By: Cedelf P. Tupas
Hit with injuries and absences by key players, the Philippine Azkals hope to give their AFF Suzuki Cup buildup a positive turn when they fly to Bishkek for a clash against higher-ranked Kyrgyzstan in a friendly.
The match on Tuesday marks the start of the preparations for the prestigious biennial tournament in November and Azkals skipper Phil Younghusband sees the team getting a huge boost just by playing a foe ranked No. 105 in the world.
The Azkals, who fell to No. 134 from a high of No. 114 in the latest Fifa rankings, will be embarking on a 28-hour journey to Bishkek via Bangkok and Astana.
“Its never easy to travel that long and be 100 percent, but we have to make sure that when we get there, we have to give the best possible chance to get a result,” said Younghusband after the Azkals wrapped up their final training session at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“We haven’t got a lot of time there. It will be a good test because its difficult opposition and if we want to be stronger for the Suzuki Cup, we have to play against strong teams.”
Azkals coach Thomas Dooley will be bringing 21 players for the trip to Bishkek with goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will link up with the squad in Kyrgyzstan capital on Sunday.
Veterans Simone Rota and Patrick Reichelt are also sidelined until the Suzuki Cup, while Stephan Schrock did not make the trip due to personal reasons.
Meanwhile, ex-national team star Chieffy Caligdong has been appointed to the Azkals coaching staff for the Suzuki Cup. Azkals manager Dan Palami said Caligdong will start working with the team in October when it plays Bahrain in another friendly match at Philippine Sports Stadium.
“As an Azkals legend, Chieffy’s presence and experience will come in handy as he tries to pass it on to our younger players come the Suzuki Cup,” said Palami.
http://sports.inquirer.net/221352/azkals-fly-to-bishkek-for-kyrgyzstan-friendly#ixzz4J6k3ZwE1
caligdong..... wtf!!! "legend", not really!!!
ReplyDeleteCaligdong kaagad assistant sa Men's? Hindi nga successful yung U14 AFC team nya last AUgust tapos senior team na naman assignment? Ano ba yan PFF? andaming coaches dyan na may experience, yun muna unahin nyo!!!
ReplyDeleteHead coach can have maximum of 3 assistant coaches
DeleteAFC 'C' lang si chieffy
You are right dapat mas experienced pa ang asst coach but I guess PFF just put him there as inspiration to our current team's youngsters and new faces
now this is a sensible comment.
DeleteYou don't have to actually be part of a team's coaching staff to be an "inspiration"!! It's fucking stupid on the pff's part to put even consider him as part of the senior national team's coaching staff!
DeleteHe's not even retired yet as a player ffs!!! Saying that he'll be an "inspiration" for the younger players is a bunch of bullshit!!
The youngsters would want to be/look up to Stephan Schrock, not emelio caligdumbfuck!!
He's not a legend!! Filipino legends would be someone like Paulino Alcantara! Putting caligshitface in the same line of players is a fucking insult!!!! Alcantara would probably turn over in his grave at that notion!!
May pinaglalaban si Koya hahaha! May napatunayan? Wala. Sayang oras mo hahahahaha
DeleteAlam naman natin na di siya kapareho ng antas ng pagiging alamat tulad ni alcantara
DeleteEwan ko bakit binabansagan siya ng media na legend kahit realistically saying na di pa sapat mga naiambag niya sa futbol ng pinas (o nakukulangan tayo)
Di naman yan forever nandiyan sa coaching staff wag ka mag alala
Okay din kasi pag may 'coach kuno' (chieffy) na kayang makipaglaro at makipagsabayan sa training ng players niya, tulad din ni dooley (na real coach), hindi yung puro sigaw, drawing sa board at utos lang ng objectives
Para na rin sa kanya yun para maupgrade niya yung C license niya to B license