PHILIPPINE Football Team-Azkals second goalie and Bago City-native Eduard Sacapano is up to the challenge to take full responsibility to defend the Azkals’ goal against Mongolia Blue Wolves in the upcoming 2012 AFC-Challenge Cup second leg scheduled on March 15, 2011 at Ulan Bator in Mongolia.
Sacapano was thrust into the role after national team goal keeper Neil Etheridge, who was the goalkeeper in the first match against Mongolia, confirmed that he will not be playing in the second game because of prior commitments to Fulham Football Club (FC), now ranked 13th in the English Premier League.
With 10 days to go before the much-awaited Azkals-Blue Wolves match, the nationals are taking lots of adjustments to adapt to the game plan which includes the change of goalkeeper.
“I am so excited for this chance to play in the second leg. Coach Hans Michael Weiss is adding some keepers’ trainings and putting me in different challenges during practices,” Sacapano told Sun.Star-Bacolod.
“He (Weiss) worked so hard to put me in good shape for the upcoming match,” he added.
On the other hand, Weiss, in a national paper, expressed confidence on Sacapano following his good performance in several tune-up games of the Azkals.
Meanwhile, the Azkals, after undergoing high-altitude training in Baguio City last week, continue their preparation at the International School in Taguig City, Metro Manila to familiarize themselves with the artificial pitch similar to the one in Ulan Bator.
On Monday, the team will fly to Fukushima, Japan for the continuation of their adjustment training for five days before flying to Ulan Bator. The Japanese Football Association has also arranged tune up matches for the Azkals on those days.
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