Azkals come face to face with Mongolia’s sub-zero weather

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:15:00 03/13/2011


MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine football team arrived in Ulan Bator early Sunday and got a chilling reminder that it would have to deal with more than just Mongolia in the second leg of its AFC Challenge Cup duel.

Temperatures ranging from minus 16 to minus 20 degrees Celsius greeted the Azkals in their first few hours in the Mongolian capital, where they will be hoping to protect their 2-nil first-leg advantage.

The Mongolians need to win by at least three goals to prevent the Azkals from advancing to the AFC group stage, but the Azkals’ coach, Hans Michael Weiss, is confident they can survive the challenge.

“My team must stand this character test,” said Weiss in an e-mail to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. “The preparations have been very good and done in a professional environment (in Japan). It could not have been better.”

Weiss took the two losses to a Japanese university side in stride, saying the team learned much from the experience.

“Training in Japan helped a lot,” said Weiss, whose squad was outscored 1-12 in two matches against Kanto University. “Even with two hard defeats, the team learned.”

Azkals team manager Dan Palami is also upbeat with the team’s chances.

“It’s just another adversity that the team has to overcome,” he said. “I know the players very well and rest assured, they will be there fighting for every ball on Tuesday despite the cold.”

But concerns remain on how the players will deal with the extreme weather in Ulan Bator, which is about 4,300 feet above sea level.

“It was freezing out there, we couldn’t stay put,” Borromeo told the Inquirer in an e-mail after checking out the artificial turf at the playing venue. “We had to keep moving. I think we will be okay once we get warmed up.”

Borromeo added: “It would really help tremendously if there won’t be a wind chill and the sun would come out.”

“We will just try our best to overcome the cold,” said co-skipper Chieffy Caligdong, the scorer of the first goal in the opening leg in Bacolod City last February 9, in a separate interview.

The match is scheduled for Tuesday at 1 p.m., said to be the hottest time of the day in Ulan Bator.

“It’s really cold especially when the wind is blowing,” said defender Jason Sabio. “But otherwise, it’s no problem.”

The Azkals’ conditioning coach, Josef Malinay, who is with the team in Mongolia, said the game could be played at minus 4 degrees.

“The wind is the killer,” Malinay said.

The squad was still awaiting the arrival of Filipino-Icelandic defender Ray Jonsson and Fil-Dutch midfielder Jason de Jong, who would fly in from Indonesia, where he has been playing club football.

The Azkals had to battle through several travel glitches before reaching Ulan Bator from their training site in Gotemba City in earthquake-hit Japan.

There was one more glitch Saturday when the Azkals were forced to leave their luggage in Beijing, where they took the connecting flight to Ulan Bator. As of 6 p.m. Sunday, their luggage had yet to arrive in Ulan Bator.

Azkal country needs you on March 15

MARK that date, March 15 and leave no appointments from noon until the rest of the day.

Better yet, skip work or, if you’re the boss, let your employees take half the day off. For students, unless there’s a major exam scheduled, it’s time for an SDH—Self-declared Holiday.

It’s the Azkals against Mongolia, Part 2 and no, unlike what one TV anchor said, the Philippines doesn’t have to beat the host to move on to the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Myanmar. A draw will do.

But I know the Azkals know their fans will be watching back home, so I don’t think they’ll settle for a draw. Mongolia, too, won’t be the same side that played defensively last Feb. 9 so the Blue Wolves will take risks.

They’ll attack, probe and look for the opening.

They’ll probably thank the football gods, too, that Neil Etheridge isn’t playing.

Neil’s in England, on loan to Charlton Athletic from Fulham and his absence means veteran Eduard Sacapaño gets the No. 1 spot, while young Christopher Camcam gets promoted to No. 2.

Sacapaño is one of the unsung heroes of the Azkals, a veteran who stuck with the team all through those lean years. When Neil came along, he got relegated to second banana, something proud players who value themselves too highly can’t take.

But Ed? He’s still there. He trained and practiced hard for months for the Suzuki, despite knowing his chance of seeing action was close to nil.

Now that’s character. That’s grit.

He will need that against Blue Wolves, who’ll be playing in front of their own fans, who’ll be braving the freezing weather just to be there.

Yep, on March 15 the Azkals will be back to their usual thing—playing in another country’s homecourt.

But they are not in the usual situation. Gone are the days when only the hardcore fans you can count on one hand and the reporters you can count with the other are aware of their games.

Philippine football is changing and the Azkals need youto keep it evolving. No, not in cold Ulan Bator where zero degree is considered the warmest temperature of the day—that’s why they are holding the match at 1 p.m.—but they need you in front of the TV set on March 15.

You could be screaming nonsense or analyzing the formation, or you could even provide fashion tips. It doesn’t matter.

Work commitments, you say? Didn’t you call in with a fever because you were hung over? Class? Didn’t you skip them for a few bottles of beer?

You can come in garb, in white shirts and face paint or you can watch in your naked glory, it doesn’t matter.

What matters is your presence. Go to a bar, watch at home, have a viewing party with friends.

Or, like what Graeme Mackinnon, the guy who flew all the way from Australia to watch the Feb. 9 game, will do, watch a webstream with friends.

Be there on March 15. The Azkal country needs you.

Let’s not disappoint them.

PRAYERS. The Azkals are currently training in Japan and so far, they have survived two earthquakes.

In an ABS-CBN report, Chieffy Caligdong said they felt the tremors, while Roel Gener assured their family members and fans that they are safe.

Let’s hope the team’s situation continues that way and let’s pray for their safety and for all the victims of the massive quake.

(www.football.cebunetwork.com)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 12, 2011.

via Sunstar (Mike T. Limpag, 3/11/2011)

Kanto U routs shivery Azkals

Philippine football team manager Dan Palami yesterday allayed concerns the Azkals will find difficulty dealing with the sub-zero weather in Ulan Bator when they play Mongolia for the second leg of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying series on March 15.

Returning to Manila after observing the team’s training in the Japanese city of Gotemba the past three days, Palami took the 4-0 drubbing absorbed by the Azkals to Kanto University team Wednesday in stride, saying it’s only a matter of time before the national side gets to adjust to the weather.

“I think it will take one or two more days for them to finally get used to the cold,” said Palami in a phone interview with the Inquirer.

Palami said the Azkals trained at temperatures ranging from zero to five degrees. The average temperature in Ulan Bator yesterday was zero degree.

“The cold really took a toll on the player’s bodies,” Palami said. “It’s a good thing we were able to go to Japan this week. It will go a long way in our preparations.”

Palami’s return came a day after the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. approved the release of a P2-million grant for the Azkals’ campaign in the Challenge Cup.

The information was relayed to the Inquirer by Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

Among the most affected by the cold weather were Ian Araneta and Chieffy Caligdong, whose mobility, according to
Palami, was limited.

Caligdong opened the scoring in the Azkals’ 2-nil victory over the Mongolians in the first leg in Bacolod City last Feb. 9.

Phil Younghusband, the scorer of the second goal, appears to be the most comfortable with the Japanese weather.
“He’s playing better,” Palami said of Younghusband, who has scored 13 goals for the country.

Palami said the challenge is also with the coaching staff headed by German Hans Michael Weiss to remove the “mental block” of playing in the cold weather.

Still, Palami is confident that the Azkals will overcome the Mongolians. “I think we have a good chance against Mongolia,” he added.

/via Inquirer (by Cedelf P. Tupas, 11/3/2011)

Azkals’ aztig lifestyle

“There are a lot of good Filipino football players, but they are in the provinces. I hope they can also be given a chance to play the sport by making it a part of the Physical Education curriculum so instead of playing computer games, children would play football.”

Before they kick off to Mongolia for the second leg of their pre-qualifier series for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, Phil Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong and Ian Araneta of the Philippine National Football Team — popularly known as Azkals — shared to the The Daily Tribune how they keep themselves fit for their many battles ahead.

The aztig diet

“What I eat is very important,” says Phil, one of the team’s senior players who dons jersey No. 10 as the team’s forward or striker, the most advanced player position in the field, setting him close to the goal.

Ironically, he eats everything he wants when he is on training because he knows he’ll eventually lose calories. “But when I’m not playing, that’s the time I watch what I eat,” he discloses. When keeping an eye over his weight, he shuns excess fat and welcomes a lot of protein, vegetables and natural sugars into his diet. A lot of vitamins and minerals are taken in the morning for better performance throughout the day, but no food supplements. “I don’t eat fish because I don’t like fish, but tuna from the can is okay,” he shares.

Chieffy and Ian, on the other hand, observe a healthy diet on or off training. “No fried food. Only steamed food and pasta, beef, whole-wheat bread, fruits, cereals and milk,” says Chieffy on his usual menu. Chieffy is positioned as player No. 13 as left-winger, but he also plays forward or striker.

As for Ian, softdrinks, fats and a lot of carbohydrates are a total no-no. If Phil goes for more protein, Ian prefers more fruits and vegetables than protein because protein makes him fat, and extra pounds are a disadvantage for a football player, he says.

“We have to maintain a 78-kilogram weight as a footballer. You’re quicker when you’re lighter,” Phil enthuses.

The aztig workout

Indeed, being lightweight is important for better speed, attests Chieffy. Unlike basketball, football is more about speed than height or big built, which is why it is perfect for Filipinos, he says.

Football, on its own, is a very good exercise if done regularly as it speeds up perspiration, thereby promoting the faster release of toxins, Chieffy adds. To avoid dehydration, Ian says they drink a lot of water before every game.

Because football entails a lot of body contact, Chieffy says they complement their six-hour-per-day training with bodybuilding. Hence, to minimize injuries in the field and to develop upper body strength, the team also undergoes a gym program twice a week. The program consists of exercises and push-ups designed to enhance the strength and flexibility of their chests and arms.

Since they train from 9 a.m. to before lunchtime and at 4 p.m. onwards, Chieffy, Phil and Ian are not so concerned about skin damage through sun exposure. “Our international matches are also scheduled at night so it’s no problem,” says Ian.

While Ian and Chieffy are not into other sports other than football, Phil’s other means to exercise is by playing tennis, a passion he shares with only sister, Keri. Since he and his brother James lived by the River Thames in England, he also enjoys swimming, the favorite sport of his showbiz crush, actress Angel Locsin.

The aztig relationships

When not playing football, Chieffy and Ian perform their duties at the offices of the Philippine Air Force. While football has become a part of Chieffy’s everyday routine even without an impending game, Phil and Ian, in contrast, rest from the sport when there are no training or matches. Ian goes back to his family in Iloilo and spends quality time with his four-year-old son. He says he has been teaching his son football since he learned how to walk, just as his father, a retired member of the Philippine football team, did with him as a kid.

Like Ian, Phil learned how to play football through his father, who used to take him and older brother James into a football field every weekend. After playing football, he recalls bonding with the other members of their Filipino community and feasting on Filipino delicacies like pancit bihon and adobo.

Until today, Phil spends the day with family and friends whenever he is free from training. His typical day usually starts with breakfast, followed by a two-hour rest or TV-watching, then a whole day to his other passions and pastimes like juggling, which he learned from a friend, who is a Danish clown. It’s easier to juggle on feet, he shares.

Phil and James are also now busy with their namesake football academy, their way of giving back to their supporters and raising awareness about football. “Now that the awareness has been raised, it is time to develop the sport and sustain its popularity,” says Phil.

The academy, he shares, has just finished touring the public schools of Palawan, Taguig and Tarlac, where they gave training and seminars to physical education teachers. Their efforts, so far, received a “great response and enthusiasm.”

“I can’t play football forever or be with the Philippine team always. This academy is something I see myself doing after playing,” he says.

“There are a lot of good Filipino football players, but they are in the provinces. I hope they can also be given a chance to play the sport by making it a part of the physical education curriculum so instead of playing computer games, children would play football,” muses Chieffy.

There might be an outpouring of endorsements, but Phil, a deadringer for Twilight star Taylor Lautner, clarifies that he has “no plans of entering showbiz” since football is his priority. In his advertisements, he says he has always been touted as a football player and he accepts these projects to promote the sport. This is his way of somewhat “bending it” like David Beckham, his football hero. “I want to be like Beckham, to have that kind of influence into football fans all over the world,” he confesses.

Like Beckham, is he also going to get himself a Posh Spice? “Beckham is a stylish footballer. I have my own taste, I’m not Beckham. I go for simple and comfortable, not too detailed, grand or classy,” he explains, believing that a stylish man is someone comfortable with what he is wearing.

His kind of date is also someone simple. “I don’t like extravagant things. On a date, I just watch a movie, have dinner, nothing too extravagant or adventurous on first dates, because I’m more into concentrating on getting to know the person than anything else,” he professes. “I would teach her football if she wants to,” he replied when asked if he and Angel play the sport.

Though simpler and more serious than his brother, Phil believes he got something his brother does not have. “Mas guwapo ako sa kanya (I’m more handsome than him),” he declares.

He is also said to handle popularity better than James. “We get letters from all over the country. So far, I have 60 unread letters in a scrap book,” he shares. “I enjoy popularity because it allows me to meet different people from different industries.”

While in the field, some girls would shout “Marry me!” but still, Phil thinks most Filipinos are not crazy and are “more sweet and sentimental.”

Chieffy and Ian affirm that most girls target the Younghusbands and not them. “We’ve been playing football for 10 years now and it’s only now that we’re getting attention. Popularity is very new to us so people think we are snobs, but we are just actually shy and not used to attention,” Ian explains.

They, nonetheless, do not feel any jealously or inferiority. “We don’t feel any competition with the half-Filipino imports like the Younghusbands. In fact, they are very helpful because we get a lot of tips from them since they are more advanced players than us,” says Chieffy.

Unknown to many, the Younghusbands also experience discrimination from enemy courts. “Everywhere you go, there’s discrimination. We grew up with it,” Phil frets, sharing that as kids, he and James received a lot of teasing because of their surname. “But instead of doing us harm, experiences like that strengthened us. Today, our family name brings us recall.”

Hope springs eternal

Even if he trained with Chelsea all his life and his father wants him to continue his football career in England, Phil chooses to be with the Philippine team for as long as it takes.

“You can’t really define what is Filipino. I am a Filipino and I represent Filipinos,” he says proudly.

Growing up, he believes in surrounding himself with the right people, and so he knows that he is right for the Azkals because they are the right ones for him. “The whole team has the same goals as I do,” he says.

If not into football or doing math as an accountant, Phil says he could have been dead. There were at least three times that he almost drowned and got hit by a car as a kid. “I got lucky. And so I believe with football, I’m on the right path.”

Losses like the recent one to Indonesia made him feel bad and “gobsmacked” (shocked). But in the end of the day, they would still continue playing and turning on their supportive fans for hope.

“We did our best in our previous matches. That’s what we are also going to do in Mongolia,” Chieffy assures, adding that their training in Mongolia would give them an idea on how it is to play in the winter-wrapped home courts of football giants like Japan and France.

Though many critics doubt if the Azkals would make it, Phil believes that if they were able to elevate themselves into the limelight in months, they, too, can drive their ball to the goal. “When we were just starting, there’s a misconception that football is for the rich and the tall; now, there is a growing acceptance for it,” says Ian.

For those dreaming to be a part of the Azkals, Chieffy advises constant practice and dedication to the sport. “Like in studies, you can be good at football by practice. It’s never too late to learn football,” says Chieffy, who, unlike Ian and Phil who grew up with the sport, only learned about it when he was already 19 years old.

As for Phil, it is important to have fun, enjoy running around, and take it as a passion, not a job. “The moment you feel it’s a job, that’s the time it becomes a pressure,” he says. His ultimate weapon to victory, he says, is what captures the hearts of girls from all over: a smile.

/via The Daily Tribune (Deni Rose M. Afinidad, 3/10/2011)

Azkals on a high below zero

Members of the Phl Azkals are all wrapped up to combat the Gotemba cold in the first day of training in a mountain-resort football facility in Japan.

MANILA, Philippines - The Azkals felt good training under zero degree weather yesterday in Gotemba, Japan.

“It’s cold but amazing. Cozy place, great soccer complex and great food,” said defender Anton del Rosario on his Twitter account.

“But no wifi,” added the 28-year-old from California.

Team captain Aly Borromeo also talked about the absence of wifi in their training quarters located near the foot of Mt. Fuji.

“We are in the boondocks four hours away from Tokyo. No wifi around here and you would’ve thought a country like this would have wifi everywhere,” he said on Twitter.

But seriously, Borromeo said everything went well on their first day of training in Gotemba as they geared up for their March 15 match in Mongolia.

“Zero degree at practice earlier. All the boys didn’t seem to mind the cold too much,” added Borromeo.

The Azkals arrived in Narita the other night and took a 174 km ride to Gotemba where they will stay and train until they depart for Mongolia on March 13.

Team manager Dan Palami posted a team picture taken upon their arrival in Gotemba, with the Azkals all bundled up in their winter clothing.

For most of them, it’s their first time to experience weather this cold. And it only gets tougher in Mongolia, in Ulan Batur, where the weather was minus-11 yesterday.

But to them, it doesn’t really matter anymore.

The match with the Mongolians will be played at 1 p.m., and it won’t make a difference because even at that time the weather will be near freezing point.

It’s the main reason why the Azkals took the trip to Gotemba more than a week before the match in Mongolia.

The Azkals beat the Mongolians at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod last Feb. 9, 2-0, under weather as high as 25 degrees.

To turn things around, the Mongolians must win by a margin of three goals at least. Otherwise, the Azkals advance to the AFC Challenge Cup group stage against Bangladesh, Nepal and Palestine later this month.

Chieffy Caligdong, who scored the opening goal against the Mongolians at Panaad, said the thermal wear provided for the team by their official outfitter Mizuno does help.

“We’re using it. The team is okay but we’re adjusting to the cold, with some coughing on my part. It’s just too cold out here. New climate,” he said.

Caligdong is also on Twitter.

/via Philippine Star (by Abac Cordero, 3/9/2011)

Azkals do everything not to 'freeze to death'

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

Azkals co-captain looks forward to footie match vs. Derek

Philippine Azkals co-captain Chieffy Caligdong (Photo courtesy of 'Emilio 'Chieffy' Caligdong' Facebook fan page)

MANILA, Philippines – It seems a one-on-one football match between Philippine Azkals co-captain Emilio “Chieffy” Caligdong and Derek Ramsey is in the offing.

“Kung pagbigyan niya [Ramsay] ako na magkaroon ng one-on-one, posible. Why not? Pakita ko sa kanya kung ano 'yung, kung saan ako galing na manlalaro na futbolero,” the striker told abs-cbnnews.com in a report on March 4.

This comes after Ramsay, via a message sent to "Showbiz News Ngayon" last week, accepted his earlier challenge to a football game. Recall that Caligdong jokingly asked Ramsay about three weeks ago to a friendly match after the former admitted that Angelica Panganiban is one of his showbiz crushes.

“Okay lang din sa akin na lumaban ng one-on-one sa football. I love a challenge and I've played football all my life. Win or lose, it would be fun,” the actor-model, who also plays for the RP Frisbee team, said.

More, the Azkals co-captain said that he would be proud to face Ramsay in a game which, he stressed, is only “for fun.”

‘Kung gusto niya, I'm proud na makalaban ko siya. Celebrity rin siya, eh. So sa akin, malaking bagay na iyan. Ang tanong sa kanya, malaking bagay rin [ba] sa kanya?

“Hindi [ko] naman [aagawin] iyong girlfriend niya. Crush lang naman so nag-aadmire lang ako dahil maganda siya,” said he.

Caligdong also intimated that he would love to meet Panganiban in person. Should the opportunity arise, he said that he would ask for her autograph and will also ask to have a picture taken with her.
Asked who his crush is aside from Panganiban, Caligdong said it’s Kapuso actress Rhian Ramos.
Caligdong may be remembered among football fans for scoring the opening goal in the Azkal’s first prequalifying game for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup against the Mongolian team last Feb. 9, which the Azkals won (2-0). Their second game against Mongolia is set for March 15 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

Meanwhile, Panganiban is currently under fire after she posted tweets on Thursday about another Azkals striker, Phil Younghusband, who is set to have a cameo in an indie film. This did not sit well particularly with one Phil Younghusband fan, who then hurled invectives towards the actress and even to Ramsay. Panganiban declared she is planning to bring the issue to court.

/via Manila Bulletin (by Julien Mercado C. Matabuena, Mar-4-2011)

Fierce as an Azkal

Cover photo by Jun Mendoza. On the cover: Chieffy Caligdong celebrates with his teammates after he scored the country’s first goal against Mongolia.

MANILA, Philippines - Basketball and boxing... these are the two sports Filipinos are obsessed with. Even as the rest of the world was riveted by last year’s World Cup matches, interest in the country was sporadic, and perhaps a good part of that was because of Paul the prophetic octopus.

But one football match changed all that.

Phil Younghusband tries to get the ball through a wall of Mongolian players (above). The Azkals are looking to repeat their victory on March 15 in Mongolia.

The Philippine Azkals were making a name for themselves, but were still under the radar when they faced Vietnam for the qualifying match at the Suzuki Cup in Vietnam last Dec. 4. Unexpectedly, they were the underdogs but when they pulled off an upset and won the match 2-0, football suddenly figured in the national consciousness, the team became overnight sensations, the new darlings of Philippine sports. Their win has been called one of the biggest upsets in football history, since the Azkals, ranked 151st in the world, blanked out defending champion Vietnam in the Suzuki Cup in Hanoi. The team even made it to Sports Illustrated magazine, their stunning upset picked as #10 in the magazine’s Top 10 football stories of the year. When the team played against Mongolia last Feb. 9, supporters trooped to the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod and wildly cheered them on to a 2-0 victory.

Of course it helps that the team is a good-looking bunch, and many of them could easily pass for commercial models and movie stars. But fortunately, their performance on the turf gives reason enough for the adulation.

Team manager Dan Palami says that he’s not surprised by the attention the team has been getting, but it’s not over until they hurdle the next game set in Mongolia on March 15.

“It’s not surprising but very overwhelming and right now you could see everything on the Internet. I know some were trying to get tickets to fly over to Bacolod to watch the game. But to see it on the web and to see the warm bodies are two different things and when you see these people cheering for you, it only happened to the team in Bacolod so far,” Palami says.

“It’s gratifying to see people of different ages, genders, geographical areas of residence and different political affiliations and to see them all – we suddenly realized that it’s not just a cliché that football is a unifying sport,” he adds.

While the Azkals have brought football to center stage due to their recent victories, Palami has long been sure that there were fans of the game in the country.

Goalie Neil Etheridge keeps the Mongolians scoreless. Photos by Jun Mendoza/STAR

“I always knew there were a lot of football supporters in the Philippines even before the game in Vietnam. The only difference I think was that years before, there were no reasons for them to come out and celebrate. They were hiding behind the anonymity because there wasn’t anything to celebrate,” he says.

All this has changed since winning the match in Bacolod and Palami says they are taking the attention in stride and know that they must prove it’s not just an overnight thing. “We’re quite appreciative of what’s happening. We’re a work in progress and we need to sustain the interest because some say its temporary, a flash in the pan. We need to keep getting good results in international games,” Palami admits. Their goal right now is to make the team not only a powerhouse in Southeast Asia but in the whole of Asia.

The Azkals – a play on the colloquialism for mongrel, askal or asong kalye – have a total of 37 players on the roster, 23 of whom will be going to Mongolia. Several of the players belong to teams in the European and Asian circuits, but suit up for the Philippine national team. Goalie Neil Etheridge, whose father is British and whose mother hails from Tarlac, is a goalie of Fulham in England. The popular Younghusband siblings Phil and James, also Fil-Brits, used to play for Chelsea. Left winger Chieffy Caligdong, who scored the first goal against Mongolia in Bacolod, is with the Philippine Air Force and plays for its team.

The Azkals show off their winning form against the Mongolian team in Bacolod.

While the team is composed of Filipinos and those with Filipino blood, Palami says the difference lies in the training, especially those who played in football clubs abroad. But the coaching staff and foreign players who played with the team are very impressed with the Filipino players. “Given the chance and had they had the training, they would be playing in the elite teams,” Palami says, referring to the English Premier and Spanish League.

Team captain Aly Borromeo believes that the local players play a big role in the matches. “The core of the team, the local players, pretty much the chemistry is there,” he says.

With the Azkals in the thick of preparation for the game in Mongolia, Palami admits that one major concern that they have is the climate.

“It’s the one factor that we have yet to be tested. The reason why we’re very concerned with it is because we’ve seen the players of Mongolia play, we’ve seen the conditions, we could dominate the game. But I don’t think any of the players have any chance to play the game at subzero temperature. Until they are on the pitch and I see them play, that’s the only time I can relax,” he says.

And while many fans have pinned their hopes on the team to bring the county finally into the World Cup, Palami says they are flattered and are hoping for that one day.

“We’re just in our infancy and the rest of Southeast Asia and Asia have been into the sport with a full program for a long time already. That’s what we need, a long-term program to make sure that we are ready for the next level. It’s our dream to be there (World Cup) but we know wishing to be there and getting there are two different things and we really need to work hard to make sure that we are ready.”

The popularity of the Azkals is not only confined to the Philippines but has spread to other countries as well. Many of the players – among them the Younghusband brothers and team captain Aly Borromeo – have been offered to play in Asian football clubs, which Palami says is an advantage for them. “It’s good for the team. We’re assured that the clubs in Indonesia or anywhere will take on the responsibility of training them, make the investments, and their salaries will give them the financial returns and ensure they are on a competitive level.”

After one of the biggest upsets in football history, the Philippine team celebrates their victory over defending champion Vietnam

Now that football is gaining popularity in the country, Palami says that the team is even more determined to succeed. “The team has for a long time been trashed, the whipping boys in a match. But now that they’ve tasted what it’s like when they win, I think that’s what’s going to motivate them. This adulation, the screaming fans, is a result of their hard work. I don’t think they would let go of that, but will work harder to make sure the campaigns they join would be successful.”

Basketball and boxing may still be the national obsessions, but Palami says football is a sport that Filipinos can definitely sink their teeth into next. So has the time of Philippine football come? “It’s dawning. It’s not yet the peak. We’re still far from saying we are successful but we have to start somewhere – and this is a start.”

STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte (center) welcomes Phil. Football Federation president Nonong Araneta (left) and chairman Johnny Romualdez (right), Azkals team manager Dan Palami (second from left) and players Aly Borromeo, Roel Gener, Nestor Margarse, and Ricardo Bacite when the team visited The STAR recently. Joey Mendoza/STAR

/via Philippine Star (by Alexa Villano, Mar-6-2011)