By Jack Biantan
Monday, March 14, 2011
/via Sunstar
LONDON, UK -- An earthquake of 8.9 intensity and a tsunami with apocalyptic proportion have caused massive devastation in some cities of Japan the other day.
I was at work when I saw over BBC news how the 30 feet tsunami swallowed thousands of homes, hundreds of cars and acres of farmlands along Japan's Pacific coastline.
The first thing that went into my mind was the Azkals. They were acclimatizing in Japan during that time for the 2nd leg of their AFC Challenge Cup elimination match against Mongolia.
After several hours, I breathed a sigh of relief when I learned from twitter that they were far from the tsunami at the Japan FA's training centre in Gotemba. But they felt the earthquake and the aftershocks.
As of this writing they were on their way to Beijing and are expected to be in Ulan Bator, Mongolia by Sunday midnight. They have less than two days of rest before their clash on Tuesday noon.
Out safely
The Azkals managed to get out of Japan safely through Narita airport and through the efforts of the Japan FA. They hardly have rest in their long trip and they would arrive in Ulan Bator exhausted.
The Azkals trained in Japan to get used to cold weather that is expected during match day (March 15). They had difficulty adjusting to the weather, losing two matches against Japanese University teams in wide score margins.
Only three of the regular Azkals will not fly to Ulan Bator. Neil Etheridge, Rob Gier and Chris Greatwich will miss the Mongolia match.
Jason Sabio and Simon Greatwich however managed to squeak past from other early commitments to assure the fans that they will be playing in Mongolia. They are also on their way to Ulan Bator.
It would be good news for the Azkals, as both footballers could fill in the hole in the Azkals defences and midfield left by Rob Gier and Chris Greatwich.
It seems that the odds are all against the Azkals this time. The cold weather, the lack of rest and their traumatic experience of being in Japan when the earthquake and the tsunami happened.
Their defeat against the two Japanese teams does not however show the real Azkals spirit. It was only a practice game without any audience, except for the coaching staff and game officials. It was not even considered as official friendly.
Friendly matches have the hype, the media and the fans involved. Friendlies are always played against other national teams.
Only worry
My only worries are the Azkals' fitness and their mental state. They will be playing minus their Rabid supporters and are under extreme pressure.
The Azkals are known for their resiliency. How many times they have sprang back from certain defeat to be victorious? I am certain that they would brush off this episode of giving our country football honors.
There would be no turning back this time. If they lose by two goals, they will bid good bye to further advancing to the AFC elimination in Myanmar.
A draw would be enough for them to advance and losing is not an option. Let's pray for the Azkals success and for the recovery of the Japanese nation. GOD BLESS jackbiantan@yahoo.com
Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on March 14, 2011.
Showing posts with label Chris Greatwich. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chris Greatwich. Show all posts
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Azkal Simon Greatwich safe, flight diverted to Osaka
Azkal midfielder Simon Greatwich has safely landed in Osaka, Japan. Earlier, there was no word from Greatwich, as Narita airport was closed after the massive earthquake on Friday afternoon.
Greatwich told GMA News Online that the Tokyo airport was closed and that his flight was diverted to Osaka. He said he is now in contact with team officials.
Simon's brother Chris and fellow Azkal tweeted: "Apparently Simon is stuck in Osaka airport, but is okay."
Another Azkal, defender Jason Sabio, arrived at the Tokyo airport from Alabama, USA at around 3:00 p.m. on Friday via Japan Airlines.
At around 7:00 p.m., he tweeted that he and the other passengers were still stranded inside the plane.
He said when the plane landed in Japan, the ground was still shaking. He stressed, however, that all of them were safe.
Earlier this evening, GMA News Online reported that there was no word yet from Simon. He saw the story, reposted it on his Facebook fan page, and wrote: "DONT WORRY GMA IM OK!"
The rest of the team were already in Japan when the earthquake struck but team manager Dan Palami tweeted that they were safe.
The Azkals are conducting high-altitude training in Gotemba City (with an elevation of 1,500 feet), Honshu, on the eastern foot of Mount Fuji, south of Tokyo, Japan.
They have been in Japan since Monday as part of their training to acclimatize themselves to the cold Mongolian temperature for their match against the Blue Wolves, the Mongolian national team, on Tuesday, March 15.
The United States Geological Survey estimated the epicenter at 130 kilometers (km) east of Sendai, Honshu; 178 km east of Yamagata, Honshu; 178 km east-northeast of Fukushima, Honshu; or 373 km northeast of Tokyo.-- with reports from Miakka Lim and Mav Gonzales, GMA News
/via GMA News (3/11/2011 9:30 PM)
Greatwich told GMA News Online that the Tokyo airport was closed and that his flight was diverted to Osaka. He said he is now in contact with team officials.
Simon's brother Chris and fellow Azkal tweeted: "Apparently Simon is stuck in Osaka airport, but is okay."
Another Azkal, defender Jason Sabio, arrived at the Tokyo airport from Alabama, USA at around 3:00 p.m. on Friday via Japan Airlines.
At around 7:00 p.m., he tweeted that he and the other passengers were still stranded inside the plane.
He said when the plane landed in Japan, the ground was still shaking. He stressed, however, that all of them were safe.
Earlier this evening, GMA News Online reported that there was no word yet from Simon. He saw the story, reposted it on his Facebook fan page, and wrote: "DONT WORRY GMA IM OK!"
The rest of the team were already in Japan when the earthquake struck but team manager Dan Palami tweeted that they were safe.
The Azkals are conducting high-altitude training in Gotemba City (with an elevation of 1,500 feet), Honshu, on the eastern foot of Mount Fuji, south of Tokyo, Japan.
They have been in Japan since Monday as part of their training to acclimatize themselves to the cold Mongolian temperature for their match against the Blue Wolves, the Mongolian national team, on Tuesday, March 15.
The United States Geological Survey estimated the epicenter at 130 kilometers (km) east of Sendai, Honshu; 178 km east of Yamagata, Honshu; 178 km east-northeast of Fukushima, Honshu; or 373 km northeast of Tokyo.-- with reports from Miakka Lim and Mav Gonzales, GMA News
/via GMA News (3/11/2011 9:30 PM)
Friday, March 4, 2011
Azkals' amazing 2-0 win over Vietnam is sports story of year
 |
| Philippine football team goalkeeper Neil Etheridge (left) works against the vaunted Vietnam team during the Suzuki Cup. (EPA) |
In an incredible year for Philippine football, Manny Pacquiao has to settle for second place behind the gritty bunch of football players, fondly known as the Azkals.
The Azkals placed the Philippines in the international football map with their unprecedented performance in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup. A merry mix of Fil-foreign and homegrown talents, the Azkals stunned powerhouse Vietnam, 2-0, and drew with Singapore and Myanmar to reach the semifinals for the first time against Indonesia.
As one veteran scribe puts it, the team’s win against Vietnam was like Brunei beating the Philippine basketball team.
The Azkals’ journey began with the entry of young British coach Simon McMenemy who replaced compatriot Des Bulpin last September.
The team, whose core has been playing since 2004, also got a new manager in Dan Palami who belongs to a family of educators in Leyte. Palami poured funds into the team that was then training for the qualifiers in Laos.
The Nationals eventually earned a place in the main tournament by registering five points (one-win and two-draws) in three games, including a draw over host Laos in the second match. In that contest held on Oct. 24, the Azkals escaped defeat when James Younghusband scored in stoppage time to preserve a 2-2 tie that stunned the boisterous home crowd.
The magic continued in Vietnam, one of the two sites of the Suzuki Cup tourney, when the team salvaged a 1-1 draw with former three-time champion Singapore, a squad that has some naturalized players. This time, it was Chris Greatwich who scored in injury time off a cross from Younghusband in the 94th minute.
Then came the match against Vietnam.
Playing before 40,000 fans at the My Dinh National Stadium, the Azkals blanked the home team, 2-0, on goals by Greatwich and Phil Younghusband. Greatwich made the first goal, a header in the 37th minute. The Vietnamese tried to counter, but couldn’t get past goal keeper Neil Etheridge, who began his stint two years ago in Iloilo as an 18-year-old member of Fulham FC in England. Phil Younghusband added salt to injury with a goal in the 79th minute, triggering a flood of messages on social-networking sites worldwide.
The Azkals eventually earned that elusive berth when they forged a scoreless draw with Myanmar and arranged a two-leg home-and-away duel with Indonesia. They finished with five points (one-win, two draws) in Group B but the celebration of the momentous occasion turned to dismay when they learned they couldn’t play at home.
The Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City was ruled not fit for the match against Indonesia. Competing in front of crowds of 70,000-85,000 raucous people at Bung Karno Stadium for in the semis, the Nationals lost twice to the Indonesians, yielding a goal each as naturalized Indonesian Cristian Gonzales scored all of the goals. Gonzales, an Uruguayan prior to his naturalization, made Etheridge pay dearly for his defensive miscue with a header off a cross in the 32nd minute of the first leg then delivered an impressive strike that sailed past the outstretched arms of a diving Etheridge in the 43rd minute of the second leg, thus ending the dream run.
Despite the losses, the Azkals have sparked renewed interest in the sport.
They are set to play three tournaments, particularly the AFF Challenge Cup against Mongolia on February [nicky: Azkals won against Mongolia] with significant financial backing from the likes of sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan and Asia Brewery.
After much politicking, Mariano Araneta's election as new president of the Philippine Football Federation finally gained recognition from FIFA. Araneta’s ascencion came after Jose Mari Martinez, then Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president, was removed from office for alleged misapporpriation of funds.
/via Manila Bulletin
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