Azkals skipper Chieffy Caligdong fine with Weiss getting contract extension

Philippine national men’s football team skipper Chieffy Caligdong sees no problem with retaining Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss, whose contract is set to expire this month.



Caligdong, who often came off the bench during the Azkals’ semifinal run in the 2012 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup, said that Weiss should be given another chance to correct whatever mistakes he might have done.

The German coach’s extension is expected to be discussed this week.

“‘Wag nating husgahan agad kung anuman yung nakikita tayong mali,” Caligdong said. “Kung nagkamali man siya sa mga desisyon na yun, give chance. Magbigay lagi tayo ng isa pang chance kung ano yung maganda para sa team.”

Weiss should also be judged on his contributions to the team and not solely on the Azkals’ performance in the Suzuki Cup, Caligdong said.

“‘Di ako nagsasabi na kaagad-agad, papalitan natin yung coach. ‘Di ibig sabihin na we didn’t go through sa finals na papalitan agad,” he said. “Tingnan muna natin kung ano yung magandang naibahagi ni coach Weiss.”

Under Weiss, the Azkals reached their highest world ranking last year at 143rd, as well as notched a third-place finish in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup and a title in the inaugural Philippine Football Peace Cup last year, the country’s first football crown in almost a century.

The Azkals also enjoyed playing various international friendly matches abroad and the arrival of more foreign-based players with Filipino lineage which bolstered the team.

Caligdong said that he trusts the management with making the right decision for the Azkals.

“If they renew the contract of coach Weiss, I’ll respect it,” he said. “Kung ano yung kagandahan sa team, walang problema kung ano man ang desisyon nila.”

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