Weiss confident Azkals will trounce opposition

Written by BONG PEDRALVEZ

LOOK at these figures: 0-0, 2-1, 2-0.



Believe it or not, they are the fearless forecast of German coach Michael Weiss, referring to what he expects as the Azkals’ scores over rivals Thailand, Vietnam and Burma, respectively, in the Group A tournament of the AFF Suzuki Cup kicking off in the Thai capital of Bangkok on Nov. 24.

Asked if he was willing to go on the record with his prediction, Weiss replied: “Yes, you can quote me on that.”

“After our hard preparations, we have confidence going to the AFF Suzuki Cup,” Weiss stressed in the send-off party last Wednesday night for the national team tendered by Suzuki Philippines at the Richmonde Hotel in Eastwood, Libis, Quezon City.

“I believe if you ask the other teams which team they do not want to face, it would be us,” the German mentor added on the same day the Philippines moved up four notches higher in the FIFA world rankings, an all-time best of 143.


In attaining the newest milestone, the Azkals surpassed the Thais, who slipped to No. 146 from No. 139, and emerged as the No. 2 squad in Southeast Asia behind the Vietnamese, who also rose two places to No. 140.

A huge factor was the Azkals’ three-game sweep of the four-nation Philippine Peace Cup at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium last September and their scoreless draw against higher-rated Bahrain and close 1-2 loss to Kuwait in last month’s friendlies in the Middle East.

Weiss, however, warned “not to be over obsessed with the ratings.”


“Even if our foreign-based players will not be unavailable, I believe we can still put up a strong team with the core of players we have in Manila and who were with us in our training camps in the US and the Middle East,” he noted.


He added the final 22-man composition remains fluid pending the availability of the overseas players “so I have my own wish list. Everything could change at the last minute.”


Among those he wants to be available for Bangkok is Filipino-Danish midfielder Jerry Lucena “whom I consider as one of the pillars of our squad. I would say that because of his poise, skill and maturity, our chances would be much greater.”


He was gladdened two of his tried and tested defenders, Fil-Icelander Ray Jonsson and Fil-British Rob Gier would be in the competition as well as Fil-Am midfielder Chris Greatwich, who arrived last Wednesday. All three are apparently shoo-ins for the team.

Weiss’s main concern is who would tend the goal since regular goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who is on loan to English Second Division Club Bristol, won’t be released until the third match of the competition, while his regular reliever, Fil-German Roland Muler, remained doubtful.

He said Mueller has earned a regular spot with the German Second Division side, which is fighting relegation.


Weiss said he is not taking the Thai hosts lightly and had reviewed with his coaching staff the six World Cup qualifying matches the Thais played.


Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta, who attended the party, shared Weiss sentiments, saying “as you have seen our team progress, we are not just going there to merely play but will play knowing that we have a chance to win. We no longer have a ‘park-the-bus’ attitude against our rivals.”


In anticipation of another semis appearance, Araneta said the PFF is working overtime in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission to improve the lighting of the Rizal Stadium, which will be the venue of the national team’s home game in the event they advance.

Inspectors from the World Sports Group and the Asean Football Federations arrived yesterday to inspect the facility and determine if it meets the criteria.

PSC Executive Director Gil Iroy, speaking on behalf of chairman Richie Garcia, disclosed the government sports agency has shelled P1 million to boost the lighting of the stadium to meet the Suzuki Cup criteria.

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