MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Azkals are hoping for a win over a young and inexperienced Mongolian football team when they face off in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying series starting February 9 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.
Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss said that the hosts’ edge in experience should give them more motivation to pull off a win against the Mongolians, who at rank 182 in the world, are 30 places below the Philippines.
“It’s a transition year for Mongolia,” the German coach said at the PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue in Manila. “Maybe we will be facing an inexperienced team.”
Weiss, who has been preparing his team for “a convincing win,” said he has been informed that Mongolia would hold a training camp in Guangzhou a week before the match, and that could negate whatever advantage the Azkals have in terms of acclimatizing to the Philippine weather.
At the same forum presented by Pagcor, Accel, Outlast Battery and Shakey’s, Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia said he has been waiting for the release of the P6 million to help defray the cost of hosting the match.
“The hosting of the match is very important, especially now that we are trying to ignite a strong following in football,” Garcia said.
The bulk of the government funding will go to the enhancement of Panaad’s lighting system.
Weiss said the Azkals’ transition to a more attacking style of play would take time.
“Its really difficult to impose that style of play and a coach needs a certain period of time, considering the low level of football pitches we have in the Philippines,” he said.
