MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has set in motion preparations for the country’s quest for the elusive Southeast Asian Games men’s football medal in Indonesia even as the sport’s staging hangs in the balance with the host federation under threat of suspension.
PFF president Mariano Araneta said 40 players, composed mostly of local standouts and reinforced by Azkals Simon Greatwich and Jason de Jong, have been nominated to the Phl under-23 pool, with training stints in Kuwait and Qatar eyed.
“The pool will start training on June 22, and they are divided into the Luzon and Visayas training camps under coaches Roroy Pinero and Norman Fegidero,” Araneta said of the 40-man pool that will be handled by Michael Weiss after the Azkals’ stint in the Fifa World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Top players from the recent PFF Suzuki U23 National Cup lead the candidates to the SEA Games, including tournament MVP Aldrin Dolino, Best Striker Joshua Beloya, Lemuel Unabia and Joven Bedic from champ Negros Occidental FA, and Best Midfielder Francis Gustilo, Wilson Munoz and Neckson Leonora from runner-up Iloilo FA.
“There will only be eight Fil-foreign players in this pool, led by Simon and de Jong,” Araneta said, adding that Azkals’ Fil-British keeper Niel Etheridge, although still elibigle at 21 years old, will likely skip the SEAG.
Philstar
KOREA DPR ARE #U17WWC CHAMPIONS! 🇰🇵🏆
7 hours ago
with this plan basta walang favoritism...2018 WC qualifier i believe.
ReplyDeletewell-chosen lineup! train well the local players into world-class players. dati kasi train lg sila ng train then 1 wk before the game, tatanggalin sa lineup then papalitan ng Fil-foreigners. kaya dati, nawalan ng gana mga local players natin. hope now, we believe!
ReplyDeleteWC 2018? Bullshit. You can't reach for the stars when you don't have a way to reach the clouds....
ReplyDeleteThat's what's wrong with this Organization, that shit keeps leaving their mouths; talking about the World Cup 2018...these guy's can't even qualify for the Asian Cup.
Again: reach for the clouds before you reach for the stars.
Spot on, bro. Any tradesman needs years of training and experience before he's fully skilled and footballers are only tradesmen with talent in their feet instead of their hands. Until enough pitches are available and enough volunteer coaches are willing to get involved at grassroots level any idea of the Azkals moving up from the lowest international level is an impossible dream.
ReplyDeleteDepending on Fil-Fors for success is very unwise. None of them can keep a first-team place in any foreign club side of quality and most of them are simply denying talented locals the chance to grow.
And did you know five of them are facing allegations of serious misconduct off the field which may soon bring disgrace to the national team?
To the anonymous who responded to my anonymous message:
ReplyDeleteThis is what I hope the reliance on foreign Filipinos does for the RP National Team; hopefully it GALVANIZES the rest of the country, the youth, the children. I hope kids see the success and start getting into the game. That should be the strategy, hopefully it won't be a long-term strategy.
But like you said; being dependent on foreign players is a trap. That keeper from England, whats his face? That's a top team he plays for, not a starter though. I hope he's not one of the those five, because he's pretty much the anchor.
what allegations are u talking about?
ReplyDeletehey guys, i know its early for 2014 Brazil world cup but I love to experience the most watched sporting event. anyone else looking as far ahead as i am? i'm open for ideas, or any of you want to go, so we can plan and somehow save some bucks.
ReplyDeleteYes the GK is unfortunately one of them lol!!!
ReplyDeletePlease spill the beans......
ReplyDeleteAsk any Manila Azkalera....
ReplyDelete