MANILA, Philippines – More than being keyed up to play against his idol, David Beckham, the Philippine Azkals' Phil Younghusband believes the upcoming game will boost his team's exposure.
"It's good exposure for the Azkals, not only locally but internationally and it'll be a good experience for the team," explained the Fil-Brit striker on PEP’s Nov. 28 report.
He added, "I think last year we would never have been able to get this type of game in the Philippines.”
Phil unabashedly admits that he is a hardcore fan of the L.A. Galaxy superstar.
"To have David Beckham come over who...I mean, he's one of the reasons I played football. He's been my idol. I used to copy his haircut when I was younger. Used to copy the way he used to dress.
"He was one of my, my biggest idols, football idols, ever since I was seven or eight years old. To get the chance to play with him, knowing that he's coming to the end of his career, it's a dream come true for me," he blurted relentlessly in the report.
While Phil was all about the upcoming exhibition game on Dec. 3 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, three of his teammates would unfortunately miss the rare opportunity. According to a previous Manila Bulletin report, goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, as well as midfielders Stephen Schrock and Jerry Lucena won't be playing that day because of their earlier commitments with their professional clubs in Europe.
Azkals coach Michael Weiss said there’s no way the Azkals could beat Beckham’s Galaxy. Nevertheless, he rues about the wasted opportunity of fielding an incomplete Philippine team against the foreigners.
"That's very unfortunate," said Weiss. "As much as I support and want this game coming, it would have been better if I have the professional players with me so that we could show that we can play on a higher level."
Among those sure to play are Phil and James Younghusband, Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Chris Greatwich, Rob Gier and Anton del Rosario. Team captain Aly Borromeo will not suit up because of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury he suffered in the United Football League recently.
Manila Bulletin
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1 day ago
"Azkals coach Michael Weiss said there’s no way the Azkals could beat Beckham’s Galaxy. Nevertheless, he rues about the wasted opportunity of fielding an incomplete Philippine team against the foreigners."
ReplyDeletesure we can't beat an MLS champion, that's a given. but as a coach he should know that results doesnt always add up on the pitch no matter how good a team you are.
ReplyDeletethe odds may be stacked up agaisnt us, the LA galaxy may be the favorite, the azkals are not that good yet, fair enough. but what the odds doesnt know is that this isnt a math test. games are won because of the DESIRE to win. and desire has a funny way of killing logic.
clearly no desire to win from weiss.
coach, even a team as good as beck's LA Galaxy, they can get their ass kicked too. how? that is your job.
i think we should get a new coach fast.
ReplyDeleteYes, there's a measure of desire/inspiration that can pull something nice. I have tons of desire to win, but I don't have enough skills to pull it off. Still I'm going to win coz I have a great desire. That's bull crap. we all know that. I think Weiss is done appeasing the critics by giving them what they wanted to hear, just like the SEA games. Isn't this one of the criticisms to him and the team, the "false promises"? I think what he said is good actually. not planting any false confidence in his team, and SPECIALLY to those BANDWAGON fans. But in truth the Galaxy has nothing at stake here really compare to our Azkals where thousands of lunatics are waiting for them to fail... Sad reality... In fact, the Galaxy does not have a winning record when it comes down to travelling show like this. Do I wan't for the Azkals to win? Of course I do. I think they'd be even more determined to win because of their odds. I'm just saying is that this is the reality that no bandwagon fan would like to hear. Any knowledgeable football fan already knows 99.99% of what's the result is going to be. But still be okay regardless of the result. But not the thousands of lunatics out there. just saying... :D
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 3:44, listen up, sunshine:
ReplyDeleteYou must be one uncoachable little turd. Your lack of skills is due to your lack of desire. Desire more and you'll see the difference. What you have is fantasy. Instead of thumbing your tails fantasizing about skills, taking it on our bandwagon, and using fantastic words like "bullcrap" and taking a bullet for weiss as though this was your nightly noontime playstation video game routine, why don't you let off all that bad energy in your system work for you by a)going to the gym b)running or doing suicide runs c)work on your ball control (blindfolded), d)shut up and pound some sand somewhere else, or e) all of the above.
"not planting any false confidence in his team..." You are out of your fucking knowledgeable mind. What are you a cheerleader or a majorette?
desirable. lol.
ReplyDeleteThis is beyond developing skills is due to your desire, sunshine. I do get that sunshine. The skills for our Azkals, whatever level they are at this point, is what it is and that's what they have to bring come Dec. 3. It's not going to dramatically change overnight sunshine. This is not fantasy but rather reality. That's all I'm saying. It's all in a relative time-frame of less than a week before match day. You can desire all you want to develop your skills but not going to happen come Dec. 3. Do you effin' understand??? Sunshine??? Truth is LA Galaxy will slaughter our Azkals if they have play to that point. You know that. Besides this is an exhibition match. just come out and enjoy the game if you already have your ticket...
ReplyDeleteno worries , Azkals will not shame themselves with "Tambak" Scores. Maybe they will not win or maybe they will , who knows ? The campaign of LA Galaxy is not just promoting themselves but to promote the opponent as well to give a boost to football in countries especially the new comers...Scoring a mile would frustrate football fans , players and sponsors alike. I was thinking , maybe that is one reason why the game in Indonesia (correct me if i'm wrong) was canceled,because they knew they would lose??? They are not going through the series of matches to prove themselves , this is business and losing with Asian Countries will be bad for them, this is the real football business...pero sobra naman yong ticket price niyo , even with the 35% off - it's like saying football are for the elite or brutally saying "Don't watch the game" "Off limits ang walang pera" or "ang may galis ...alis". People will definitely save their money for the Christmas season ,if It is a choice between LA Galaxy Ticket and a festive Noche Buena , I will choose the latter. Ayoko naman kumain ng "Tuyo" sa Pasko. (opinion lang). Anyway , I am definitely watching the LA Galaxy vs. Azkals game. Live or on TV --- secret---
ReplyDeletegood point re: high prices of tickets
ReplyDelete