By Mike T. Limpag
Fair Play
Monday, February 13, 2012
THERE, I said it. I know some folks want to see these seven words on print and I’m granting their wish.
I know some are gloating with the latest debacle, a 3-0 spanking from the Uzbekistan Under 23 in a friendly last Saturday and they are probably going to lose against Al Ahli SC tonight, too.
Against Australia U23 on Thursday? Against a team that’s trying to regain its pride after stumbling in the Olympic qualifiers? The Azkals would probably whimper out, too.
The Socceroos would chase the Azkals out of the stadium, with their tails between their legs.
Yep, coach Michael Weiss is right. We shouldn’t expect too much from this team and the German coach who’s getting his fair share of criticism for his whining is going to blame Ronald McDonald for not getting an ideal preparation.
Or even the media. Yep, Michael would probably blame the wise guys in the media who keep on adding to the Azkal hype. Reporter sind Dumm!
Yes, the Azkals will probably lose two more matches in Dubai.
So when they come home, they’re going to feel embarrassed and humiliated. They’d feel that nobody cares and nobody is giving them a snowball’s chance in hell in the AFC Challenge Cup.
Perhaps, that way, they’d regain that spunk and hunger the team had pre-2010. And perhaps, too, coach Weiss will learn to shut up and stop blaming the neighbors every time the Azkals lose.
Yes, the Azkals are losers and coach Weiss is a whiner.
That’s the long and short of it.
A couple more losses in Dubai, while Weiss does his Chemistry 101 with the lineup, would probably jolt the team:
“Hey lads, losing sucks.”
“Yudi___ ka’g tunga, kapoy ni sige ta kapirdi. Daugun na nato ato mga duwa!”
Das stimmt!
Estoy de acuerdo!
And I’ll be more than fine with that.
Stumbling in Dubai, perhaps, will arm the Azkals for the three games that really matter—against North Korea, India and Tajikistan—in the AFC Challenge Cup, and they’ll have that same hunger and drive that got them to where they are.
The Philippines against the three former AFC Challenge Cup champions?
It’s like the Suzuki Cup again, but on a bigger scale.
When the Philippines got drawn against Singapore, Vietnam and Myanmar, nobody gave them a chance and I even scoffed at Aly Borromeo when he said he was confident of getting a point against the Lions.
Of course, El Capitan was right.
Though coach Weiss isn’t giving the team much of a chance against the three former champions--and that’s probably the most sober and smartest assessment-- I’m pretty confident the team will give it all because no matter what you and I say, these guys don’t know how to quit.
The Azkals are not a bunch of losers.
As to coach Weiss, whether we agree with him or not, whether we understand his tactics or not, for the Challenge Cup, he deserves our support.
So guys, no booing when his face is shown on TV.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 13, 2012.
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without their pro players from Europe the Azkals have no chance in the challenge cup. Get out all those players the level hasn't changed that much since the "whipping boys" years in the past. It needs years/decades to develope the national league level which includes also international matches for the clubs. And if it was a good thing to relocate players like Angel, Karli etc. ....i have my doubts as I can't imagine they can improve their skills there.....but who knows maybe we will get surprised again like with the one night sensation of the last Suzuki cup
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