Cedelf P. Tupas
MANILA---The Philippines isn’t about to sit on its two-goal cushion when they face Mongolia again in their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying duel next month.
Underscoring the importance of the match in Ulan Bator on March 15, the Azkals have considered Japan as another possible site for training camp in preparation for the clash.
The Azkals dominated the Mongolians on their way to a 2-nil victory before 20,000 fans at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City Wednesday night.
“We might train in a city in Northern Japan where conditions are closely similar to Mongolia,” team manager Dan Palami said yesterday.
Palami said holding training camp in Japan is a fallback if a practice field will be unavailable for the use of the Azkals in Ulan Bator.
“As far as we know there is only one playing field in Ulan Bator,” said Palami, who single-handedly bankrolled the squad in 2010 when the team achieved unprecedented success.
Holding training camps in Japan is not new for the Philippines since some of its national teams have undergone training at the facility of the Japan Football Association in Fukushima.
The Philippine Football Federation has recently renewed ties with the JFA for a possible assistance package for grassroots and coaches’ development as well as help for the national squad.
Palami disclosed that there is a strong possibility that Filipino-Danish player Jerry Lucena will be able to play for the Azkals in Mongolia.
A central midfielder, the 30-year-old Lucena is a veteran of the Danish first division and trained with the Azkals three times while they were in Bacolod.
But Palami expressed doubts on the availability of another Fil-Danish standout, Dennis Cagara, who is still recovering from an injury.
Palami hopes he will have all the players from the team that played in Bacolod for the second leg.
“I think if we have all our players back, we will stand a good chance of beating Mongolia again,” said Palami.
The winner of the Mongolia-Philippines qualifying tie will move to the second stage of qualifying in Chittagong, where it will meet Bangladesh, Palestine and Myanmar.
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If we dont need to pay a lot of money this could be a good idea. But in the long run, just for acclimatization, the money could be spent better. Mongolia is not the strongest team we will face and the long term benefit is not as important as if wrap this up we wont be playing in a temperate country for the group stages. Any additional technical knowledge can surely be provided by the new coach. With proper cohesion and better understanding of the coach's style, we can still beat them. Unless the players movement will be so affected by the temperature, I dont see Mongolia coming up with 3 goals to beat us. We just have to keep possession better and make sure we dominate midfield.
ReplyDeleteHey Jonny,
ReplyDeleteI like that Weather caption you added on top of Ulan Bator, Mongolia. That is very cool. Man I don't think our team realizes how cold it is going to be at gametime in below 0 degree weather. I am usually all bundled up if I go out at that temperature and they will be running around outside in shorts and hopefully some long sleeved shirts. I guess you Norwegians are used to it but a lot of these guys have never even seen snow.
Hey jay,
ReplyDeleteTeams play differently when exposed for the first time to such extreme conditions. I have watched the Mexicans teams go to the US during winter for WC qualifying and start playing a different game. acting timid and losing one on one battles, from their usual possession offensive style. Mongolia nearly won a tie against Macau a few years ago in this same tournament where they fell behind 2-0 on the road but won 3-1 at home as the Macau players literally froze up in Ulan Bator. Fortunately for Macau, the away goal rule was enforced and they advanced. So being acclimatized is very impt. as we don't want any surprises to ruin our momentum.
With an extra month to practice this new system, hopefully they will work the kinks out and play a more organized and smoother game. The Mongolians will attack to try to makeup the deficit and it will give us an opportunity to score. I predict a higher scoring game this time.
I guess this where our Fil foreigners will make another difference as they are used to playing on very cold climates. But i really cant see the Mongolians coming up with three goals and we dont score. They didnt show anything offensively but their defense was organized albeit very inexperienced. And i think they should have at least tried harder to score after we went ahead knowing the importance of an away goal. You couldnt see them having any penetration or wing play. We have one more month to train and we will be stronger than in the first leg. I think in the end, our experience, better skill and tactical advantages will see us through this one. Iam not saying it will be easy and should take the Mongolians for granted, but if we have good concentration, it should be ok.
ReplyDeleteWith all the preparations and proper acclimatization, I also not only expect us to win but win big this time. We are a lot better than Macau after all. Mongolia will have to attack and that will leave them vulnerable at the back to our offensive forays. I don't think they can afford to play literally a man down by having a player mark again Phil Younghusband throughout the game, without contributing to the attack. Phil will have more chances and that usually means more goals.
ReplyDeletelonewolf
ReplyDeletewould warm skin lotion helps? i think some nfl players uses them.
I think it would be smart to do the Japan thing.
ReplyDeleteThey would probably even consider sponsoring the training camp there, since they are already providing assistance to the PFF.
Acclimatisation is an important factor. I don't know if one of you have ever played football by temperatures below zero. It's freezing Hell. Of course our team is better skilled but this climate thing can make a bad surprise. Macau played in April in Mongolia, we will face them in March ...so it is even colder than. The longer the Mongolians won't score the better to get them frustrated. Too bad we weren't able to make more goals in the match and swept them from the pitch 4-0 or 5-0. So the match would have be already decided.......but I am confident we advance to the group stage. Our team is strong enough.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I am all for it. No coach would not want to prepare his team for such conditions. But all this money that is pouring in is not encashed yet to my knowledge. Does the team already have access to the 80 M from MVP and and 20 M from Air 21? Cause it doesnt sound like they do. Will that money be used for development and training of the Azkals? In the past 20 or so odd years, Ive personally seen how a lot of my teammates and new generations of players who were good enough to play for the National Team deprived so much financially by the PFF. Overseas training was very rare. Let alone for acclimatization. So forgive me for the culture shock that the current wave of enthusiasm and support for the Azkals has generated. I have heard that the AFC will release $20,000 to the Azkals for this trip covering a three day stay including the day of the match. Palami and Weiss wants them to go to Mongolia a week before to acclimatize and if they do this they are gonna spend another $25,000 which they are looking to get sponsorship for. Again, if this Japan trip is free or if there is a generous sponsor out there willing to shoulder this..then lets get them going as early as possible. But they seem to be short even for the Mongolia trip itself so where's the cash gonna come from? Kawawa naman si Dan Palami kung maglalabas nanaman siya ng pera. He has done enough for the team and for Philippine football. In fact if there is one person who single handedly risked so much for football financially, his name will come up and should be given the distinction of being the one who spearheaded this football revolution we are seeing.
ReplyDeleteAs for the cold, preparation is mostly psychological. If they can be exposed early to such a climate, they can learn to adjust to its effects and just concentrate on playing the game. The Mongolians is just as affected but have learned to deal with it so they don't even think about it anymore.
ReplyDeleteAs for the stay in Baguio, one week is not enough time for altitude training. It takes at least 3 weeks of training at high altitude to develop sufficient red blood cells to mimic your previous fitness level. That one week though will give them time to adjust and learn so they can pace themselves properly on matchday.
Thats an interesting point eagle..It would be good if someone from the PFF actually researches on this so they know what they are preparing for. Altitude and temperature are related issues. Baguio and Mongolia could have the same elevation albeit temperatures could be very different. If your like 4000 to 5000 feet above sea level, how much will that do to our conditioning? So sports science has to come in to play here.
ReplyDeleteIf you play on high altitude (5000 feet or more above sea level)there is a big impact on your game. If you are not well prepared your really suffer with your condition. You can see this always like in Mexico or South America (Bolivia/Ecuador)....even better teams than the home sides have a hard time to get good results there. Furthermore it alsoaffects the (fly) charactieristics of the ball due to the thiner air (as far as I know). So an extended stay in Baguio would help to get used to it
ReplyDeleteUm...I did a little research regarding acclimatisation.
ReplyDeleteIt takes only 10-14 days to acclimatise to high altitude, but they can take certain (legal) drugs to speed up the physiological process.
But looking at the future, WHEN (just being optimistic) the Azkals beat Mongolia, their altitude training will be an advantage in the early part of the next stage because the effects last up to 2 weeks after the training. The match against Myanmar will just be just 5 days after Mongolia. so...two birds with one stone!!
If you are talking about erythropoietin which helps increase Red blood cell mass, it is illegal to use that drug and will result in suspension. It was used in the Tour de France for a lot of years bec. it was a difficult to develop a test for it but the test is now available and it has been banned.
ReplyDelete10-14 days is the minimum recommended but 3 weeks is required if you want to mimic your previous fitness level.
Yes after the initial adjustment to going back to low altitude. there is an added advantage to having an increased oxygen capacity in the short term.
Well, bottom line is the Azkals need to work very hard in training with the limited time they have. Maintaining their condition and getting to know the new system will be more important issues here. I think the best they can do at this point is get to Mongolia a week or 10 days before game time and spend the rest of the time until then in Baguio.
ReplyDelete