Temperature is the one thing standing between the Azkals and the AFC Challenge Cup, and the team knows it.
Because of this, the Azkals have been doing everything they can to get acclimatized to Mongolia’s sub-zero weather – they trained in Baguio, spent an afternoon at Snow World, and got to Japan to train some more in the snow before flying to Mongolia next week.
“We're all excited to train at the J Village!" tweeted skipper Aly Borromeo before they left Monday afternoon.
J-Village is the national training facility of the Japan Football Association. The temperature currently plays between two to three degrees Celsius in Japan. Still not Mongolia-cold, but it’s cold enough for them to get acclimatized.
“By the time we play in Mongolia in March, it's going to be around zero or one degree. We've been keeping track of the weather, and it's getting warmer," said Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta.
The Azkals will play against the Blue Wolves at 1p.m., the warmest time of the day. Even with the sun burning at midday, Araneta says the players will “freeze to death" if they’re clothed in their usual uniforms.
To counter the cold, official outfitter Mizuno provided thermal wear last Thursday for the players to keep them warm as they play in the qualifier on March 15.
Winger Chieffy Caligdong, who scored the Azkals’ first goal against Mongolia, stressed that thermal wear is crucial to their performance in the second leg.
“Yung Fil-foreigners na-experience na yung ganung kalamig, pero kaming mga local players talagang mas mag-aadjust. Mas kailangan namin ng mga ganitong equipment," the Mizuno endorser said.
The material of the shorts they will be using is micro-fiber which is basically wind-proof. Aside from the uniforms, Mizuno will be providing additional equipment, tracksuits and mid thermal socks.
“With the equipment provided by Mizuno, I think we can perform even better in Mongolia than here in the Philippines," Araneta added.
Mongolia is down by two goals in the home-and-away series. As a result, they are trying to bank on the cold weather to outscore the Azkals in leg two. Mongolia even rejected the Philippines’ request to train there a week before the match to get acclimatized.
Luck isn’t on Mongolia’s side though as they might play with three men down.
According to Araneta, two of the Blue Wolves are injured and might not play at all. P. Altantulga was thrown out in leg one so he can’t join the next game too.
The Azkals will train in Japan until March 13, and then head straight to Ulan Bator for their match. If they beat Mongolia, they will advance to the group stage in Myanmar on March 21. -- Mav C. Gonzales/OMG, GMA News
/via gmanews.tv
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