Palami assures good show from Azkals

SILAY CITY - The Philippine Azkals, along with the coaching crew led by German coach Hans Michael Weiss, team manager Dan Palami and Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Monico Puentevella, finally landed Wednesday night at the New Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City for the team's early preparation for the upcoming AFC-Challenge Cup on February 9, 2011 at the Panaad Stadium in Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Silay City Vice-Mayor Mark Golez, who led the warm welcomed for the Azkals, said that while the city has yet to establish a grassroots program for football, the arrival of the national team in Silay City will surely hasten the realization of the football program.


From the airport, the Azkals also attended the welcome dinner by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. at Bar 21.


In an interview at the airport, Palami, who has been working with the team for 13 months, assured the Filipino fans of a good show from the Azkals.

"I think that with the preparations I've seen in Manila and the time we will have in Bacolod, I think we will make an exciting game and we will make sure that we will make the Filipinos proud of their Azkals," Palami said.


Despite the delayed arrival of several Fil-foreign players like James and Philip Younghusband, Niel Etheridge, Rob Gier, Ray Johnson and Jason de de Jong, Palami stressed that most of them, including the new recruits, are on the way to Bacolod aboard the last flight for the day to join the team.


While the Younghusbands and defender Aly Borromeo are reportedly set to arrive this weekend, Palami disclosed that the other Fil-foreign booters will be coming over either on February 4 or 5.


"As they are coming on February 4 or 5, they have four days to blend with the team but since they have been playing with the team for some time, it's easier for them to adjust. I just hope they won't suffer jet lag when they come over," Palami said.


However, Palami was confident that these Fil-foreign players will not be affected by jet lag because they have experienced jet lag before it's not hard for them to adjust.


On the other hand, Azkals goalkeeper Eduard Sacapano, one of the two Negrense players in the team, said that since they have worked only for a week with their new coach, lots of adjustments are needed.


"That's the reason why we come early in Bacolod. It is to settle the needed adjustments in the game plan," Sacapano stressed.


Sacapano, along with Reymark Palmes, are both natives of Bago City.


Aside from these Negrense standouts, other Ilonggo players joining the pack are Ian Araneta,Yanti Bersales, Mark Ferrer, Chip Caligdong, Noel Gener, Joven Bermejo and Nestor Magarce.


Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on January 27, 2011.