Philippines football team or the Azkals as they are fondly called are grouped in the Group B of AFC Challenge Cup alongside India, DPR Korea and Tajikistan. FIFA ranked 156, they are just behind India (joint 154 with Bahamas).
In the qualifiers, they were grouped with Palestine, Bangladesh and Mayanmar. But they managed only one win against Bangladesh and qualified as the second best team in the group with 2 draws and a win.
Right now Philippines football is at a transition period but it beggars saying that they are struggling as a footballing nation. Their best memories in the recent past roots from the dream run in Suzuki Cup 2010 where they reached the semi-final.
The Philippines FA has implemented a new strategy to give the football in the nation a big boost. They have started looking for Filippino origin players growing in fotballing nations. The idea is that the players will bring in quality to the team and inspire a new generation of players.
Following this principle, they have quite a few names at hand, many of whom are established/semi-established players in big leagues. There are players like Neil Etheridge and Paul Mulders. Neil is a reserve goalkeeper for English premier League team Fulham and has been cleared to play for the Azkals in AFC Challenge Cup. Paul plays for Dutch Premier league Eredivisie team Ado den Haag and is of Dutch-Filippino origin.
Their captain James Younghusband is of English-Filippino origin while Misagh Bahadoran is of Persian-Filippino origin. In fact the list is quite long and includes Stephan Schrock (German-Filippino, Bundesliga Div 2), Dennis Cagara (Danish-Filippino, Bundesliga Div 2), Roland Mûller (German-Filippino, Bundesliga Div 2) and Angel Guirado (Spanish-Filippino, PhilippinesDiv 1)
This variety of flavour has certainly added to their firepower. But the team hardly got to practice together as some of the foreign based players were not released by the respective clubs. In the name of camp, they would only like to remember the Dubai camp as the one preceding this in Philippines was severely interrupted by the clubs demanding for players.
Azkals lost their first friendly in Dubai against Uzbekistan U23 by 0-3 but came back strong in the second match against Australia which they lost 0-1 after putting up a good fight. They would like to take heart from the match against Malaysia which they drew 1-1 at home.
The Azkals’ manager Dan Palami however is not very hopeful about their chances and had set the semi-final of the AFC Challenge Cup as their target. In an interview earlier he had said.
So clearly the the Azkals are putting themselves as severe underdogs and are going into the tournament with no serious ambition of winning it.
Indian Football Network
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8 hours ago
Underdogs...maybe. perhaps,but with the final list of the AZKALS Team it looks like we had much more experience players internationally., professionally and talented... we hope we can make it to the finals... and bring the title AFC Challenge Cup 2012 hopefully...TEAMWORK is the most important...there's nothing wrong if had a dream come true.... why not... GOOD LUCK to all...
ReplyDeleteI think this is exactly what we need. Foreign media undermining the team's chances. Hope we pull another Vietnam here.
ReplyDeleteFunny how the result against Al Ahli wasn't mentioned?
Are there lots of OFWs in nepal to cheer them on? That's what's great about Filipinos, we're all over the world, there were even pinoys in mongolia and the pinoys in singapore made an away game feel more like home.
ReplyDeleteFilipinos are all over the world, mainly for the wrong reasons!
Deletegood to see the foreign media see us as underdogs which we are indeed. so the favourite role is on other teams and we can play our game free from pressure. would be great if we can upset some teams....in case we have our full squad together all is possible....so why not. it just depends on our first match. in case we make a good start we get some selfconvidence....in case we lose the 2nd match is already about all or nothing....so i am already excited for March 9.
ReplyDeleteTo ALL FILIPINOS who now love and beginning to love football/soccer: Please let us unite and support our National Football team. The Azkals are facing giant teams abroad. While back home, they're facing giant politicians hunger for publicity. The Azkals need us these crucial moments - let us pray, cheer and send them messages that we are here and always BELIEVE in them, as representative of the Philippines and the Filipinos. Win or loose - WE always BELIEVE.
ReplyDeleteYES., 101 Support ..... WE BELIEVE.... all the from the MIDDLE EAST..... Go AZKALS ... GO..... ignore those crab mentality..... GOD Bless You all.. AZKAL Forever....
DeleteI'd stick with the "underdogs" story. Good stuff. Character.
ReplyDeletedont worry philippines,i am from nepal and we will be there in the stadium tomorrow for your team to cheer up...we love you
ReplyDeleteThis variety of flavour has certainly added to their firepower. But the team hardly got to practice together as some of the foreign based players were not released by the respective clubs. In the name of camp, they would only like to remember the Dubai camp as the one preceding this in Philippines was severely interrupted by the clubs demanding for players.
ReplyDeleteinternationally they knew that this is the problem of the azkals....well hopefully that azkals can prove it wrong...