Etheridge keen about bouncing back vs Uzbeks

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

GOALKEEPER Neil Etheridge is determined to bounce back from his error-strewn performance against Uzbekistan when the Azkals face the Asian powerhouse again in the return leg of their Group H Asian Cup and World Cup Qualifying clash in Tashkent on Thursday.

With the squad severely depleted due to suspensions and injuries, the Azkals need Etheridge to rise to the occasion as the Filipinos try to keep third place in the group that would guarantee them a spot in Asian Cup third-round qualifying.

Skipper Phil Younghusband and regular starters Stephan Schrock, Misagh Bahadoran and Manny Ott are all missing the match while veterans Rob Gier, Paul Mulders and Jerry Lucena have retired from international play, leaving the side short on firepower.

Being one of the longest-tenured players in the side, the 26-year-old Etheridge understands the enormity of the task at hand.

“We have a few players out but it will be a great opportunity for those in the starting eleven,” said Etheridge, who made his debut for the Philippines in 2008 as an 18-year-old in the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in Iloilo. “Even though these are extremely hard games, it’s a great chance for the coach to test players.”

Conceding a goal as early as the first minute due to a lapse in concentration, Etheridge was left crestfallen after the match against Uzbekistan that actually snapped the Azkals’ unbeaten start in the qualifying competition.

“That game is now in the past and I have moved on,” said Etheridge.

Since then, the Azkals have only picked up one point in the away draw against North Korea last October, eliminating them from contention for a third-round spot in the WCQ.

Etheridge did bounce back with improved performances for English third-tier side, Walsall, which is now in the thick of a promotion battle to the English Championship.

Etheridge arrived in Tashkent last Monday, linking up with other overseas-based players in the side like Javier Patino and Iain Ramsay.

 http://sports.inquirer.net/209445/etheridge-keen-about-bouncing-back-vs-uzbeks#ixzz43fxkG3ae

Philippines U22 captain confident of defeating Malaysia

BY    ZULHILMI ZAINAL 

Philippines U22 are confident of proving themselves against Malaysia U22, when they meet on Wednesday night in their friendly match.

If host Malaysia Under-22 were unwilling to guarantee a win, their opponents on Wednesday, Philippines Under-22 have expressed a lot more determination regarding the match.

Team captain Richard Talaroc told the media during the pre-match press conference in Seremban; "We are confident of defeating Malaysia. My teammates have given 100% focus on this match."

From the get-go, head coach Dan Padernal also expressed the same level of confidence in the press conference; "We are not here for a vacation..., we are always excited to face the biggest teams in South East Asia."

Although only two players from their 2014 SEA Games are in the squad for Wednesday's match, Padernal explained the reason for his confidence.

"Malaysia don't always play well, and the new head coach is German, and I have undergone German coaching courses myself.

"Malaysia will play an attacking game, but my boys will be expecting them, he explained.

When asked by Goal whether his team will be composed of players who are only part Filipino as the senior team, Padernal responded in the negative.

"The Philippine Football Federation has decided to go a different route for our developmental teams; the U16, U18, U19 and now the U22. They have opted to develop locally-based players, who are expected to deliver," he explained.

http://www.goal.com/en-my/news/3889/main/2016/03/22/21580222/philippines-u22-captain-confident-of-defeating-malaysia

Philppines U22 team (SEA Games) to play Malaysia U22

The Philippines U-22 team will play an international friendly against Malaysia U-22 on 23 March 2016 at the Stadium Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Paroi, Malaysia.

The PHI U-22 team left Manila for Singapore last 18 March 2016 to train, and play against Tampines Rovers FC U-22 on 20 March 2016 at Jurong West Stadium where they lost 1-0 to the host team.

The following players from the U-22 national pool had been selected by Head Coach Dan Padernal to suit up in these international friendlies:

• Asong, Michael – San Beda College
• Bautista, Junell – Baguio State University
• Bayan, Ronilo – De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde
• Beaton, Charlie – Kaya FC
• Bucayan, Jay-R – San Beda College
• Casambre, Marco Alessandro – Global FC / Claret School
• Cheng, Jaime Vicenzo – Macquarie University
• Crestal, Jimson – San Beda College
• De La Torre, Franco – San Beda College
• Genco, Lorenzo
• Kanayama, John Christopher – Global FC
• Laguerta, Earl Real – Far Eastern University
• Linatoc, Terrence – Stallion Giligan’s FC
• Marzan, Jerome – San Beda College
• Miranda, Julian – Enderun Colleges
• Oberiano, Ivan James – University of the Philippines
• Talaroc, Richard – Global FC

Head coach Dan Padernal is assisted by assistant coach Marlon Piñero and goalkeeping coach Noel Marcaida.

These international friendlies form part of the preparation of the Philippines U-22 for the 29th Southeast Asian Games to be held in Kuala Lumpur in 2017.


http://pff.org.ph/2016/03/22/philippines-u-22-to-play-malaysia-u-22/

Ex-Azkals coach now Dooley’s chief deputy

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

FORMER national team coach Aris Caslib has rejoined the Azkals’ braintrust as chief deputy of Thomas Dooley starting with the Asian Cup and World Cup Qualifying clash against Uzbekistan on Thursday in Tashkent.

Caslib, who is also the Philippine Football Federation’s technical director, joined the delegation that traveled to the Uzbek capital last Saturday night.

Dooley welcomed Caslib’s addition to the staff, saying the former national coach can infuse new ideas to the Azkals’ play as well as his knowledge of young players in the side.

“He is definitely a big help with his knowledge of the younger players and his experience coaching in the Asian level,” said Dooley.

Caslib replaced German Sebastian Stache in the staff.

Caslib had two stints as head coach of the Azkals and mentored the U-23 side that played in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games which the country hosted. He last coached the national side in the 2009 Challenge Cup in the Maldives.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/209399/ex-azkals-coach-now-dooleys-chief-deputy#ixzz43a1iQe5q

Men's National Team set to play against Uzbekistan on 24. March

Players who compose the national squad for the Away Match against the Uzbekistan National Team on 24 March 2016 at the Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, Uzbekistan under the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ – Asian Qualifiers / AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ Qualifiers (Round 2):

1. AGUINALDO, Amani Manuel – Global FC
2. ARISTORENAS, Jorrel Zachary – Loyola Meralco Sparks FC
3. CLARINO, Mario Javier – Global FC
4. DANIELS, Kenshiro Michael – Kaya FC
5. DEL ROSARIO, Dominic Liam – Kaya FC
6. DEYTO, Patrick Phillip – Global FC
7. ETHERIDGE, Neil Leonard – Walsall FC
8. FLORES, Jim Ashley – Stallion FC
9. GUIRADO, Juan Luis – Ceres-La Salle FC
10. PATIÑO, Javier – Henan Jianye FC
11. PORTERIA, Jose Elmer – Kaya FC
12. RAMSAY, Iain – Tractorsazi FC
13. REICHELT, Patrick – Ceres-La Salle FC
14. ROTA, Simone – Stallion FC
15. SATO, Daisuke – Global FC
16. STEUBLE, Martin Markus – Ceres-La Salle FC
17. TRIGO, Tomas Angel – Loyola Meralco Sparks FC
18. VILLANUEVA, Dennis – Global FC
19. WOODLAND, Luke

The Philippine delegation left Manila for Tashkent last Saturday, 19 March 2016 with Team Manager Dan Palami, Head Coach Thomas Dooley, and Assistant Coach Jose Ariston Caslib.  Goalkeeper Coach Pascal Werner Zuberbühler and overseas-based players Neil Etheridge, Javier Patiño, and Iain Ramsay joined the team in Uzbekistan yesterday, 20 March 2016.

Players who had been called up but are on injury list:

1. INGRESO, Kevin – Ceres-La Salle FC
2. PALLA, Stephan – Wolfsberger AC
3. SCHROCK, Stephan Markus – Ceres-La Salle FC
4. YOUNGHUSBAND, Philip James – Loyola Meralco Sparks FC

The Uzbekistan vs. Philippines match will be aired live at 9:00pm (Manila time) on 24 March 2016 via ABS-CBN Sports+Action Channel 23.

FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Schrock, Phil, Misagh to miss World Cup tiff vs Uzbekistan

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

FACING powerhouse Uzbekistan in its own stadium is a tough proposition as it is, but going to battle without some of your squad’s top players makes the task doubly difficult.

The Azkals left for Tashkent Saturday night without stars Stephan Schrock and Phil Younghusband who will both sit out the World Cup Qualifying match on March 24 due to injuries.

Younghusband, the country’s top international scorer, has yet to play for his club, Loyola Meralco, this year due to a knee problem while Schrock failed to make the trip after struggling with a leg injury during a recent AFC Cup game in Bangladesh.

The absence of the two players has left a huge void on the Azkals attack which will already miss the suspended winger Misagh Bahadoran.

Manny Ott, who has made the central midfield position as his own under coach Thomas Dooley, is also serving a suspension, while Rob Gier, Jerry Lucena and Paul Mulders have retired from international play.

Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, Patrick Reichelt, Iain Ramsay, Javier Patino, Daisuke Sato, Luke Woodland, Martin Steuble, Simone Rota, Amani Aguinaldo and Juani Guirado are the remaining players in the side.

“It’s going to be very difficult but we can always see this as an opportunity for other players to step up,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami.

Dooley tapped young players for his squad, including OJ Porteria, Kenshiro Daniels, OJ Clarino, Jorrel Aristorenas, Jim Ashley Flores and Dominic del Rosario.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/209320/schrock-phil-misagh-to-miss-world-cup-tiff-vs-uzbekistan#ixzz43TlQ9xnJ

Azkals updates

Azkals leaving for Uzbekistan tomorrow to play FIFA World Cup Qualifier on March 24 in Tashkent.

Luke Woodland was the only foreign based player in the local training camp in Manila, the other foreign based players will join the team in Uzbekistan.

Fil-Iranian Omid Nazari is still not eligble to play for Philippines.

Final squad for Uzbekistan has not been announced.