his construction business that needs looking after. Weiss will promote two players from the 30-man national pool to replace the two Fil-Britons.
The training camp of the Azkals up north is sponsored by the Baguio Football Association and the Baguio Country Club.
The team will train there until February 26 before they fly to Japan for further training under the auspices of the Japan Football Association. The Filipinos will be staying at the J-Village, the national training facility in Fukushima. The J-Village is where the Blue Samurai, as Japan’s national team is known by, trained for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and their campaign in the last Asian Cup in which they won 1-0 over Australia.
The Philippine National Team flies to Mongolia on March 13.
http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2011/02/azkals-hold-training-camp-in-baguio-and.html
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago # -
New Additions Make Azkals Look Formidable
By Ron Galarpe
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 21 Feb 2011According to our passionate Azkal followers and researchers, there are about 33 identified half foreign bred Filipinos in the list of the Philippine Football Federation. Some of them are only in the minor league levels while others are blue-chip professionals.
Since the time the Azkals rose to prominence, Fil-foreign footbal players started knocking on the doors of the PFF hoping to represent the Philippine colors in the international football field.
As recent media releases showed, there are a few lucky Fil-foreigners who have been selected in the pool of players for the Azkals squad that will represent the Philippines in various international tournaments. Specifically consisting these new prospects are three Filipino-Danish footballers, three Filipino-Germans and one Filipino-Scottish.
Let us look at the various backgrounds of each player.
Dennis Cagara - is a 25-yr. old half-Filipino professional footballer from Denmark. Dennis is a 5-8 stag who played as a midfielder early in his career but has switched as a fullback as scouts saw his toughness on defense.
In the year 2002 at the age of 17, Dennis entered the Danish Super League with Brondby IF making him the youngest soccer player who ever played in the prestigious Danish football league.
Unlike most of the Azkals' Fil-foreigner prospects, Dennis has the distinction as the only half-Filipino prospect who ever played in the European elite Bondesliga of Germany for Hertha BSC. Bondesliga is regarded as one of the toughest professional football league in Europe along side England’s English Premier League and Spain’s La Liga.
With Cagara’s soccer career that spans 10 years from the early 2000 being a prominent youth national team mainstay for Denmark up to the current mostly with the Danish Super Liga should make Cagara as one of the most seasoned prospect for the Philippine Azkals.
Scouts described Dennis as an accomplished defender and is technically sound on the offensive set.
There is no doubt that Dennis Cagara can bring a lot of experience for the youthful Filipino Azkals.
Jerry Lucena – is another Danish-Filipino that is being eyed to reinforce the Azkals. Lucena is a 5-10 midfielder for AGF Aarhus who unlike Dennis Cagara still has a live contract with the first division Danish Football team.
Now at 30, Lucena has 11 years of competitive football experience way back from the early 2000 as a mainstay of the U21 Denmark national team.
Lucena may have the most solid credentials among the Azkals' Fil-foreign prospects as he is the only one who was close to becoming an official senior national team member for his country in 2006.
The Danish Football Association has a yearly program of selecting a pool of players in the beginning of the year which they call the Denmark League XI. These players are called up for their possible inclusion to the final line up of the national team. Lucena was part of the Danish national pool in 2006 but narrowly missed the cut for the final roster of the Danish national team in 2006.
Scouts described Lucena as a player who has a good eye for the game and handles the ball pretty well.
Reports from Denmark said that Lucena has confirmed his participation for the Azkals.
Stephan Schrock – Obviously among the Filipino-German prospects in the Azkals squad, Stephan Schrock has the most impressive credentials. This 5-6 right back defender has 10 years of football experience tucked under his belt.
Schrock’s resume includes his membership with the German Under-18, 19 and 20 youth squad who all qualified for the UEFA championship. His best performance in his youth national career was in the UEFA 2005 Under-19 event where he played 12 games and lead Germany to the semi-final stage of the event losing only to France (3-2) to miss the boat in the finals.
Schrock who is now 24 and idolizes Filipino pug superstar Manny Pacquiao has remained loyal to his team Greuther Furth since he joined the team in 2001. He would have been in the Azkals squad last year but his papers were not able to be processed to the fullest.
James Hall – is reported to be a 22-yr. old Filipino-Scottish footballer who enrolled and was part of the Everton Academy roster of players from 2007 to 2008.
Contrary to reports, James Hall never made it to the official first team roster of FC Everton in the English Premier League but rather was released in 2008 from the Everton Academy together with 8 other players.
However as a consolation, being a graduate of the Everton Academy is an assurance that James Hall gained solid football fundamentals.
Current England’s rising superstar Wayne Rooney is a product of Everton Academy.
Michael Falkesgaard - is another 20-year old professional footballer from Denmark. Michael is a 6-2 goal keeper for top Danish football professional team Brondby IF.
Brondby IF is the second winningest football club in the history of the Danish Super League.
Falkesgaard never became the starting goalie for the Danish youth national team but his consistent selection through the U18, U19 and U20 Danish national team speaks well of the promising talent of this young half Filipino which paved the way of his signing with top-notch Danish first division pro football team Brandby IF.
Patrick Reichelt – is a 22 yr. old 5-foot-9 striker for the German club FC Energy Cottbus in the Bundesliga Division 2.
Patrick is a half-Filipino half-German winger for the Under-23 roster of the squad. There is not much information about this prospect.
Manuel Ott – is a 5-foot-7 18-yr. old Filipino-German midfielder who played for the Division 3 league of Germany’s Bondesliga for FC Ingolstadt 4 before joining the Philippine Azkals in the Asean Cup last year.
Ott does not come with impressive credentials compared to his fellow Fil-foreign prospects but being a member of a German pro football team is enough for the Azkals to give him a try.
Denmark and notably Germany both have rich winning traditions in international football. For both countries, football is their national sport and is being followed with passion. This fact should give us an assurance that these Fil-foreign prospects from these two countries can really uplift the quality of game of the Azkals.
Imagining the future for the Azkals having Lucena, Cagara and Schrock play alongside the Younghusbands, Jason de Jong, Ian Araneta, Emilio Caligdong, Aly Borromeo, Anton Del Rosario, Ray Anthony Johnson, Simon Greatwich, Rob Gier and Neil Ethridge may make the Philippines as the biggest surprise in the current AFC Challenge Cup and may come out as formidable as Malaysia and Indonesia in the next version of the AFC Suzuki Cup.
Philippines is slowly but surely moving towards respectability in Asian football. It may take more years to be at the level of Japan, South Korea and North Korea in Asia but as long as they keep on improving, sponsors would find it hard not to support the Azkals paving the way for further international exposure, a sound scouting program of Fil-foreign prospects and development of home grown talent.
Top photo: Azkal's manager Dan Palami speaks after receiving the Sportwriters Association of Cebu Presidential Award Saturday afternoon at the Ayala Center Cebu. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Posted 1 year ago # -
hello agent... what is the latest news about jerry lucena.???
Posted 1 year ago # -
I noticed that William Guerridon was not mentioned in the article posted by emman. Any idea if he will be included in the roster?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Azkals will do the job sans Fil-fors
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals turn up the heat in their preparations for their March 15 AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match with Mongolia, bracing up for the possibility of playing minus some key players in the second leg.
Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who is currently in London, is doubtful for the away game due to his commitment with Fulham FC, the same with fellow Fil-foreigners Rob Gier and Simon and Chris Greatwich.
But the Phl squad, which beat Mongolia in the first leg, 2-0, remains upbeat it can make do with what’s available and complete the job against the Blue Wolves.
Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss said he will utilize the available arsenal at his disposal. “The ones who are here will do the job. We just need to make a few adjustments especially with the goalkeeper,” he said.
With Etheridge participation still in question, Weiss is preparing substitutes Edward Sacapano, Christopher Camca and Paolo Pascual to possibly fill-in the Fil-Briton’s big shoes.
With three weeks left before their second leg with Mongolia on hostile ground, Azkals skipper Aly Borromeo admitted they still don’t have a clear idea who among the foreign-based Azkals will be able to join the team.
“We’re just working on what we have right now and I think the local guys can handle Mongolia. Then hopefully we can have all the guys back if we make it (past Mongolia and qualify) to (the group stages set later in) Myanmar,” Borromeo said after yesterday’s practice at Brent in Baguio,
The Azkals played one tune-up, scoring a 9-1 win over Baguio Pinikpikan the other day. They are set to play the Benguet Football Club tomorrow before returning to Manila.
http://www.philstar.com/SportsArticle.aspx?articleId=660733&publicationSubCategoryId=69
Making football known in the Philippines.Posted 1 year ago #
