MANILA, Philippines - Azkals coach Michael Weiss leaves today for a holiday break in Germany but it won’t be a real vacation as the football tactician plans to travel to different countries to secure releases for several Fil-foreign standouts from their European clubs to play at the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal this March.
The Philippines has been drawn to play North Korea, India and Tajikistan in Group B in the Challenge Cup. Group A is made up of Nepal, Turkmenistan, Maldives and Palestine. The top two teams in each group after the eliminations will move on to the crossover semifinals on March 16 with the winners disputing the title on March 19. The Philippines will play North Korea on March 9, India on March 11 and Tajikistan on March 13. Unfortunately, the dates are not sanctioned by FIFA for international matches, meaning mother clubs may hold players from joining their national teams.
Weiss, 46, said during the holidays, he’ll fly to Dubai to arrange a training camp for the Azkals in February and meet with coaches of European clubs which employ Fil-foreigners like Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena in Denmark, Stephan Schrock and Roland Muller in Germany, Paul Mulders in Holland and Neil Etheridge in England.
“I will visit the coaches to explain the importance of the Challenge Cup to the Philippines,” said Weiss. “As much as possible, we’d like to play a complete lineup with our pros from Europe. We intend to open our training camp in Manila in the first week of January and Dan (Palami) is arranging for a friendly on Feb. 29 with a national team, tougher than Nepal. It’s still under negotiation so I’m not at liberty to divulge which teams are being contacted but we’d like to bring in a team with World Cup experience.”
Weiss said the Philippine football program is on the right track with renewed interest in the game among local fans. “It’s like we’ve awakened a sleeping giant,” said Weiss. “But there is still much to be done. We’re still lagging behind the football powers in Southeast Asia. I want to leave behind a legacy for football in the Philippines. This is not just for my personal career. I recently initiated a move for Mr. Eckhard Krautzun to come to the Philippines and evaluate the football situation in the country. Mr. Krautzun is recommending steps to improve the situation and we will seek assistance from the German Olympic Committee and German Football Association to implement these steps.”
Weiss said a key recommendation is to bring over a German technical director to assist in pushing the Philippine football development program to the next level. “There are several candidates for the job,” said Weiss. “Mr. Krautzun and I will recommend the best candidate for approval by the German Olympic Committee and German Football Association. It’s a job similar to what I did in a previous posting in Rwanda. A leading candidate is a 56-year-old German coach who has had a lot of success in Sudan and Egypt in the African Cup. As national coach, I will work closely with the technical director for a period of three to four years. The technical director will focus on developing programs for the youth, women and the grassroots. We will have short, medium and long-term goals. One of our long-term goals is to develop full-blooded Filipinos into national players.”
Weiss said lack of chemistry is a problem that the Azkals face because several Fil-foreign players in European leagues aren’t able to spend too much time practising with the national squad. He said Palami is trying to base more Fil-foreign players in Manila. Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado was the first to relocate. A player in the pipeline is Fil-Spanish Carlos de Murga who saw action for the Philippine under-23 team in the recent SEA Games.
“It would’ve been a different story in our recent game against the Los Angeles Galaxy if we were complete with Shrock, Etheridge, Cagara, Lucena and the others,” said Weiss. “I realize it was a fun game but losing 6-1 wasn’t funny. It would’ve been easier to accept a 3-1 loss. Of course, it wasn’t a FIFA international match day so we couldn’t impose on the European clubs to release our Filipino players.”
Weiss said against the Galaxy, the Azkals were competitive only in the first half. “We could’ve played more aggressively in the second half because the Galaxy played an easy game,” he continued. “It’s a problem of mentality. I think some of our players were satisfied with how we played in the first half so they didn’t try as hard in the second. I want to destroy this feeling of complacency. I noticed a lack of effort and I want to change that. I’ve got a few of our players in the radar and I’m watching them closely. It was a great game for the fans but it wasn’t a good performance for us overall.”
Weiss said despite the ups and downs, he is upbeat on the future of Philippine football. “It’s like what the Galaxy coach (Bruce Arena) mentioned,” he said. “Coach Arena likened our situation to the US when he began coaching the national team in the World Cup. There’s a big potential and we just have to work harder to move forward. We’ve made mistakes here and there. Obviously, we must avoid another disaster in the Southeast Asian Games but I see a bright future. We must contend with the time factor. We must have patience, humility and respect for the game. We must stabilize our system which means developing a strong youth foundation. It hurts when I hear negative comments particularly as we’re working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to bring up football in the Philippines.”
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a strong youth foundation, exactly my point.
ReplyDeletenot by much but for the first time i agree with what the coach is saying especially youth program. for me, grassroots is steak, the rest is just gravy. i have pounded different blogsites about this matter since the beginning along with many other concerned fans. the one very good thing that can be taken away from last year's is these top guys in the football community NOW listen to the fans' cries and sentiments, and that's a good sign. at the end of the day, regardless of the comments being made by some fans, interactions regarding issues for our footballing is in essence clear indications that the future for the azkals is making true sense of common directions and common goals.
coach weiss is a grown up man so he'll get by. for as long as he remains serious in his work and strives to make himself as competitive coach as he could be, he has a place in Philippine football. clean slate for you, coach. go on get er done!
"The technical director will focus on developing programs for the youth, women and the grassroots. We will have short, medium and long-term goals. One of our long-term goals is to develop full-blooded Filipinos into national players.”
even is just on paper right now, this is music to a lot of people's ears. endless opportunities for the Filipino youth,especially the poor, a chance to better their lives, maybe put food on the table.
"He said Palami is trying to base more Fil-foreign players in Manila. A player in the pipeline is Fil-Spanish Carlos de Murga"
ReplyDeleteThis may sound like a good idea but at this point in time it isn't! Not when the local scene isn't competitive enough. If they really care about the player's development and club career in general, they'd let them be in Europe, if not, like in Guirado's case, encourage them to pursue the reported interest within Asia.
And why am I not surprised that the initiative is coming from Palami? ffs! Trying to base them in Manila.... ya, right.... for Global FC! lol!!! Once again, conflict of interest!
Coach Weiss says that he is hurt when he receives negative comments. As Coach Krautzun mentioned recently criticism is expected when you become head coach. Without feedback, positive or negative, how do you expect to improve?
ReplyDeleteCoach Arena whom he quoted in this article received his share of criticism from the outspoken US media and fans, despite his excellent record with the US national team. Can you expect less from a coach with such a mediocre record?
Coach Weiss has a good track record serving as a technical director in Rwanda initiating grassroots development programs, helping with the youth program and starting a woman's league, but as head coach of the national men's team, his record is less than exemplary. With better players at his disposal, he seems to have done less than his predecessors(Coach Krautzun and McMenemy who have done more with less).
He has however been given a new lease until the AFC Challenge Cup. Hopefully, he more than meets expectations. Otherwise I am afraid the team will do just enough to keep him from getting fired.
"Coach Weiss says that he is hurt when he receives negative comments. As Coach Krautzun mentioned recently criticism is expected when you become head coach. Without feedback, positive or negative, how do you expect to improve?"
ReplyDeleteYa, well, feedback/criticism is a two way street. People are so quick to criticize him and the team an all that but when its the other way around, such as when its the people that get criticized for criticizing, sila pa yung nagagalit as if they've done nothing wrong or they haven't gone over the top with their criticisms and expectations.
maybe not here in the Philippines, but brutal and harsh criticisms has been the football way everywhere there's a football club and fans. it's been like this before Weiss was born, it is now, and will continue to be brutal and harsh for as long as there's football organizations and fans. it is what it is.
ReplyDelete^^Obviously brutal and harsh criticisms is part of football or even just modern day sport in general. But as far as the Philippines is concerned, it doesn't take away the fact that there still needs to be a sense of being rational especially since football has just been reborn (practically developing the sport from scratch). Therefore, if one is going to be overly critical and have over the top expectations, then they too must be prepared to receive criticism.... it's a two a way street!
ReplyDeleteLike I said above, people expect so much so soon and then become overly critical. People someone like Weiss comes out and hits back and again, sila (the over the top critical "fans") pa yung nagagalit kay Weiss for hitting back.
Excuse me. How exactly do you describe overly critical? Is pointing out the fact that Coach Weiss lacks experience coaching at the club level(none as head coach in Europe) or even at the men's national level(only at youth level), or that this might in some way put him at a disadvantage when coaching against more experienced coaches be considered overly critical?
ReplyDeleteHe is lucky he wasn't accused of nepotism like Coach Bob Bradley was in the US? Did you know how much this affected his son in the national team?
Coaches have been fired in other countries after just one tournament and for much less reason than he has shown.
"Excuse me. How exactly do you describe overly critical?"
ReplyDeleteLOL! Obviously you're blind and perhaps one of the overly critical "fans" as well.
Just look at the SEA Games as a perfect example. Despite Weiss and Palami saying they aim to get minimum 10 pts. in the group and finish the tournament with at least a bronze.... did you or anybody else actually think with a clear head that it was going to be realistic?!? Especially with the factors that arized?!? If you did then you would've brushed aside those claims from Weiss and Palami and perhaps some of the criticism would've been toned down to a reasonable level. Sure, some of the performances were utter tripe, but people's criticisms were stemming from the fact that they were still expecting (yes that's right EXPECTING) the minimum 10 pts from the group and even expecting them to go on and win thatelusive medal that they've been aiming for.
"Coaches have been fired in other countries after just one tournament and for much less reason than he has shown."
ReplyDeleteYou do realize that these countries are more developed footballing wise and have much more pedigree than we have!!?! lol!! As has been said, football in the Philippines has just begun. It's practically being developed from scratch. Yet people go around as if we're suppose to be winning left, right and center like a we're a powerhouse.
Actually I did not expect us to well in the SEA games because of the lack of preparation. When I heard that they were not sending the U-23 team to the Long Teng Cup, I knew that we were not going to do well. They were not prioritizing the SEA games. I did expect us to get better as the tournament went on especially with weaker teams in the group but that did not happen courtesy of our coach. Even Brunei who was just recently reinstated by FIFA and whose program at all levels was in limbo for 2 years and did not have time to prepare either beat us. What does that tell you? Mongolia, Timor Leste and Brunei are not powerhouses and are among the lowest ranked teams in the world, yet we managed to lose to them, including for the first time against Timor Leste. Even our local coaches did better against those teams with mostly local players. I don't know of anybody claiming that we should suddenly be a powerhouse but losing to such weak teams is an embarassment to any coach and usually gets the coach fired. It seems to me that you want to excuse any loss. That we should not have any expectations of even equalling our record in the past, that we should close our eyes and lower our expectations and just expect us to lose every time. Maybe we should give up then. What is the point of playing any games then if we don't have any expecations of winning any of them right? In fact, if I were you just abandon football completely. We suck at this game anyway, right?
ReplyDelete"Especially with the factors that arized?!? "
ReplyDeletearay.
"Even Brunei who was just recently reinstated by FIFA and whose program at all levels was in limbo for 2 years and did not have time to prepare either beat us."
ReplyDeleteIf you have been following other country's preparations for the SEA Games then you'd know that Brunei started preparations in July and have had consistent and regular training up until the tournament itself. So all this, they've been in limbo for 2 years is a non-argument!
What does that tell you? Mongolia, Timor Leste and Brunei are not powerhouses and are among the lowest ranked teams in the world, yet we managed to lose to them, including for the first time against Timor Leste."
Wow... Mongolia, the weather and even the pitch! Surely even you can understand that!? Timor-Leste, just like Brunei, they've prepared considerably and some of their performances reflect that. You also talk about ranking... that goes out the window because SEA Games is UNDER-23 LEVEL! Just like Weiss has said, don't compare the senior team with any of the other teams such as the U-23's, and he's right!
"It seems to me that you want to excuse any loss. That we should not have any expectations of even equalling our record in the past, that we should close our eyes and lower our expectations and just expect us to lose every time."
Clearly you're having a big piss take! That comment right there is just outright idiotic! If you actually understood anything that has been said and can actually put things into perspective then you'd understand that having expectations is one thing (yes, it's totally normal to have some expectations) but having those same expectations without considering the current situation and other factors that have come up is another. You can't just blindly have certain expectations without considering anything.... has the opposition improved? how well have the opposition prepared vs our own preparations... things like that.
"In fact, if I were you just abandon football completely. We suck at this game anyway, right?"
LOL!! You really love taking the piss don't you?!? Ya sure, lets just all commit suicide right now, what's the point in living anyway.... pfff
let's go back to the point, the current coach does not have the right experience to lead this team. that's just it.
ReplyDeletefunny when you comment like you are part of the team delegation and protecting so much the german coach.
and please check the history of football in the philippines before you say that it just started-- haha! you don't know what you are saying, maybe you don't even know how to play the game.
Both atackers and defenders of H M Weiss are right. A year of almost constant training with experienced players should have produced better results than we've seen. Footballers need to relate to a coach and be willing to work their socks off in games to please him. This hasn't happened and suggests little bonding between coach and team. For this reason alone it's valid to want Weiss replaced.
ReplyDeleteYet no coach in the world can produce a quality side without the right raw materials. The most important asset in any team is individual skill. Therein lies Weiss's defense.
The Philippines football surface has barely been scratched. Underneath there WILL be gold, but until the beautiful game becomes accepted, encouraged and fully supported as a national sport we'll just have to keep mining with simple shovels.
"funny when you comment like you are part of the team delegation and protecting so much the german coach."
ReplyDeleteUmmm... no!! What I'm doing is just trying to show you people that there are two sides to a coin! Doesn't mean I'm "protecting" him or anyone else! That's just stupid to say the least!
Yes Weiss has a lot to answer for but he already put up both hands and took full responsibility. It's time to move on! Again, from the SEA Games disaster at least, it's not like we were going to have a successful campaign anyway, so all the more that everybody should move on and quit pointing to Weiss that he's this or he's that.
"please check the history of football in the philippines before you say that it just started"
Clearly you don't understand what I meant from what I said! Obviously Philippine football didn't just start. I'm not a fucking idiot you dumb ass! What I meant was that it just started in the sense that it's been reborn. The national team's success in the Suzuki Cup revived the sport. Therefore, its a fresh start for Philippine football.
"what you are saying, maybe you don't even know how to play the game."
Clearly you don't know how to read and comprehend properly. Maybe you're a dumb ass!
I think any criticism is constructive as long as you backed it up with valid arguments, and not make it personal. That is how you improve in science, in business, in politics, in sports as well as life in general. As I mentioned it before, without criticism, how do you expect to improve? Try to be fair, point out both the positives and the negatives and try to move from there.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, when you start getting personal, calling people names like dumbass, idiots and whatnot, you start losing respect for that person. That shows the caliber of the person making the argument and cannot be taken seriously. No point arguing with such persons. May as well talk to a rock.
Or an 8 y/o for that matter.
ReplyDeletepeace, brothers. pasko na. happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteHis sentences meanders, his illustrations does not support his main ideas, he talks to himself, and he has this overwhelming habit of using potty words when he runs out of words to express himself. He is a bad person.
ReplyDelete