By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
MANILA, Philippines — Ulan Bator, Mongolia’s capital city, is considered the coldest national capital city in the world, with temperature dropping to as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius in January.
When the Philippine Azkals fly in there next month for their second AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match against the Blue Wolves, the capital will be more hospitable with temperature a little warmer ranging from - 2 and -15 degrees.
Still, Azkals team manager Dan Palami is worried for his players’ welfare there and even fears of them getting frostbite, a medical condition where the skin is damaged due to extreme cold.
“I fear a lot. Hindi ko alam kung ano pang pwedeng mangyari dun... and frost bite is a possibility. So we really have to be prepared for that,” said Palami on Thursday when the Azkals visited one of their sponsors, Inasal at Iba pa restaurant, at SM City Sta. Mesa in Manila.
“I’ve been to - 4, but not to play football but as a tourist. When I went to Germany (the coldest place he’s been into), it’s already -2, and in London, -4.”
“But I’m not looking forward to being in a colder place. But here we are, we have to go to Mongolia... The fear is always there, siyempre. Hindi ko alam baka mag-freeze nalang yung mga players natin,” Palami, who has been the team’s godfather since last year, said.
Team captain Aly Borromeo agreed.
“Cold weather is a factor. Mahirap dun... not anything close to that pero we’ll be prepared,” said Borromeo, adding that the coldest match he’s been into was eight degrees in the United States.
To quash any of his fears from happening, Palami said they are looking at two options to help the players get acclimatized with the freezing weather: First is to train in an artificial pitch in Mongolia a week before the March 15 match if the Mongolia Federation permits it, or if rejected, make a side trip to winter weather in Fukushima, Japan for a week.
Team doctor Randy Molo said the minimum acclimatization requirement is three days. In his forwarded e-mail to Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta on Thursday, Molo recommended the players to wear base layer or compression garments – sleeved/sleeveless pro-compression t-shirts, gloves and warm up gear (bonnet and ear covers) on game day.
“We’ll have to wear appropriate clothing. That’s why the key is to acclimatize,” Palami said.
Dr. Molo, though, said the wearing of sleeves will have to be lobbied by Palami during a manager’s meeting days before the match.
Molo said the cold weather is more of a concern than the high altitude adjustment since Ulan Bator lies at an elevation of about 1,310 metres (4,300 ft) in a valley on the Tuul River.
Starting Sunday, when German coach Michael Weiss gets back from a Japan vacation, the Azkals will train in Baguio City, which sits at 1,500 meters (5,100ft).
Manila Bulletin
KOREA DPR ARE #U17WWC CHAMPIONS! 🇰🇵🏆
14 hours ago
Sir Dam Palami wag kayo matakot,bakit Mongolian it's not human takot din sila sa lamig, nakatira din ako sa Malamig na bansa , tamang suot Lang kailangan Lang ng tamang suot thights Kung pwede nga spiderman suit
ReplyDeletem sure n evn w tights, supr pogi p rin ang mga Younghusbands! Azkals 4vr!!
ReplyDeleteTapos pagdating doon sa Mongolia heated indoor pitch pala ang stadium...
ReplyDeletehahaha
I can't understand why this match isn't postponed or takes place on neutral territory. Even sometimes in Europe matches get cancelled when too extreme temperatures are reached. I already played football at low temperatures (about -8 degrees) and it's no fun especially when breathing.....I can understand Palami's concern. The worst enemy of the Azkals is not the Mongolian team but the (weather) environment.
ReplyDeleteThe reason it is not postponed or moved to a neutral country is because Mongolia has a right to a home game. Mongolia wants the Azkals to be miserable. In Canada we do the same to Jamaica and Mexico by scheduling games in northern cities in November. When Canada plays in Honduras, they always schedule the game at 1:00 p.m. to make sure that the gringos from Canada have to play in the hottest part of the tropical day. Nobody is going to get frostbite and most players will even work up a sweat. The substitutes are going to be colder than the players.
ReplyDeleteThe ball becomes really stiff in cold weather and stings if you trap it on your bare thigh. Heading the ball can give you a headache because the ball will be hard. The biggest tip I can give is to stop telling horror stories about frostbite and freezing temperatures. That just gives the Blue Wolves more confidence.
i wanna share this, i don't know if this work or not but nfl players uses this during the game in winter. its called Warm Skin, a lotion which trap the body heat to prevent heat loss. maybe someone from the US could verify this. hope this could help the azkals.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.warmskin.com/warmskin.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0WwEAwZKiM&feature=player_embedded
gringos are not from canada. gringos refer to americans while guerros (weros) are white people.
ReplyDeletePreparation against the cold is mostly psychological. The Mongolians is just as affected by the weather physiologically but since they are used to it already, they don't even think about it as much.
ReplyDeleteWarm weather teams tend to think about the weather too much instead of concentrating on the game. That is why teams like Mexico and Jamaica falter when they play in the US or Canada. They have half lost the game before it has even started.
Being exposed early to that climate will help them adjust. Just wear the proper attire and they will be fine.
On the other hand physiologically, it does take time to adjust to altitude, as the body needs to build enough red blood cells, to compensate for the decreased oxygen available.