BEFORE I proceed with this sports column, allow me to extend my deepest sympathies to those affected by yesterday’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan. We can only hope for the least number of casualties and damage, for the safety of hundreds of thousands of Filipinos working there, and for the nation’s quick recovery.
On a positive note, it was a relief to learn that the Azkals players training in the Japanese City of Gotemba right now are in no danger, as what team manager Dan Palami relayed online.
“Azkals are safe... felt the tremors but otherwise okay. Airports have been closed, hopefully it won’t affect flight to Mongolia tomorrow,” Palami said in his message posted on filipinofootball.blogspot.com yesterday.
Palami’s message was enough to reassure Azkals fans who were deeply worried for the team’s well-being.
Before that, however, the fans were already concerned with far less consequential events, especially at how the team was doing in the subzero conditions at the foot of snow-covered Mt. Fuji where they trained. The news reports weren’t good.
Last Wednesday, the team lost 4-0 to Kanto University, then yesterday 8-1, both warm-up matches for the second leg of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match against Mongolia on March 15 in expectedly worse weather.
The two successive drubbings from a college team sent many fans panicking on Facebook and Twitter, some with remarks that were not only uncalled for but foolish.
Of course, these comments were knee-jerk, as these didn’t take into consideration the fact that the players were still acclimatizing to the weather that ranged from 0 to -5 degrees.
“The cold really took a toll on the player’s bodies,” Palami said in a report by Cedelf Tupas of the Inquirer, adding that it would take a day or two for them to get used to the weather.
Just imagine the toll that the freezing conditions take on players who have spent most of their footballing lives in sunny weather, such as Emilio Caligdong and Ian Araneta, whose mobility suffered terribly from the biting cold, as what Palami revealed in the news report.
With that, football fans must realize that the performance of the players against the college team was far from a hundred percent.
On the other hand, it would be reasonable for the coaching and training staff to advise its players to “take it easy” against their opponents because their main goal in Japan is to acclimatize anyway.
Wouldn’t it be foolish to instruct players, quivering from the cold, to play with the same intensity as they would in a tropical country without having adapted to the weather?
Besides, there’s also reason to believe that in both warm-up matches, unnecessary injuries needed to be avoided, and so therefore, it wouldn’t make sense to stretch the players’ physical limits in a friendly match.
So the Azkals lost to a college team. Big deal.
Remember, the team is preparing for another team whose capabilities and limitations were exposed in the match in Bacolod City a month ago, a revelation certainly not lost on the coaching staff.
The only other issue of real concern is how well the Azkals’ acclimatization process is proceeding and whether they’d be in good form by March 15.
For peace of mind, it would do well for fans in doubt to just forget the 4-0 and 8-1 losses to a college team.
If that wont’ do, then I’ll just have to remind them that last Nov. 27, the same Azkals team lost 8-0 to Nakhon Pathom FC, a level two club in Thailand, during a warm -up match for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010.
With such a beating, some pundits just gave up on the Philippine team and their chances in Southeast Asia’s biggest football tournament.
But barely a week after, the Azkals silenced the pundits with a shock 1-1 draw against Singapore, before staging the biggest upset in the tournament’s history by humbling defending champions Vietnam 2-0 days later.
What does this prove? Among others, losing in warm-up matches does not equate to a disaster. So to all jittery Azkals fans, do yourselves a favor—relax in time for the big game. It’s just three days away, in case you’ve forgotten.
(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 12, 2011.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Azkals soar high with Cebu Pacific
 |
| New sports heroes: Phil Younghusband with skipper Aly Borromeo, and midfielder James Younghusband are set to clinch bigger victories with Cebu Pacific. |
MANILA, Philippines - The country’s national football team, popularly known as the Azkals, has proven that Filipinos have the potential to be top dogs in football. Fighting their way to a semi-final finish at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in Hanoi, Vietnam, they ushered in a new chapter in Philippine sports. Today, the nation’s new heroes continue to scale greater heights as they travel to different locations and tournaments, now with an extra pair of wings to help them soar to — Cebu Pacific.
“We taught ourselves to never stop fighting. We had one goal in mind. We gathered everything that we had and told ourselves that this was our time, and we tried to go after that goal,” said team captain Aly Borromeo.
Touted as the competition’s biggest upset in history, their win against ASEAN powerhouse teams cemented their position as a strong contender in the region. In pursuit of even greater honor and pride for the country, the Filipino booters are training hard to be ready for future tournaments with a new coach at the helm, Hans Michael Weiss. Next on their list: the second leg of the ASEAN Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifier to be held in Mongolia this March 15.
“It’s great to have Cebu Pacific on board with the Azkals. It’s an honor that companies like them believe in us, and it’s what football needs right now. What we have accomplished together is just a stepping stone for bigger things to come,” added Borromeo.
James Younghusband, one of the team’s midfielders, said, “Travel is what’s great about football. We’ve covered a lot of countries because of football and we get to meet new people, see new places, and experience new cultures.
“I’m looking forward to more domestic travel with Cebu Pacific. My brother Phil and I started the Younghusband Football Academy, so we get to visit different places and team up with public schools and local government units to spread the message about football,” said Younghusband.
Cebu Pacific, the country’s largest flag carrier, provided the team with plane tickets to help them soar to more world-class victories. With the largest network of domestic and ASEAN destinations served, Cebu Pacific ensures that the players are able to come home to their provinces and fly to future football competitions and training camps in the country.
/via Philippine Star
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Azkals take risky route to U Bator
MANILA, Philippines – The resilient Azkals took the risk as they left the training facility in Gotemba, Japan yesterday morning just to catch their evening flight to Ulan Bator, Mongolia via Beijing.
The Azkals arrived safely at the Narita International Airport after taking a bullet train. They boarded the Air China flight to Beijing past 8 p.m.
They were scheduled to arrive in Beijing at 11:30 p.m., with very little time, 40 minutes to be exact, to catch the flight to Ulan Bator at 12:10 a.m.
“(We’re) at the (Narita) boarding gate. Been traveling nine hours and not even on the plane. (We) carried boxes around Japan literally by foot,” said Phil Younghusband on his Twitter.
The Azkals hooked up with teammate Jason Sabio who had been at the Narita Airport since Friday’s earthquake.
Simon Greatwich, who also came in from the United States, but on a different flight, ended up in Incheon, South Korea, and was on his way to Ulan Bator last night.
The earthquake that struck the northeastern coast of Japan the other day left the Azkals, in Gotemba since Monday, in a tight situation as they prepared for Tuesday’s match.
As of Friday evening, there was no certainty if the Azkals would be able to fly out of Japan which was struck by the seventh strongest earthquake in history.
Team officials feared that if the Azkals left Gotemba for Tokyo by bus, and travel around 170 kms, they might get stuck somewhere along the way.
And it was very hard to guess what might happen considering all the damage caused by the earthquake that left hundreds dead, with continuing threats of a tsunami and aftershocks.
Tokyo was a gridlock as of midnight of Friday, with traffic at a standstill, and an ordinary one-hour drive took at least five times longer.
The situation left football president Nonong Araneta and Azkals team manager Dan Palami, who were in Manila, in a quandary.
They thought of pushing for a cancellation of the March 15 match with the Mongolians, and push it back to a couple of days until things normalize in Japan.
But amid all these, the Azkals kept their supporters updated via Twitter, assuring everyone that they are all safe in Gotemba, which is far off the coastlines of Japan.
Araneta and Palami moved their flights to Ulan Bator via Incheon, South Korea from yesterday noon to tomorrow, meaning they will get there on the eve of the match.
But the Azkals, fortunately, did manage to get out of Gotemba, and safely to the Narita Airport on their way out to Ulan Bator.
“The Japanese Football Association did everything they could to make sure the team gets to the airport safely,” said Araneta.
Greatwich joked on his Twitter account that Sabio “has been stuck at the airport for so long he’s starting to look like Robin Williams in Jumanji.”
Del Rosario said the Narita Airport “looked like a hotel and the floor are the beds.”
Speaking of Sabio, Del Rosario said in jest, “He’s right next to me in one piece but he stinks.”
Sabio replied, “Anton is right. I smell. I smell like roses and butterflies.”
The Azkals will play the Mongolians in Ulan Bator at around 1 p.m. Tuesday, under freezing weather conditions, and would rely on their Columbia thermal outwear to fight it off.
The Azkals defeated the Mongolians at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, 2-0, last Feb. 9, and now the hosts need to win by a margin of at least three goals to boot the Azkals out.
/via Philippine Star (by Abac Cordero, 3/13/2011)
The Azkals arrived safely at the Narita International Airport after taking a bullet train. They boarded the Air China flight to Beijing past 8 p.m.
They were scheduled to arrive in Beijing at 11:30 p.m., with very little time, 40 minutes to be exact, to catch the flight to Ulan Bator at 12:10 a.m.
“(We’re) at the (Narita) boarding gate. Been traveling nine hours and not even on the plane. (We) carried boxes around Japan literally by foot,” said Phil Younghusband on his Twitter.
The Azkals hooked up with teammate Jason Sabio who had been at the Narita Airport since Friday’s earthquake.
Simon Greatwich, who also came in from the United States, but on a different flight, ended up in Incheon, South Korea, and was on his way to Ulan Bator last night.
The earthquake that struck the northeastern coast of Japan the other day left the Azkals, in Gotemba since Monday, in a tight situation as they prepared for Tuesday’s match.
As of Friday evening, there was no certainty if the Azkals would be able to fly out of Japan which was struck by the seventh strongest earthquake in history.
Team officials feared that if the Azkals left Gotemba for Tokyo by bus, and travel around 170 kms, they might get stuck somewhere along the way.
And it was very hard to guess what might happen considering all the damage caused by the earthquake that left hundreds dead, with continuing threats of a tsunami and aftershocks.
Tokyo was a gridlock as of midnight of Friday, with traffic at a standstill, and an ordinary one-hour drive took at least five times longer.
The situation left football president Nonong Araneta and Azkals team manager Dan Palami, who were in Manila, in a quandary.
They thought of pushing for a cancellation of the March 15 match with the Mongolians, and push it back to a couple of days until things normalize in Japan.
But amid all these, the Azkals kept their supporters updated via Twitter, assuring everyone that they are all safe in Gotemba, which is far off the coastlines of Japan.
Araneta and Palami moved their flights to Ulan Bator via Incheon, South Korea from yesterday noon to tomorrow, meaning they will get there on the eve of the match.
But the Azkals, fortunately, did manage to get out of Gotemba, and safely to the Narita Airport on their way out to Ulan Bator.
“The Japanese Football Association did everything they could to make sure the team gets to the airport safely,” said Araneta.
Greatwich joked on his Twitter account that Sabio “has been stuck at the airport for so long he’s starting to look like Robin Williams in Jumanji.”
Del Rosario said the Narita Airport “looked like a hotel and the floor are the beds.”
Speaking of Sabio, Del Rosario said in jest, “He’s right next to me in one piece but he stinks.”
Sabio replied, “Anton is right. I smell. I smell like roses and butterflies.”
The Azkals will play the Mongolians in Ulan Bator at around 1 p.m. Tuesday, under freezing weather conditions, and would rely on their Columbia thermal outwear to fight it off.
The Azkals defeated the Mongolians at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, 2-0, last Feb. 9, and now the hosts need to win by a margin of at least three goals to boot the Azkals out.
/via Philippine Star (by Abac Cordero, 3/13/2011)
Azkals coach tells fans: Don't worry
MANILA, Philippines — Even though there appears a slight concern in Philippine Azkals’ ability to deal with playing in a freezing condition, Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss is not about to press the panic button.
Only three days left before their crucial AFC Challenge Cup qualifying rematch against Mongolia in Ulan Bator, Weiss remains upbeat the Azkals can cope up with the freezing weather condition despite losing to the Kanto University football team in a tune up match, 4-0, in Gotemba City, Japan last Wednesday.
“No worries for all Azkals fans,” the German mentor, who turned 46 Friday, told the Bulletin in an e-mail interview.
“(Yes) we had big problems adapting to the weather and had a match versus a good university side… but the result really doesn’t matter too much and it shows you that we still have to learn a lot.”
Weiss acknowledged that the college team they faced was superior in both technique and teammanship than the Azkals side, saying: “The team (Japanese) trains under professional conditions since young age, (and) they are affiliated to Yokohama Marinos, a big club in Japan. Some of these players might be pros in the future.”
Azkals team manager Dan Palami agreed.
“It’s okay (with the loss). Our intention was really not to win, but to get the players acclimatized with the cold weather,” Palami said in a phone interview yesterday.
Palami was so confident about the team’s chances that he believes the team’s performance against the Japanese team would be enough to beat the Mongolians for the second time.
“Yes (we can still beat them),” said Palami, who added that the Azkals were safe following a powerful 8.4-magnitude earthquake that triggered a massive tsunami in the northeastern part of Japan.
“The Azkals are safe… felt the tremors but otherwise OK. Airports have been closed, hopefully it will not affect our flight to Mongolia tomorrow,” Palami posted on his Twitter account.
The Azkals were playing another Japanese university team in Gotemba City at presstime and Weiss appears unconcerned if ever the team loses again because he said the locals are still adjusting with the condition and “several players have been missing, so that was also a big factor.”
Fil-American Jason Sabio and Fil-British Simon Greatwich flew from the US and joined the team only yesterday afternoon. Two more Fil-foreigners, Ray Jonsson and Jason de Jong, will rejoin the team in Ulan Bator next week to complete the line up.
Meanwhile, Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation had approved the release of a P2- million grant for the Azkals’ campaign in the Challenge Cup.
He said the amount will help foot the bill for the Azkals’ travel expenses since the mandatory $20,000 aid by the AFC was not enough.
Armed with a 2-0 edge after beating the Mongolians last Feb. 9 in Bacolod City, the Azkals need only a draw to advance to the group stage in Myanmar.
Should the nationals prevail, they will meet Bangladesh, Palestine and the host nation in a single-round battle for the top two slots to the regular draw of the Asian Challenge Cup in 2012.
/via Manila Bulletin (Francisco Santiago, 3/12/2011)
Only three days left before their crucial AFC Challenge Cup qualifying rematch against Mongolia in Ulan Bator, Weiss remains upbeat the Azkals can cope up with the freezing weather condition despite losing to the Kanto University football team in a tune up match, 4-0, in Gotemba City, Japan last Wednesday.
“No worries for all Azkals fans,” the German mentor, who turned 46 Friday, told the Bulletin in an e-mail interview.
“(Yes) we had big problems adapting to the weather and had a match versus a good university side… but the result really doesn’t matter too much and it shows you that we still have to learn a lot.”
Weiss acknowledged that the college team they faced was superior in both technique and teammanship than the Azkals side, saying: “The team (Japanese) trains under professional conditions since young age, (and) they are affiliated to Yokohama Marinos, a big club in Japan. Some of these players might be pros in the future.”
Azkals team manager Dan Palami agreed.
“It’s okay (with the loss). Our intention was really not to win, but to get the players acclimatized with the cold weather,” Palami said in a phone interview yesterday.
Palami was so confident about the team’s chances that he believes the team’s performance against the Japanese team would be enough to beat the Mongolians for the second time.
“Yes (we can still beat them),” said Palami, who added that the Azkals were safe following a powerful 8.4-magnitude earthquake that triggered a massive tsunami in the northeastern part of Japan.
“The Azkals are safe… felt the tremors but otherwise OK. Airports have been closed, hopefully it will not affect our flight to Mongolia tomorrow,” Palami posted on his Twitter account.
The Azkals were playing another Japanese university team in Gotemba City at presstime and Weiss appears unconcerned if ever the team loses again because he said the locals are still adjusting with the condition and “several players have been missing, so that was also a big factor.”
Fil-American Jason Sabio and Fil-British Simon Greatwich flew from the US and joined the team only yesterday afternoon. Two more Fil-foreigners, Ray Jonsson and Jason de Jong, will rejoin the team in Ulan Bator next week to complete the line up.
Meanwhile, Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation had approved the release of a P2- million grant for the Azkals’ campaign in the Challenge Cup.
He said the amount will help foot the bill for the Azkals’ travel expenses since the mandatory $20,000 aid by the AFC was not enough.
Armed with a 2-0 edge after beating the Mongolians last Feb. 9 in Bacolod City, the Azkals need only a draw to advance to the group stage in Myanmar.
Should the nationals prevail, they will meet Bangladesh, Palestine and the host nation in a single-round battle for the top two slots to the regular draw of the Asian Challenge Cup in 2012.
/via Manila Bulletin (Francisco Santiago, 3/12/2011)
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)
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)
Azkals’ loss to Japan squad downplayed
MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine Azkals team manager Dan Palami downplayed the team's recent loss in an exhibition match in Japan.
The Azkals lost 0-4 to players from the Kanto Gakuin University.
Palami said the cold weather in Japan took its toll on the player's bodies.
However, he remains confident that the Azkals will eventually adjust to the freezing temperature.
The Azkals are training in Japan to prepare them for the sub-zero conditions in Mongolia in the second leg of their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup showdown on March 15. – Report from ANC
The Philippines-Mongolia match will be shown LIVE March 15, 12 noon on Studio 23, with a replay at 7p.m. The match will also be shown 3 p.m. on BALLS SkyCable Ch. 34.
/via abs-cbn
The Azkals lost 0-4 to players from the Kanto Gakuin University.
Palami said the cold weather in Japan took its toll on the player's bodies.
However, he remains confident that the Azkals will eventually adjust to the freezing temperature.
The Azkals are training in Japan to prepare them for the sub-zero conditions in Mongolia in the second leg of their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup showdown on March 15. – Report from ANC
The Philippines-Mongolia match will be shown LIVE March 15, 12 noon on Studio 23, with a replay at 7p.m. The match will also be shown 3 p.m. on BALLS SkyCable Ch. 34.
/via abs-cbn
Pagcor gives P2 million for Azkals’ trip
THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) will give P2 million to fund the Philippine Azkals’ trip to Mongolia and Myanmar. The Azkals are set to compete in the Group Stage of the 2011 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup.
“We are so very thankful to PAGCOR for believing and supporting us. Pagcor’s financial assistance will help the campaign of the Philippine men’s football team in Mongolia and Myanmar,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta.
Besides the P2 million from Pagcor, the Azkals and the PFF also received US $20,000 assistance from the AFC.
The Azkals would battle the Mongolian Blu Wolves in their home turf in Ulan Bator in the second leg of the qualifying stage of the AFC Challenge Cup on March 15. After that, the team would play in the tournament’s stage event on March 21 in Myanmar.
“I remain very confident about our chances in Mongolia. This was just the first time that they played in this kind of weather and they are still adjusting,” said Araneta, who is scheduled to leave for Mongolia late Saturday night.
JOSEF T. RAMOS
/via Manila Times (3/12/2011)
“We are so very thankful to PAGCOR for believing and supporting us. Pagcor’s financial assistance will help the campaign of the Philippine men’s football team in Mongolia and Myanmar,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta.
Besides the P2 million from Pagcor, the Azkals and the PFF also received US $20,000 assistance from the AFC.
The Azkals would battle the Mongolian Blu Wolves in their home turf in Ulan Bator in the second leg of the qualifying stage of the AFC Challenge Cup on March 15. After that, the team would play in the tournament’s stage event on March 21 in Myanmar.
“I remain very confident about our chances in Mongolia. This was just the first time that they played in this kind of weather and they are still adjusting,” said Araneta, who is scheduled to leave for Mongolia late Saturday night.
JOSEF T. RAMOS
/via Manila Times (3/12/2011)
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