Limpag: Is Weiss under pressure to win in Taiwan?

By Mike T. Limpag

Fair Play

Thursday, September 29, 2011

SOMEBODY pointed out an intriguing point regarding the Azkals friendlies against Singapore, Nepal and the Long Teng Cup campaign in the next couple of weeks.


We basically have two different squads—one for the friendlies and one for the Taiwan campaign—where the Azkals finished third of four teams last year.

The point basically is, coach Michael Weiss must deliver in Taiwan and must bring home the Cup.


Win against Singapore and Nepal, when we have a fully-loaded lineup and lose in Taiwan? What will folks think?


“They might think that we don’t need a good coach, we just need a good team.”

Hmmm. Interesting.


But, I have to disagree on this one.


No matter who we field, we need a good coach because, for me, being great at coaching isn’t only about how good you are at tactics, substitutions or knowing who to put in the lineup.

No matter who we field, we still need a good coach, one who’ll break egos, or who’d insist that players show up for practice, not for photo-shoots and stuffs like that.


Yes, coach Weiss could face the pressure if the “weak” team loses in Taiwan and the strong team wins against Singapore and Nepal.


But what happens if it’s the other way around?

Yikes!!!

The team left for Taiwan yesterday for the Long Teng Cup, and I hope they do well. Because to be honest, this is the only tournament where the Azkals have the greatest chance of bringing home the bacon.

Sure, compared to the SEA Games,on the Suzuki Cup, the Long Teng Cup isn’t much but considering how most of the players who scored the breakthrough in Vietnam last year used the Taiwan tournament as a springboard, it would be great to know how the Azkals will fare in the event.


By the way, I can now officially congratulate Graeme Mackinnon for being named the new head coach of Global FC, which comes exactly two months after I heard Dan Palami offer the job to him.


And Coach Graeme’s first game? It will be against Cebu.


Dan said for the Global vs. Cebu Queen City United game, he can count on at least one Cebuano fan in Doc Joel (Paolo Pascual’s dad) but with Graeme on board, Dan can count on two Cebuano families’ support.


But one good thing about Dan, Graeme, Mario and Joel? The Global vs. Cebu game will be great, but I’m sure we’re going to have a greater time talking about it over beer—and mango juice for teetotaler Graeme.


(www.cebufootball.blogspot.com)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 29, 2011.