Azkals plan two training camps in first quarter of 2022

 by REUBEN TERRADO

THE Azkals will hold two training camps in the two Fifa international windows in preparation for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers set to resume in June.

What's next for Azkals after Suzuki Cup?

Philippines head coach Stewart Hall said the Azkals will come together in January and March where they also hope to play in friendlies as well during that period.

Hall said Scott Cooper, who oversees the Azkals program, is already looking at the composition of the squad for the two windows that now serves as preparation for the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers that will begin in June.

A total of 11 teams out of the 24 countries will advance to the AFC Asian Cup.

“We start in January 24th for the window in the Asia region. We will camp and will play two games hopefully. That’s the plan,” said Hall following the Azkals’ campaign in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020. “The camp will be eight days and Scott is already working hard on putting that squad together.

The Azkals are coming off a campaign in the Suzuki Cup where they only placed third in their group to miss a spot in the semifinals. The stint was also marred by unavailability of player with the competition not part of the Fifa window.

With the January and March camps part of the Fifa calendar, Hall said a challenge was already presented to the team at the close of their AFF Suzuki Cup campaign as to their availability.

The challenge of the players here is can you put on your name in that squad for January and that’s the challenge to some of the players – young and old. We have another camp in March,” said Hall.

“Two really, really important camps. After that, competitive games come along… There’s a lot of players to come back in, competition for places, we hope and we know, will be very good,” said Hall.

https://www.spin.ph/football/azkals-plan-two-training-camps-in-first-quarter-of-2022-a795-20211223?ref=home_feed_1

AFF Suzuki Cup : Philippines 3-2 Myanmar

 

PREVIEW: MYANMAR V PHILIPPINES

 Myanmar and the Philippines conclude their involvement at the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup when they meet at Bishan Stadium on Saturday.

Both may have already been eliminated but there’s still plenty to play for, according to Myanmar coach Antonine Hey.

“I’ve said consistently that this is a process of rebuilding where we are facing very difficult circumstances but we are taking this match very seriously and are hopeful of getting a good result.”

With the bulk of the squad not having played club football for almost a year and a half, Hey knows that this is an area that must be addressed and has issued a call for teams in the region to consider looking at the quality that the nation possesses.

“For now results are not our main priority and it would be stupid to expect results from one day to the next after not having played for 14 months.

“For a professional player this is an amazingly long time, almost 20% of their career, so it takes time to get into a rhythm but for sure we have quality players, such as Maung Maung Lwin, our striker Than Paing and the midfielder Lwin Moe Aung but the players also need encouragement and support.”

A fractured buildup, with numerous players missing, has also been an issue that hampered the Philippines in their preparations but coach Stewart Hall said that they’re determined to end the tournament on a high note.

“We’re very disappointed with the results but we have to keep going and make sure that people don’t pack their suitcases and think about Christmas.

“We have to keep the tournament alive as well as we can and if the best results we can get is two wins and two defeats then that’s what we’re working towards.”

Hall also confirmed that he’s going to ring in the changes tomorrow with Amani Aguinaldo set to be rested and the captain, Stephan Schröck, released to be with his heavily pregnant wife.

“We want to give a few different boys a chance to show what they can do, we have eight U23 players in the squad and four of those will start tomorrow.”

https://www.affsuzukicup.com/2020/news/preview/1662-preview-myanmar-v-philippines

Stephan Schrock to miss Myanmar game

 by Jonas Terrado

Stephan Schrock will not see action for the Philippine Azkals in their final AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 match against Myanmar Saturday, Dec. 18 at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore.

Azkals coach Stewart Hall revealed after their heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Thailand last Tuesday that Schrock had to go back to Germany to tend to his wife who is pregnant.

Hall added that Schrock could have stayed for the final group stage match had the Azkals stayed in contention for a semifinals berth.

“Schrocky’s wife is heavily pregnant and he had to go home depending on the result of the game against Thailand,” Hall said.

The loss to Thailand ended the Philippines’ chances of making the semis of Southeast Asia’s biggest competition with a game remaining.

Schrock has had a solid showing in his role as captain and play at midfield, assisting twice in the Azkals’ 7-0 romp of Timor-Leste last week.

He also drew the ire of Singapore fans during the Philippines’ 2-1 loss to host country, getting a round of boos everytime he had possession of the ball.

The United City would have been out against Myanmar anyway since he received a second yellow of the tournament against Thailand, which meant a one-match ban for accumulated cards.

Schrock’s absence will allow Hall to give more time for his young players to get exposure.

“Obviously, that will give an opportunity for somebody else,” said Hall. “The rest of it obviously we want to win the game. We don’t want to demean the quality of the game.”

https://mb.com.ph/2021/12/16/stephan-schrock-to-miss-myanmar-game/

AFF Suzuki Cup - Philippines 1-2 Thailand

 

AFF Suzuki Cup - Philippines 7-0 Timor-Leste

 Saturday

AFF Suzuki Cup  Saturday , 5.30 pm

Philippines vs Timor-Leste

Official livestream (working outside ASEAN)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlJz7eSzHRE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=0SLYni49AAg&feature=youtu.be

https://www.affsuzukicup.com/2020/live-streaming

PREVIEW: TIMOR-LESTE V PHILIPPINES

 Group A reaches the midway point as the Philippines and Timor-Leste kick things off at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Having lost their opening match against Singapore, coach Stewart Hall knows now that wins are needed if the team wants to meet their ambition of reaching the semi-finals.

“We need to win the three remaining games, it’s that simple, two wins and a draw may be enough but you can’t rely on that and that’s what we’ve talked about.”

Hall also confirmed that the team is hoping to soon receive some reinforcements with players set to join the squad from both the Philippines and Australia whilst stressing that the Azkals can’t underestimate the challenge posed by Timor-Leste.

“Timor-Leste are improving and one thing is that they don’t lie down and surrender so you have to work hard against them and you’ll see some changes from us, we’ll go with one extra striker and look to get some more firepower.”

Timor-Leste, meanwhile, are looking to build on two solid performances despite having lost both of their opening encounters against Thailand and Myanmar.

Their relentlessly positive coach, Fabio Maciel, is pounding home a message that he wants his players to keep giving their all at the tournament whilst also sending out a strong signal to club scouts in the region that they shouldn’t overlook the talents on the national team.

“Between the games we can just focus on recovery but for sure we cannot accept defeat and even if a match is a draw or a loss we can’t have the players leaving the pitch thinking that they could have done more so I keep encouraging the team not to be worried about making mistakes.

“I also have to say that we have some fantastic players in our team that should be playing at a high level in Asia, for example in Thailand or Malaysia.

“You look at Paulo Gali, there is not another player in this group who has his quality in terms of dribbling, you look at Jhon Firth in midfield, he is an amazing player with great passing, and then we have Mouzinho who reminds me of Philippe Coutinho at Barcelona, we have so many great talents in this team.”

https://www.affsuzukicup.com/2020/news/preview/1597-preview-timor-leste-v-philippines

Singapore finally thwarts Azkals

 Caught in a dynamic deadlock after a half, the Philippine Azkals watched as their opening match in the AFF Suzuki Cup against Singapore came undone in a span of less than three minutes.

Hariss Harun struck in the 61st minute and Faris Ramli doubled the edge in the 63rd, leading the home squad a 2-1 victory on Wednesday night at National Stadium.

The Azkals actually struck back almost immediately, with Amin Nazari heading in a corner pass from Kevin Ingreso in the 69th, but a resolute Singapore squad held on to its second straight victory for six points atop the Group A table.

The Singaporeans, who hadn’t beaten the Filipinos since 2012, were active in the first half, creating several opportunities that put Azkals goalkeeper Kevin Ray Hansen to work in a goalless first half.

The Azkals were in rhythm in the second half with team captain Stephan Schrock dictating their pace at midfield, before the Lions wore them down.

The Azkals will face Timor Leste on Saturday. —REPORTS FROM MARK GIONGCO AND GLENDALE ROSAL

Read more: https://sports.inquirer.net/444123/singapore-finally-thwarts-azkals#ixzz7EakTFyML

AFF Suzuki Cup : Singapore 2-1 Philippines

 

Azkals Update

 Latest update

Iain Ramsay will arrive by December 10th or 11th.

Jesper Nyholm arrived today in SG.

Dennis Chung (1/2 of German acquisitions) is back on the roster.

Coach Scott still waits for his Entry Permit !

One more Fi-German will join Azkals squad.

Azkals' Amani Aguinaldo upbeat on Suzuki Cup bid

 MANILA, Philippines – When the Philippine men’s football team takes the Kallang National Stadium pitch this Wednesday to face Singapore in the 2021 AFF Suzuki Cup, one of the players who will be leading the Azkals is Amani Aguinaldo.

Although only 26 years old, the six-foot-tall centerback has tons of experience both domestically and overseas.

Since he was first scouted playing for Ateneo de Davao, Amani has been earmarked as a top player not only because of his height, but also for his strength and game intelligence. He has moved up from Ateneo de Davao to Far Eastern University to the University of the Philippines then to top clubs first in the United Football League and then the Philippines Football League.

“I’ve always wanted to get better; get as much experience with the people I work with,” said Aguinaldo on the eve of the Singapore clash. “Now I have worked with more people and I have gained more experience.”

Aguinaldo’s domestic game and national team were the player’s passport to international football as Aguinaldo has spent the last three years of his professional career. He got his baptism of fire in international football first in Malaysia with Perak in the Malaysian Premier League, after which he moved to Thailand where he joined Trat FC in the Thai League 2 before moving up to Nongbua Pitchaya in the top flight division where he is a teammate of current Azkals midfielder Iain Ramsay.

And soon, he’ll be up against those who he regularly goes up against in the Thai league when the Philippines and Thailand meet on Saturday, December 11.

“Thailand is a special game but right now, we’re focused on our first game (against Singapore) because it will dictate what we do in this tournament,” pointed out Amani. 

The Philippines will take on hosts, Singapore, which notched their first win of the tournament — a 3-nil hiding of Myanmar. 

“They (the Singaporeans) are good at counter attacking and finishing. We intend to keep high pressure on them so they won’t be comfortable.”

Regarding the tournament and football in the region, Amani noted the growth of the game, “The level of competition here in Southeast Asia is pretty high. Everyone keeps improving and the competition is better.”

His own Azkals side, though missing a bunch of key players, is still no slouch. 

“Our morale is high. We’re always positive and always looking to win a game especially in this group stage. We know we can compete against them.”

The matches of the Azkals and the games of the 2021 AFF Suzuki Cup can be viewed by Filipino fans on Premier Football on Skycable and Cignal as well as the Tap Go streaming application.

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2021/12/07/2146312/azkals-amani-aguinaldo-upbeat-suzuki-cup-bid

Philippines in Kevin’s good hands

 MANILA (2 Dec 2021) – Goalkeeper Kevin Ray Mendoza Hansen is a star in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. He turned a celebrity overnight after his outstanding performance between the posts helped Kuala Lumpur City land its first Malaysia Cup title in over 30 years.

Hansen, 27, performed brilliantly several days ago to stop Malaysian League champions, JDT, in the tournament which celebrated its 100th year anniversary since it was incepted in 1921.

With the precious gold medal in the bag, he will now shift his focus to helping the Philippines in the AFF Suzuki Cup in Singapore.

Born in Herning, Denmark, Hansen, after his successful Malaysia Cup campaign, will be fired up to lead his national team to success against the likes of Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore and Timor Leste in Group A of the AFF Suzuki Cup.

https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/philippines-in-kevins-good-hands/