Azkals U23 training camp in Australia

Azkals  U23 are on training camp in Australia preparing for SEA Games in Singapore.



First practice match today : Southern Districts FC 1-0 Philippines U23

First match in SEA Games will be on 1. June against Singapore

Cannavaro left red-faced after own-goal in Clear tune-up match

by Karlo Sacamos

He may be regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, but that doesn’t mean Fabio Cannavaro is incapable of making mistakes.

Off a miscalculated header to the keeper, the Italian football legend committed a stunning own goal in Team James’ 2-2 draw against the Philippine Under-23 men’s football team in a tune-up match on Thursday night at the Emperador Stadium in Mckinley Hill.

Cannavaro, the former Fifa World Player of the Year who captained Italy to the 2006 World Cup title, was in town to grace the Clear Dream Match slated on Saturday along with Chelsea icon Dennis Wise.

And the Italian center-back is with James Younghusband’s team, which had its first and only practice session that included the tune-up game with the U-23 Azkals.

The lapse was understandable as Cannavaro could be weary from obliging dozens of interviews and photo opportunities earlier in the day during the press conference at Makati Shangri-La.

“He got a mistake … pero siguro nag-aadjust pa siya kanina sa game, ayaw niya masyado ma-stress,” teammate Chieffy Caligdong said as Cannavaro laughed off the blooper by going down on his knees and raising his hands like he was celebrating.

Except for the miscue, Cannavaro was flawless, with his mere presence a big boost to the development of the sport in the country, according to the Azkals skipper.

“Malaking bagay ito, especially sa younger generation like yung U-23,” Caligdong said. “Yung motivation, halos magkaka-same height lang sila, ‘di ba? Hindi siya ganun ka laki, pero the way he plays, yung movement, at body position perfect,” he added of the 5-foot-9 Cannavaro.

Caligdong admitted to having made his own mistakes and having the honor of Cannavaro correcting him.

“Sinabihan niya ako na may mistake ako dun sa ginagawa ko,” Caligdong related. “The important thing in football daw is yung body position, when you receive the ball, kailangan daw yung vision mo malaki. Sinabi niya yung hindi lang sa akin, kung hindi sa lahat.”

“Hindi naman tayo magiging ganito kung hindi natin i-aaccept yung mistake natin,” Caligdong added. “We have to accept our mistake and learn from it.”

spin.ph

Yanson to manage Azkals U23 squad

By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.

The board of directors of the Philippine Football Federation had decided to give the management of the U23 national football team, which will see action in the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar next year, to transport magnate Leo Rey Yanson.

This was revealed Sunday by Ceres-La Salle Assistant Coach Ramon Janeo, as he claimed that the PFF Competition Chairman Cyril Dofitas arrived in Bacolod City last week to meet with Yanson for the initial talk on the issue.

Janeo added that PFF President Mariano “Nonong” Araneta and PFF Secretary-General, Lawyer Rolando Tulay, will be arriving in Bacolod at the end of the month to meet with Yanson and finalize the terms and conditions of the deal.

Among the justifications of the capability of Yanson to manage the team is the recent victories of Ceres-La Salle varsity team and Ceres-La Salle U19 over the Teen Azkals U19 squad.

During the varsity squad’s win last August 8 at the home pitch of the University of St. La Salle, Joshua Beloya led the team with 2 consecutive goals in the first half alongside Aldrin Dolino’s share of goal for a 3-nil advantage.

Prince Hanessen Anthony and Joel Bedia nailed a goal each to seal the match at 5-nil. On the other hand, Paolo Sanchez scored Ceres-La Salle U19 lone goal during the squads’ triumph last August 10 at the Ayala North Point ground.

Aside from these successful match-ups, the PFF officials also noticed the remarkable performance of the Ceres Team in this year’s PFF-Suzuki Cup Visayas Regional qualifying.

The team, likewise, became the tournament’s defending champion after it demolished Iloilo in the home-and-away finals. That was 3-1 in an away game played at the Central Philippine University in Iloilo and 9-nil in its home game at Panaad Park and Stadium. /WDJ

Watchmen Daily

Pic - Azkals U23 in Japan

Pic from last friendly in Japan .

Can somebody help me with complete line-up ?

Azkals U-23 to play friendly vs India

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) said the country’s under-23 team will play a friendly game versus India as part of its preparations for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in November.

“We’ve invited India for a friendly on 6 October and we’re still arranging other schedules,” said PFF President Mariano Araneta in Aseanfootball.org.

He added that the PFF is also inviting other Asian teams to play against the Philippine squad.

“We are inviting teams from other countries in Asia to play with us to hone the skills of our players,” said Araneta.

Among those invited was the Malaysian team.

Malaysia, however, declined an invitation due to a conflict in schedule


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