THE Philippine Azkals were not affected by the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck 160 kilometers east of the main Honshu island of Japan yesterday, according to a report on the team’s Facebook page.
"A member of the Azkal coaching staff has confirmed the team was not affected by the recent earthquake in Japan," wrote the administrator of the page, referring to the team currently training in Gotemba City at the foot of Mt. Fuji.
The Filipino booters have been in Japan since Monday under the auspices of the Japan Football Association for the final phase of their buildup for the return march of their Asian Challenge Cup series against Mongolia on March 15 in Ulan Bator.
They beat the Blue Wolves 2-0 in the opener of the series last Feb. 9 at the Panaad Sports Complex in Bacolod City and need only a draw to advance to the group stage in Myanmar starting on March 21.
Messages posted by some players on the social networking site Tweeter showed the players were not affected by the jolt.
"Time to get some shuteye. First practice game tomorrow..first time to play a Jap team! Go Pilipinas!" co-captain Aly Borromeo tweeted.
"Quick tweet before taking a nap... HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY! Haha, love that word! "Wonderful wonderful wonderful" (Movie Trivia: who says it?)" defender Anton del Rosario wrote in a separate tweet.
While his teammates were coping with the bone-chilling Japanese weather, regular goalie Neil Etheridge was loaned by his club, Fulham, to injury-hit second division squad Charlton Athletic.
"The 21-year-old Enfield-born Philippine international will go straight into the Addicks squad for Tuesday night’s trip to Milton Keynes," the BBC news website reported last Tuesday.
/via Malaya (by BONG PEDRALVEZ, 3/10/2011)
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