German training for Azkals

Cedelf P. Tupas

MANILA—The 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifying match against Sri Lanka may be more than two months away, but Philippine football team manager Dan Palami yesterday said preparations have already begun with the decision to have the Azkals train in Germany.

Palami said the Azkals will train in Germany for two weeks starting June 12 in preparation for the first leg showdown with Sri Lanka on June 29 either in Colombo or in Kalutara and the return leg five days later at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The training camp could be the toughest yet for the Azkals as Palami, with the help of the German Football Association (DFB), is eyeing at least five tuneup matches against several German clubs, including a team playing in the second division.

“We’re not treating Sri Lanka lightly that’s why we will have the best possible preparation,” said Palami. “We should still prepare and play like we haven’t achieved anything.”

The Azkals reached the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup for the first time last December and qualified for the AFC Challenge Cup main tournament this year after finishing second in their group in Yangon, Myanmar.

Palami is confident that he can have all of the players available for the training camp as well as for the two matches against Sri Lanka.

Stephan Schrock and Dennis Cagara are among the key additions to the squad which already boasts of Aly Borromeo, Phil and James Younghusband, Neil Etheridge, Anton del Rosario, Ian Araneta, Chieffy Caligdong, Roel Gener, Simon Greatwich, Jason Sabio, Jerry Lucena and Angel Guirado.

Schrock, an aggressive rightback, whose team Greuther Furth is close to cracking the German Bundesliga, has promised to join the squad for the Sri Lanka match.

Palami said Jason de Jong, the Filipino-Dutch midfielder, who has fallen out of favor with coach Michael Weiss, will be given another chance as long as he joins training camp and explains his absence during the second leg of the Mongolia match and the group stage in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Sports Commission has approved the proposal of San Miguel to install grandstand seats and the LED scoreboard at the Rizal Memorial for the Azkals-Sri Lanka clash.

In return, San Miguel is asking branding on all VIP seats, on the stadium scoreboard, non-camera facing banners and streamers on the stadium.

“That really is our target, to improve the standard of the stadium so we can also host other big events in the future,” said PSC commissioner Chito Loyzaga at the SCOOP sa Kamayan weekly session.

The Rizal Memorial Stadium, which could accommodate up to 25,000 spectators, has not hosted an international football match since the 1991 Southeast Asian Games, where the Philippines reached the semifinals.

“It’s about time we play in Manila,” said Palami. “This will be a litmus test if the popularity of football has gone beyond the Visayas region.”

Unlike the match against Mongolia last February 9 when tickets were free, Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said the PFF will be selling tickets for the match through a third-party firm.

inquirer.net

Negros 1st U18 booters save Negrense pride

TEARS fell from the eyes of the young Negrense booters Friday caused by mixed emotions as the Negros 1st U18 squad won their division title and saved their younger sisters’ pride, following the Negros 1st U14 shinbusters’ defeat via penalty shoot-out in their championship match at home against Rizal Football Association (RIFA) for the 1st Gov. Alfredo G. Marañon Jr. National Football Selection 2011 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.

Regine Metillo scored all of Negros 1st goals to lead a come-from-behind victory over visiting Iloilo FA, 4-3.

The Warren Concepcion-mentored Negros 1st started the run with Metillo’s first goal in the 11th minute on a high ball that dropped just behind Iloilo’s keeper, booking a 1-0 advantage for the home team.
But the Ilonggas immediately pushed for an open field attack, isolating the Negrense keeper on defense. With the Ilonggas imposing a 1-2 pass inside the box, it gave Alina Rose Araneta the space to score an equalizer from the left wing in the 15th minute.

After ten minutes of battle for ball possession, Iloilo’s Barbie Ann Sobredo scored another goal in the 25th minute to put the Ilonggas on top at the end of the first period, 2-1.

At the start of the second half, the host-team started strong with several clear targets at Iloilo’s goal. But it was only in the 55th minute that Metillo scored her second goal, forcing the second deadlock of the game at 2-2.


Inspired by her twin goals, Metillo sizzled on offense and booted in another goal in the 61st minute to give the Negrense the advantage. However, Iloilo’s Sarah Brito silenced the crowd with her equalizer in the 65th minute, tying the game at 3-3.

Metillo took up the cudgels for the Negrenses lasses as she made the eventual winning goal for Negros 1st in the 69th minute and finally sealed the victory for the Negrenses.

On the other hand, it took all 11 booters from each team to take part in the penalty shootout for the championship title in the U14 girls division.

Negros 1st almost had the victory at hand before RIFA’s last kicker Shannon Alaine Arthur silenced the rejoicing Negrense crowd when she finally sent her team’s winning goal on the upper left side of Negros 1st keeper Eva Katherine Montelibano. The Negrenses lost by a point, 3-4.


Scoring for the RIFA were Arthur, Ma. Beatrice Isobel Velasco, Michaela Celine Adriano and Ana Betarice delos Reyes while February Gae a Saluria, Mikaela de Asis and Ma. Carmela Gavillo scored for Negros 1st.

Meanwhile, Davao FA grabbed the 2nd runner-up honors after defeating San Carlos Football Club. Nina Ricci Yanto (32’) and Veronica Anne Molano (71’) led Davao while Janice Samillano gave San Carlos its lone goal in the early 6th minute.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on April 16, 2011.

Paolo Pascual talks about the U-23 & the Azkals

Chieffy Caligdong at PFF Suzuki U-23 Cup in Dumaguete

Azkals to hold camp in Cebu

By FRANCIS SANTIAGOApril 15, 2011, 8:04pmMANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals will kick off their buildup for their first-round World Cup qualifying match against Sri Lanka with a light training in Manila and a training camp in Cebu starting next month.

Team coordinator Patrick Ace Bright said coach Hans Michael Weiss will be back from Germany to preside over the national football team’s scrimmage at the Alabang Country Club from May 9 to 26.

The team then flies to Cebu the following day to hold a camp at the Plantation Bay until June 2.

The team then takes a week of respite before the start of their international camp.

The Philippine Football Federation has tentatively set a June 7-17 camp in Germany.

Manila Bulletin

PFF U23 - Iloilo 2-0 Cebu, Dumaguete 5-0 Leyte

DUMAGUETE CITY -- Glester Sobremisana won the scrum inside the Team Cebu box and he hammered home the goal in the 64th minute for a 1-nil lead for Team Iloilo in the opening match of the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup at the Filomeno Cimafranca Field in Silliman University, Dumaguete.

Four minutes later, striker Jomar Lestingio’s strike from 20 yards beat a diving Cebu keeper Garry Garcicino that gave Iloilo the three full points and the early lead in the Visayas Regional Qualifiers.



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Starting line-ups:

Iloilo: Wilson Munoz (keeper), Ronald Batisla-Ong (defender), Nicolas Leonora (defender) Neckson Leonora (defender), Rhante Bayquin (defender), Romeo Martinez (midfielder), Shirmar Felongco (midfielder), Francis Gustilo (midfielder), Glester Sobremisana (midfielder), Christian de Juan (striker), and Jomar Lestingio (striker)

Cebu: Garry Garcicino (keeper), Lupito Tumulak (defender), Carlito Abadia (defender), Jephumneh Pelanio (defender), Laurel Joven Reyes (midfielder), Ryan Bordalba (midfielder), Jessie Roy Melgo (midfielder), Raffy Abaño (midfielder), Jesus Jumao-as (striker), and Joselito Lucañas (striker)


More : Bleachers Brew

Update :

DUMAGUETE -- Morris John Tulang led the assembled teams from five provinces in reciting the Athlete’s Prayer at the Filomeno Cimafranca Field then he proceeded to cut out the hearts of the young team from Leyte by scoring four goals in spectacular fashion. Fellow midfielder John Carl Tuballa added a penalty shot of his own in the 74th minute to complete a 5-nil rout by host team Dumaguete over their counterparts from Leyte.

Prior to the match, Leyte Football Association President Dan Palami, who was on hand to grace the first day of the Visayas Regionals of the PFF Suzuki U-23 National Cup, noted that this was his province’s first ever regional football match. “This is our first time to compete here so as far as expectations are concerned, we hope to gain a lot of experience.”

And after Dumaguete lit them up for five goals, Team Leyte Consultant Onie Patulin said after the match that the experience “is an eye opener. We can only get better from this. Now they know what this level of competition is like.”

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Starting lineups:

NORFA (Dumaguete): Ricky James Lacson (goal keeper), John Gerson Rubio (defender), Frederick Isic (defender), Rey Anthony Ello (defender), Mark Dickie Abella (defender), Morris John Tulang (midfielder), Gypsy Ventolero (midfielder), John Carl Tuballa (midfielder), Adrian Pitogo (midfielder), Remelito Tabuñag (forward), and Angelo Mariño (forward)

Leyte: Ferdinand Fortaliza (goalkeeper), Joveth Abril (defender), Divino Regis Jr. (defender), Rodolfo Tomada (defender), Jonel Perante (defender), Genesis Pongos (midfielder), Virgilio Manjeron (midfielder), Clarito Violan Jr. (midfielder), Mark Jude Ibero (midfielder), Angelo Marzon (forward), and Alfred Solayao (forward).


Bleachers Brew'





Saturday :

1 Pm Cebu vs NOFA (Bacolod)
3 Pm Iloilo vs Leyte

Sunday :

1 Pm NORFA (Dumaguete) vs NOFA(Bacolod)
3 pm Leyte vs Cebu

Monday :

1 pm NOFA (Bacolod) vs Iloilo
3 pm NORFA (Dumaguete) vs Cebu

Tuesday :

1 pm NOFA(Bacolod) vs Leyte
3 pm NORFA (Dumaguete)vs Iloilo

Phil, James set to play for San Beda FC

FILIPINO football fans will surely get a big kick out of this: Phil and James Younghusband are set to make their club debut for San Beda FC that will see action in the Smart Club Championships.

"They have started training with San Beda FC under former national coach Aris Caslib and will compete in the Smart tournament," a reliable source said yesterday.

The source said by joining San Beda FC "the Younghusbands are showing everyone they really want to stay in the Philippines and play here."

The Filipino-British siblings, products of the English Premier League Chelsea Football Club program, have been in the country for nearly four years.

They rejoined the national team, popularly known as the Azkals, last year and were key factors in the squad’s sensational run to the semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup, Southeast Asia’s men’s football championship.

James, 25, and Phil, 24, launched the Younghusband Football Academy last year to impart their soccer experience and skills to young hopefuls whose numbers have grown immensely largely through the success of the Azkals.

"It has been a long since we have been considered professional football players and we are very happy to have that opportunity again, especially in the Philippines," the source quoted Phil as saying.

"It has been our dream to be professional football players since we were kids," Younghusband added. "We feel privileged and proud that we are given this opportunity in the Philippines."

The Younghusbands have declined huge offers coming from Indonesia.

While midfielder James saw action for the Azkals in last month’s Asian Challenge Cup qualifying group tournament in Myanmar, striker Phil had to stay behind after tearing his right hamstring in the second match of the ACC qualifying series against Mongolia in Ulan Bator earlier.

Since then, James has been undergoing therapy and is expected to be back in harness when the national team resumes fitness training next month.

Malaya.com

PFF U23 -Bacolod booters to test Cebu

BACOLOD shinbusters will be taking on the Cebu squad Saturday at 1 p.m. for their first assignment in the PFF-Suzuki U-23 Cup Visayas Regionals scheduled April 15-19, 2011 at Silliman Ball Park in Dumaguete City.

Mentored by former national men’s team head coach Norman Fegidero, the local squad will banner John Robert Mendoza, Lemuel Unabia, Carmelo Tacusalme, Janrick Soriano, Jose Emmanuel Diel, Jimmy Malaloan, Jake Morallo, Anthony Tongson, J Baguioro, Ralph Layumas, Joshua Beloya, Joven Bedic, Abelardo Solinas, Gino Palomo, Willy Mangubat, Jurex Replentes, Aldrin Dolino and Michael Pacite.


Working beside Fegidero will be assistant coaches Ramon Janeo, Ronnie Tornilla, Simon Hulleza, Ali Go, Carlo Torbela and Michael Casas while Leo Rey Yanson serves as team manager.

Meanwhile, after the scheduled match with Cebu, the Bacolod booters will clash against host-Dumaguete on 1 p.m. Sunday, battle Iloilo on Monday (1 p.m.) and square off with Leyte on Tuesday (1 p.m.).

The staging of PFF-Suzuki U-23 Cup is a partnership of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and Suzuki Philippines to tap the wealth of talented booters in the country.


The top teams that will make it to the finals will clash in a home and away championship match, after which the winner will be crowned as the PFF-Suzuki U-23 Champions.


Moreover, these two top teams will possibly serve as a pool where majority of the players to compose the next "Azkals" will come from and will represent the country in the upcoming 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia. (JSG)

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on April 15, 2011.