Chieffy, Guirado doubtful vs Nepal

By JONAS TERRADO
October 9, 2011, 10:36pm
MANILA, Philippines — Two key members of the Philippine Azkals are limping and might not be strong enough to sink their fangs on the Himalayan Tigers, the national football team of Nepal, in their friendly match Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sadium.

Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado is nursing an ankle injury he sustained during the Azkals’ 2-0 defeat to Singapore over the weekend in the Lion City.

Top local Chieffy Caligdong continues to feel pain in his leg, a condition that he began to feel in the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan last week.

Despite not being in top form, Caligdong scored a tournament-best of four goals in that tournament where the Azkals finished second.

The Tigers of Nepal are ranked 135th in the world and their stop in Manila is a part of their tour of Southeast Asia meant to toughen them up for the South Asian Football Federation championships.

Aside from the 166th-rated Azkals, the 21-man Nepalese squad will also square off with the national and under-23 squads of Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.

"The tour will also contribute in making the team fit both physically and mentally for the SAFF Championship," coach Graham Roberts told Nepalese-based newspaper Republika.

"We are looking to win every match and improvement in performance in every other match we play,” added Roberts.

Comprising the Nepal roster are goalkeepers Kiran Chemjong, Bikash Malla, Ritesh Thapa, defenders Bikash Singh Chhetri, Biraj Maharjan, Deepak Bhusal, Rabin Shrestha, Rohit Chand, Sandip Rai and team captain Sagar Thapa, midfielders Anil Ojha, Bharat Khawas, Jagjeet Shrestha, Nirajan Khadka, Sujal Shrestha, Bhola Silwal, Ramesh Katwal and forwards Anil Gurung, Jumanu Rai, Ganesh Lawati, Santosh Sahukhala.

The Tigers arrived in Manila from Bangkok Sunday.


Manila Bulletin