02 August 2011

Azkals next take a bite on Asian Challenge Cup

BY BONG PEDRALVEZ


WITH the World Cup campaign over, it’s time for the Philippine Azkals to move on, according to German coach Michael Weiss, and set their sights on their next big target: the 2012 Asian Challenge Cup.

"We should now prepare for next year’s Asian Challenge Cup with a view of qualifying for the Asian Cup in 2015," Weiss said shortly before he left for Germany last Sunday for a 10-day break after the Nationals lost 1-2 last Thursday to Kuwait in the home leg of their Asian World Cup qualifiying match.

"We hope we can also put up a strong team for the Asian Challenge Cup, which will be a qualifying event for the main draw of the Asian Cup," he added, referring to the tournament set March 3 to 18, 2012.

Last weekend, the Asian Football Confederation Executive Committee approved Nepal as the host of the eight-nation tournament also featuring Palestine, India, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Tajikistan and defending champion North Korea.

The Asian Challenge Cup champion will earn a slot in the 2015 Asian Cup, the continent’s most prestigious soccer competition, set to be held in Australia.

The Azkals advanced to the tournament after a runner-up finish to the Palestinians in the group eliminations in Myanmar last May.

One of the concerns Weiss said he had to address is the possibility regular goalie Neil Etheridge might not be available full-time for the national team’s international engagements because he is set to be promoted as main reliever for his club Fulham in the English Premier League.

"If he plays for the first team, we’ll have a problem. We will need a keeper desperately," he said. "This will be a big, big point of concern."

The German mentor said they are seriously looking at French-born 18-year-old Alphonse Areola, a 6-foot-2 goalie who plays for French First Division side Paris St. Germain. His parents are Filipinos.

"But we will not know if he will be available to play for us until we ask him," Weiss said.

Aside from another dependable goalkeeper, Weiss said he’s also scouting for more strikers to boost the frontline led by Angel Guirado and Phil Younghusband.

"But I don’t want to bring in too many players (overseas) because it might kill the team spirit," Weiss said of the balancing act he’s trying to maintain within the squad.

The Nationals will take a three-week vacation and will return to train on Aug. 21 with the hopefuls of the National Under-23 squad set to compete in the 23rd Indonesia Southeast Asian Games in November.

Malaya

14 comments:

  1. Weiss : "We will need a keeper desperately," he said. "This will be a big, big point of concern."
    Nice to hear for filipino goalkeepers...

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  2. Weiss hits the nail again. Hahaha like after the Kuwait games. He doesnt seem to think before he opens his mouth. He should really consider his statements. Look Weiss, you have to do with whats available for you. Dont take away the reserves confidence with your statements!

    Besides that. Whats the fuzz with the FIFA rankings? Thats only thing on their mind.

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  3. GMA7 TUNAY NA BUHAY video about rape case incident issue June 2 :

    http://cebufa.org/forum/index.php?topic=472.msg6416#msg6416

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  4. "Dont take away the reserves confidence with your statements!"

    How the hell does his statements affect the confidence of the reserves?!? That's just stupid! That's pretty much saying that the player's positions within the squad, be it starters or reserves are secure which shouldn't be the case!

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  5. the problem is our bench ...as the quality suffers there....and we need really a 2nd good goalie....nothing against Sacampano as person but he is lacking physical pressence (not tall enough, etc.) and quality as goalie.

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  6. "How the hell does his statements affect the confidence of the reserves?!? That's just stupid! That's pretty much saying that the player's positions within the squad, be it starters or reserves are secure which shouldn't be the case! "

    Weiss is basically telling them that theyre sh|te and that they could just stick to the bench. Dont you see that? Players bloom when they get confidence and trust by a coach. If theyre on the bench, and they hear that, then thats a big slap on their faces.

    I agree that Sacapano sucks, but Camcam sucks even more, and its surprising that he tend to make it to the squad everytime. Something is wrong when it comes to certain aspects of picking out players.

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  7. players at this level bust their balls to get the coach's respect. only few will get a look fm good coaches. the nature of the beast says the coach has the final word. if he doesnt like your ass, he done mean just that. either you put up with it and shut up or work even harder to earn that confidence.

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  8. I agree that Sacapano sucks, but Camcam sucks even more, and its surprising that he tend to make it to the squad everytime. Something is wrong when it comes to certain aspects of picking out players.

    BUT SI PAOLO PASCUAL YUNG PINAKA MAHINA SA TATLO HAHAHA. CRAPPY PLAYER

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  9. Dapat na nila kunin si Mueller as back-up. He is a beast.

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  10. Paolo Pascual is actually alot better than Camcam.

    How do you know Mueller is a beast? Have you seen him play?

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  11. Muller is really good! It's also why he now wears the #1 jersey for his club and sooner rather than later could end up becoming first choice!

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  12. So he could actually be better than Neil Etheridge, then? But then again, it would be harder to get him released for future games/tournaments if he is the first choice for his club.

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  13. agree that paolo has more potential than camcam. matangkad lang siya at mas na-una sa team

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  14. why should weiss have to play a balancing act with the team. if there are still better players out there willing to commit then so be it. nobody thought of the feelings of previous fil-born players who were displaced from the team when they started getting the first batch of fil-foreigners in 2004. nobody is assured of their places in the line-up and not even borromeo, the captain.

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