Up next: Azkals ‘Dream Team’

Source: PDI

RANGOON—Promising as it is now, the Philippine football team is only bound to get stronger.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals crush Bangladesh, gain AFC slot

Source: PDI

RANGOON—The Philippine football team, drenched, and on an emotional high, runs around the pitch one final time.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals need win today vs Bangladesh

Source: PDI

RANGOON—Forget about the promising start and the complicated scenarios. The Philippines’ campaign to qualify in the AFC Challenge Cup now boils down to one final game.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

PH Azkals settle for second draw

Source: PDI

RANGOON—The Philippines, defending stubbornly against a tall, physical Palestine team, settled for a scoreless draw Wednesday, leaving the Azkals with no recourse but to nail a victory in their last group qualifying match in the AFC Challenge Cup.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals hope to rise above draw, tackle Palestine

Source: PDI

RANGOON— A Philippine team slowly finding fluidity in its play faces a formidable Palestine side considered a heavy favorite in the AFC Challenge Cup group stage qualifying here.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals march on despite freezing loss

Source: PDI

ULAN BATOR—The dream start nearly ended in a nightmare in this cold Mongolian capital.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Minus key men, Azkals try to toss out Mongolia today

Source: PDI

A Philippine football team known to thrive in adversity faces its biggest challenge yet when it battles Mongolia minus several key players Tuesday in the second leg of their AFC Challenge Cup duel at the National Stadium in Ulan Bator.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals shiver in biting cold at Japan training venue

Source: PDI

MANILA—The cold weather doesn't seem to pose a problem for the Philippine football team, at least on the first day of their training in Japan.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Confident Azkals arrive in Japan

Source: PDI

MANILA—Mongolia will be facing a more cohesive and confident Philippine side in the second leg of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying series on March 15 in Ulan Bator.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals leave for wintry Japan training

Source: PDI

MANILA—The Philippine football team leaves for Japan today for the most important stretch of its preparation for Mongolia in the second leg of the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying duel in Ulan Bator.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

AZKALS secures berth in Indonesian league

Source: ANN

Dutch midfield ace Jason De Jong has completed his move to Indonesian club Persiba Balikpapan, becoming the first Filipino player to join the Indonesian Super League.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals start training in Baguio

Source: PDI

MANILA---The National men’s football team opened training camp for the second leg of its AFC Challenge Cup duel with Mongolia in Baguio City yesterday with the coaching staff led by German mentor Hans Michael Weiss putting emphasis on sharpening the squad’s finishing in front of goal which was left wanting in previous matches.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Mizuno wins big as Filipino football team's popularity grows

The Philippine football team, Azkal, has undergone drastic changes in the past three months.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals now ready for Mongolia

Source: Cedelf P. Tupas

Philippine team goalkeeper Neil Etheridge went straight to the training ground after arriving yesterday in Bacolod as the Azkals started putting the finishing touches to their qualifying match against Mongolia for the first leg of the AFC Challenge Cup

Having played for the country 18 times since making his international debut in Iloilo City three years ago, Etheridge sees no problem blending with the Azkals, whose core have remained the same in the past six years.

“The team being formed again late shouldn’t be a surprise as this has always happened,” Etheridge told the Inquirer upon arriving in Manila Saturday night. “I’m sure that the team will bond quickly and become a stronger force.”

Leftback Ray Jonnson also trained with the squad for the first time since arriving from Iceland Saturday night. The team is only waiting for central defender, Rob Gier, who will join the squad this morning.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said the squad is now primed for the showdown with Mongolia in what is considered as the most highly anticipated home match in recent history.

“I think we are ready with the arrival of Neil (Etheridge) and our other defenders,” Palami told the Inquirer over the phone. “With the
team that we have now, I am optimistic that we will be able to live up to the hype.”

Two players who are not on the Challenge Cup squad—Filipino-Scottish brothers Ryan and James Hall—joined training over the weekend along with Filipino-Danish standouts Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara.

James Hall, 21, has long been a prospect for the national side, but injuries and his commitments with Everton have denied him of a chance of playing for the Azkals earlier.

Lucena and Cagara will not see action against Mongolia as they have yet to secure their Philippine passports.

But Palami said their mere presence during training had a positive influence on the squad. “These are the players who have the caliber to take us to the next level,” said Palami. “They have a positive influence on the squad as they inspire everyone to step up.”

With a couple of days left before the match, Palami stressed that the team is keeping its focus amid all the hoopla surrounding the match.

Palami is expected to reveal the 23-man squad today. Thirty-five players made the trip to Bacolod, some of them picked after impressing in the tryouts last month.

The Mongolians are also arriving in Bacolod today, after reportedly undergoing training in Guangzhou, China to get acclimatized to the weather in the Philippines.

Gier, 29, formed a solid back four with skipper Aly Borromeo, Jonnson and Anton del Rosario in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, where the Azkals yielded just three goals in five matches.

Etheridge, who is fresh off a stint with Fulham’s first team last month, expressed confidence that they can overcome Mongolia.

“The team looks strong and sharp,” Etheridge said. “It will be a new experience for us as we haven’t played Mongolia before but we are looking forward to the challenge. I hope that my presence between the posts can enhance our recent good performances.”

Share

Download our free toolbar here

AZKALS says 'We need the hype'

Source: ANN

The Philippines football team is gunning for no less than a comfortable victory against Mongolia in the first leg of their AFC Challenge Cup duel in Bacolod City, and the Azkals aren�t burdened by the high expectations heaped on them by the public.

�Expectations are always high and all this buildup and attention toward us just makes us hungrier for more victories ahead," Azkals skipper Aly Borromeo told the Inquirer.

�We�ve been waiting so long for football to touch the heart of the Filipinos. This is just a step in proving that we can put Philippines in the football map of the world."

Borromeo was responding to comments made by Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr., who said that Filipinos should not expect too much from the Azkals, despite their semifinal finish in the AFF Suzuki Cup last December.

Cojuangco�s statements on the radio show �Usapang POC� that the Azkals� match with the Mongolians was getting too much publicity went viral Friday (February 5) and drew passionate comments from fans online.

�I think we need all the hype we can get at this moment," Borromeo said.

The Azkals continued their buildup Thursday when they beat a Central Philippine University side bannered by Koreans, 4-1, in a match watched by 3,000 fans at the Panaad Stadium.

Simon Greatwich opened the scoring with a 35-yard strike in the 17th minute, before Ian Araneta doubled the lead before halftime.

The Koreans pulled a goal two minutes after the restart, but Borromeo scored on a header from a corner kick in the 49th minute, before new recruit William Guerridon wrapped up the scoring in the 65th minute.

Filipino-Dutch midfielder Jason de Jong was inserted into the starting eleven a day after arriving from the Netherlands.

The Azkals missed star striker Phil Younghusband, who was sidelined by a hamstring problem on both legs. Younghusband said he should be ready for the showdown with Mongolia on Wednesday (February 9).

Meanwhile, two Filipino-Danish standouts�Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena�arrived in Manila Friday to process their passports, a requirement needed for them to play for the Azkals in future matches.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

WHITE TSHIRT FOR AZKALS FANS

 SOURCE: FRANCIS SANTIAGO

Stand up, wear white and be counted as a Philippine Azkals fan. To gather strong support for the Azkals who will be battling the Mongolians in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match on Feb. 9, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is enjoining the fans to wear white shirts.

PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said white will be the theme since the Azkals, beefed up by Fil-foreigners, will be donning white uniforms in the first of the home-and-away duel set at the 15,500-seater Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

Araneta, also the Iloilo Football Association head, said the unity in colors will play a great factor in the match just like when
Brazilian fans wear yellow or Japanese fans wear blue in World Cup matches.

“Seeing a sea of fans in white will certainly fire up our players,” said Araneta, a former national player from University of the Philippines Iloilo.

Following the Azkals’ amazing semifinal finish in the AFF Suzuki Cup last Dec., the popularity of the sport and the team zoomed to unprecedented heights, making next week’s match a sure-fire blockbuster.

“It (the match) could be our biggest crowd in the history of Philippine football,” said Araneta, adding that the tickets, 10,000 of which are free of charge, will be available for distribution today.

Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia said preparations are on track for the match, saying locker rooms and shower stalls have already been repaired, and the field is ready and currently being used for training.

At presstime, around 1,200 lights are being transferred from the Paglaum Stadium to Panaad Stadium to make the venue fit for international standards.

People in Bacolod are also in festive mood for the upcoming match, with students swarming the Azkals even inside the hotels after practice, Azkals asst. coach Edzel Bracamonte said.

The Mongolians are set to arrive on Monday.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals to face young Mongolian line-up, says coach

Source: PDI

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.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals vs Mongolia in Bacolod

Aquino agrees to watch Azkals match vs Mongolia in Bacolod

SOURCE: PDI

President Aquino will be among the thousands of fans when the Philippines battles Mongolia in the first leg of their qualifying series in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

This was confirmed yesterday by Philippine Olympic Committee chair Monico Puentevella, who also said that Senators Miguel Zubiri, Teofisto Guingona III and Bong Revilla are also expected to watch the game slated on February 9.

The President, who had promised support to the Azkals during their visit to Malacañang last month, was invited by Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

When the Azkals played Indonesia in Jakarta in the Suzuki Cup semifinals last month, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudyohono cheered for the home squad, which prevailed after winning the two legs via 1-nil scorelines.

The PFF has allotted 10,000 general admission tickets to fans for free, while 4,000 grandstand seats will be for sale at P300 each.

The Azkals had just wrapped up a three-day tryout at the University of Makati pitch for players aspiring to be part of the squad in future tournaments, including the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia late this year.

New Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss said he plans to bring 25 players, including the veterans in the Suzuki Cup, to Bacolod when the Azkals begin training camp on January 26.

Some of the overseas-based members of the team like Fil-Icelandic defender Ray Jonnson, and Fil-British players Chris Greatwich, Rob Gier and Neil Etheridge are expected to join the team a few days before the Mongolia match, according to team manager Dan Palami said.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

PH football gets more foreign aid

SOURCE: Cedelf P. Tupas

MANILA, Philippines -- Foreign aid continued to pour in for Philippine football and PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta vowed transparency as his administration faces the tough task of ensuring that the assistance leads to sustainable development of the sport in the country.

Three Arab nations – Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain – were the latest to join Germany in pitching in to help the PFF in its programs with an annual financial assistance of $100,000 until 2014.

Araneta was able to secure the aid during the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Doha, Qatar, last week.

He said the money would be specifically allotted to national competitions.

Aside from the financial aid, the three countries have also offered to host the national team for free training camps.

Coinciding with Araneta’s visit to Qatar was Azkals team manager Dan Palami’s trip to Frankfurt, Germany, where he was also able to get an assistance package from the German Football Association (DFB).

“They have promised to help us with necessary things to make our team competitive,” said Araneta at a press conference at the Manila Yacht Club on Tuesday.

The PFF is planning to stage a men’s Under-23 tournament this year that will also serve as a try-out for the Southeast Asian Games.

“With more national tournaments, we will have a stronger pool for local players,” said Palami.

Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Monico Puentevella, who is also part of the PFF delegation in the AFC Congress, attributed the surge in support to the semifinal finish of the national team in the AFF Suzuki Cup last year.

The PFF also receives an annual aid of $250,000 from the International Football Federation (FIFA). Araneta said they were also set to receive $150,000 for their share of the gate receipts during the semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup in Indonesia.

“Rest assured we will be transparent in our financial dealings,” said Araneta.

Share

Download our free toolbar here

Azkals manager on new coach: We look forward to better result

SOURCE: GMA

The new year is just 10 days old and the Philippine Football Federation wants a new direction for the Pinoy Azkals football team in 2011.

That new direction is expected to come from the head coach, which is why the PFF made a swift and decisive move by hiring a new German mentor in Hans Michael Weiss. He will replace English bench tactician Simon McMenemy, whose contract wasn’t renewed.

Newly-installed PFF president Nonong Araneta made the confirmation that Weiss is now the official head coach of the Azkals. He will arrive in the country on Jan. 16. The new head of the federation added that the McMenemy was replaced because he has no B license, which is a requirement to coach in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup.

“Hindi siya (McMenemy) qualified to coach," said Araneta in a telephone interview. “That’s why we’re bringing in a new coach in Weiss. He has wide experience coaching football, as he has coached in China, Japan and countries in Africa."

The contract of McMenemy, who was hired to coach the Azkals on an interim basis three weeks prior to the start of the AFF Suzuki Cup, ended at the end of November, according to Azkals team manager Dan Palami.

“I extended his contract until the end of December. I was the one who was paying him," Palami told GMANews.TV. “But I already asked him before to work on his license."

When McMenemy couldn’t obtain his Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) coaching permit, and his contract ended at the end of 2010, Palami looked at several candidates for the coaching job, both foreign and local coaches.

It didn’t take long for him to tap Weiss' services.

Palami said that Philippine football will get a lift with the acquisition of the German mentor.

“It’s a total package. A lot of people think it’s the money involved which is the most important in getting the assistance, but it will be used via guided spending. We will be provided free training camps, all-expense paid. Coaches and referees will also be sent there for special courses and clinics ,while specialized trainers will also visit here to help our goalkeepers," added Palami.

McMenemy and the Azkals management parted ways bitterly, with the former coach bashing the team’s decision to replace him.

The English coach posted on his Twitter account that he was disrespected.

“I felt totally disrespected. No call, e-mail, text. Nothing. I have been told by a friend who watched it on TV. This is not the right way to treat people," said McMenemy on his Twitter account.

But Palami defended the decision, saying that when McMenemy tweeted, there was no formal decision yet regarding the coaching status.

“He should have confirmed it first with me. He posted comments on his Twitter account, so I just reacted to them," Palami explained.

Firing of Azkals coach draws negative impact, says FIFA exec

The firing of McMenemy as coach of the Azkals drew negative impact on the Azkals, according to former Philippine Olympic Committee and now International Football Federation (FIFA) executive Cristy Ramos.

“The timing is very bad," said Ramos. “In the first place, why would you hire somebody who has no Group B license, which is a requirement for the AFC Challenge Cup? I would presume the PFF, then under the leadership of Mari Martinez, was thinking na hanggang AFF Suzuki Cup na lang tayo because sa Suzuki Cup, hindi kailangan na may Group B license ang coach. They didn’t take full consideration about the future of Philippine football, and to me, that’s ignorance."

A former POC chief who is now serving in the organizing committee of the under-17 and under-20 Women’s World Cup, the former presidential daughter believes that having a new coach will somehow affect the Azkals’ preparation in the AFF Challenge Cup.

“Between now and February 9, I think the adjustment period will play a big role in the success of the Azkals," said Ramos. “I believe McMenemy had a good relationship with the players, especially with the success they had in the Suzuki Cup. How you try to establish a good relationship with your players at that shorter period of time is a big question."

Ramos, also a member of the AFC women’s committee and a match commissioner for men’s and women’s tournaments, gave a piece of her mind on how the PFF should have handled the situation dealing with McMenemy.

“Like the old saying, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. They should have made a compromise by retaining his services, say like retaining McMenemy’s services as a member of the coaching staff or as an assistant coach," said Ramos. “If I were them, I would have explored other possibilities. I don’t think he will take it bad because he will still be a part of the team, and McMenemy’s presence will leave a positive effect on the team."

But Palami believes there’s still enough time for the Azkals and the new coach to establish chemistry.

“We’ve done that before, so there’s no reason why we cannot do it again," added Palami. “We were able to succeed with a new coach preparing our squad three weeks before the competition, so I think it’s doable."

McMenemy was a substitute coach for Des Bulpin, who handled the squad for seven months.

Palami said people were giving a lot of credit to McMenemy, and the Azkals team manager believes he deserves recognition.

But the Azkals’ financer gave more importance to the things done by the local coaches, part of the reason why he cannot sacrifice the Filipino mentors, who have been training the players for quite a long time.

“I don’t think retaining McMenemy as a member of the coaching staff when there’s a head coach calling the shots would be a good idea. There will be clashes of ideas. And I don’t want to sacrifice my local coaches. They have done so much for the success of this team," said Palami.

Share

Download our free toolbar here