Azkals begins training for AFC Challenge Cup

BY JOSEF T. RAMOS CORRESPONDENT

THE “Azkals” begin its rigid training today in preparation for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifying series slated February in Panaad Stadium, Bacolod City. The University of Makati football field in Makati City would be the team’s home for the duration of the practice.

Azkals’ team manager Dan Palami, who bankrolled the team’s participation in last year’s Suzuki Cup, told The Manila Times that the team would commence its training immediately to condition and sharpen the skills of the players.

“We need to train immediately because we only have a month to prepare,” said Palami, noting that goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and other foreign players with Filipino parentage in the team would miss the practice because of commitments to other clubs.



Striker Philip Younghusband and Brother James along with team captain Aly Borromeo, Ian Araneta and Anton del Rosario, among others will join the training in Makati City.

The core members of the team that played in the 2010 Suzuki Cup were drafted for the Challenge Cup although it is highly probable that Filipino-Danish Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara as well as Filipino-German Stephan Schrock would come in as reinforcement.

The early preparation, according to Palami, would give the Azkals enough time to develop a solid game plan before the first leg of the qualifying series begins February 9. The Azkals’ first match will be against Mongolia.

While the Azkals are waiting for the arrival of Hans Michael Weiss, the newly commissioned head coach of the team on either the 15th or 16th of January, a team of local coaches headed by Edwin Cabadila of Philippine Air Force would handle the team’s training.

Source : Manila Times