MANILA, Philippines - The head coach of the Nepal national football team is disappointed over his side's performance against the Philippine Azkals last Tuesday in the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Nepal coach Graham Roberts with Azkals coach Michael Weiss.
Graham Roberts' players were thoroughly outclassed by the Azkals, losing 0-4 against an inspired Philippine side.
"I am feeling ashamed of my boys for the first time," Roberts said in the post-match presser, as reported by Goal Nepal, the country's football portal.
"We didn't play football. We didn't pass the ball," he added. "I would like to blame the first half. We were outclassed but we played better football in the second half."
He was especially disappointed in their defense, calling it "dismal."
The Azkals are ranked lower than Nepal in the FIFA rankings, something that coach Roberts dismissed as unimportant before the match.
"Rankings is not a great deal and low rank doesn't mean they are weak," he told Nepalese website My Republica. "I have seen the Philippines side play, they are a very tough side."
But Roberts is treating the loss as a learning experience for his players, as they prepare for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup in India on December.
"It's not our night," he said. "We are on a month-long tour. We are touring to learn more. Boys need this exposure trip ahead of our main target, the SAFF Championship."
He also praised the Azkals for a "superb" performance.
"They played better football. You will be punished if you don't play good football," Roberts said. -- by Camille Naredo, abs-cbnNEWS.com
ABS CBN News
Showing posts with label Nepal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nepal. Show all posts
12 October 2011
11 October 2011
Philippine Azkals crush Nepal, 4-0
By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA—Unleashing the full brunt of its attack, the Philippines crushed Nepal, 4-0, Tuesday night in an international friendly before a sizeable crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Phil Younghusband struck twice and set up one goal, while older brother James and substitute Matthew Hartmann were also on target in a thorough domination of a Nepalese side ranked 31 places higher than the Azkals in the international rankings
“We wanted to end the year with a bang and give a clear answer to people who are not happy with the team,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss.
“This is the way we wanted to play. Not to be arrogant but 4-0 is a mild result.”
Showing the incisiveness and clinical finishing that had gone lacking in the previous matches, the Azkals scored two goals in each half in one of their best performances for the year fashioned out before 8,000 fans.
The Azkals got off to a blistering start with three clear-cut chances in the first 15 minutes, before they were rewarded by Younghusband’s close-range strike.
Paul Mulders provided the pass that split the Nepalese defense before Younghusband drilled the ball into the bottom right corner of goalkeeper Kiran Limbu.
The 24-year-old striker grabbed his second for the night with a cool left-footed finish in the 55th minute after a pinpoint pass from Dennis Cagara freed him from eight yards.
Younghusband barely missed a hattrick in the 68th minute, sending his low shot wide after a lofted pass from goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
It was one way traffic in the first half with the Azkals enjoying plenty of possession and James Younghusband, who had proven to be a menace on the right flank, finally getting on the scoresheet in the 30th minute.
James found the back of the net from 20 yards out after Nepal failed to clear the ball due to the Azkals pressure from the the top of the penalty box.
Weiss lauded the performance of the Younghusband brothers, who, around this time last month lost their mother, Susan, due to a massive heart attack.
“Every game we play is for our Mom and Dad, I know they are looking down on us and are very proud,” Phil said.
Ian Araneta could have added a third two minutes from halftime, but he was unable to get on a touch on Dennis Cagara’s dangerous low cross.
In a bid to salvage the game, the Nepalese side made three changes at halftime.
But it hardly mattered as Cagara, now more adventurous on the left flank, getting into dangerous areas.
Cagara, who like fellow Fil-Danish player Jerry Lucena, made his home debut had a shot wide before creating the chance for Hartmann.
The 26-year-old leftback found Phil Younghusband darting into the area, before the striker fed an unmarked Hartmann, who rifled in a well-placed left-footed strike from just outside the box in the 89th minute.
Nepal coach Graham Roberts lamented his squad’s inability to cope with the Azkals pressure and pointed to the lack of matches as the culprit to their sloppy performance.
“We were not sharp enough and when we make mistakes, you get punished,” said Roberts. “Our defending was absolutely abysmal.”
inquirer.net
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA—Unleashing the full brunt of its attack, the Philippines crushed Nepal, 4-0, Tuesday night in an international friendly before a sizeable crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Phil Younghusband struck twice and set up one goal, while older brother James and substitute Matthew Hartmann were also on target in a thorough domination of a Nepalese side ranked 31 places higher than the Azkals in the international rankings
“We wanted to end the year with a bang and give a clear answer to people who are not happy with the team,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss.
“This is the way we wanted to play. Not to be arrogant but 4-0 is a mild result.”
Showing the incisiveness and clinical finishing that had gone lacking in the previous matches, the Azkals scored two goals in each half in one of their best performances for the year fashioned out before 8,000 fans.
The Azkals got off to a blistering start with three clear-cut chances in the first 15 minutes, before they were rewarded by Younghusband’s close-range strike.
Paul Mulders provided the pass that split the Nepalese defense before Younghusband drilled the ball into the bottom right corner of goalkeeper Kiran Limbu.
The 24-year-old striker grabbed his second for the night with a cool left-footed finish in the 55th minute after a pinpoint pass from Dennis Cagara freed him from eight yards.
Younghusband barely missed a hattrick in the 68th minute, sending his low shot wide after a lofted pass from goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
It was one way traffic in the first half with the Azkals enjoying plenty of possession and James Younghusband, who had proven to be a menace on the right flank, finally getting on the scoresheet in the 30th minute.
James found the back of the net from 20 yards out after Nepal failed to clear the ball due to the Azkals pressure from the the top of the penalty box.
Weiss lauded the performance of the Younghusband brothers, who, around this time last month lost their mother, Susan, due to a massive heart attack.
“Every game we play is for our Mom and Dad, I know they are looking down on us and are very proud,” Phil said.
Ian Araneta could have added a third two minutes from halftime, but he was unable to get on a touch on Dennis Cagara’s dangerous low cross.
In a bid to salvage the game, the Nepalese side made three changes at halftime.
But it hardly mattered as Cagara, now more adventurous on the left flank, getting into dangerous areas.
Cagara, who like fellow Fil-Danish player Jerry Lucena, made his home debut had a shot wide before creating the chance for Hartmann.
The 26-year-old leftback found Phil Younghusband darting into the area, before the striker fed an unmarked Hartmann, who rifled in a well-placed left-footed strike from just outside the box in the 89th minute.
Nepal coach Graham Roberts lamented his squad’s inability to cope with the Azkals pressure and pointed to the lack of matches as the culprit to their sloppy performance.
“We were not sharp enough and when we make mistakes, you get punished,” said Roberts. “Our defending was absolutely abysmal.”
inquirer.net
Friendly Philippines 4-0 Nepal FT
Friendly Philippines vs Nepal
7 pm at Rizal Memorial Stadium
Azkals starting eleven :
Etheridge
Jonsson
Lucena
Cagara
Borromeo
Caligdong
J Younghusband
De Jong,
Mulders
Araneta
P Younghusband
Goals :
1-0 Phil Younghusband
2-0 James Younghusband
3-0 Phil Younghusband
4-0 Matt Hartmann
7 pm at Rizal Memorial Stadium
Azkals starting eleven :
Etheridge
Jonsson
Lucena
Cagara
Borromeo
Caligdong
J Younghusband
De Jong,
Mulders
Araneta
P Younghusband
Goals :
1-0 Phil Younghusband
2-0 James Younghusband
3-0 Phil Younghusband
4-0 Matt Hartmann
10 October 2011
Azkals ready vs Nepal; tickets for Tuesday’s home friendly still available
MANILA, Philippines—Bannering the best assembled squad yet, the Philippines is ready to take on Nepal on Tuesday in a Fifa-sanctioned international friendly at home in more than a decade.
With the Fil-foreigners in full force for the Azkals, head coach Michael Weiss is expecting a taut match versus Nepal, another football country raring to get as much exposure and experience as possible.
“They [Nepal] have had very good preparation. We have to be careful about their counter-attack. It will be a tight match,” said Weiss in a pre-match press conference at the Ninoy Aquino stadium Monday.
Game time is 7 p.m. as the Philippines will have European-tested players like Jason De Jong, Rob Gier, Ray Jonsson, goal keeper Neil Etheridge, Jerry Lucena, Dennis Cagara and Paul Mulders, along with locals Chieffy Caligdong, Aly Borromeo and James and Phil Younghusband.
“We’ve watched a couple of games of Nepal. We have a strategy we would stick to. Hopefully we did our homework well,” said Gier, who is seeing action again after missing the Long Teng Cup and the friendly against Singapore.
Unlike in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers last July where tickets sold like hot pancakes, tickets for Tuesday’s clash at the Rizal Memorial Stadium are still available a day before the match via Ticketworld.
Prices are pegged at P3,000 and P2,000 for the center grandstand, P1,500 and P1,000 for the upper and lower grandstand while the center and side bleachers are at P500 and P300, respectively.
Ticketworld will also be selling tickets at the venue as early as 10 a.m. Tuesday.
“The crowd won’t be as big as the World Cup qualifiers, but we’re hoping the Filipino fans will give the team another warm welcome,” said Cathy Revilla, Philippine Football Federation’s Local Organizing Committee coordinator.
inquirer.net
With the Fil-foreigners in full force for the Azkals, head coach Michael Weiss is expecting a taut match versus Nepal, another football country raring to get as much exposure and experience as possible.
“They [Nepal] have had very good preparation. We have to be careful about their counter-attack. It will be a tight match,” said Weiss in a pre-match press conference at the Ninoy Aquino stadium Monday.
Game time is 7 p.m. as the Philippines will have European-tested players like Jason De Jong, Rob Gier, Ray Jonsson, goal keeper Neil Etheridge, Jerry Lucena, Dennis Cagara and Paul Mulders, along with locals Chieffy Caligdong, Aly Borromeo and James and Phil Younghusband.
“We’ve watched a couple of games of Nepal. We have a strategy we would stick to. Hopefully we did our homework well,” said Gier, who is seeing action again after missing the Long Teng Cup and the friendly against Singapore.
Unlike in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers last July where tickets sold like hot pancakes, tickets for Tuesday’s clash at the Rizal Memorial Stadium are still available a day before the match via Ticketworld.
Prices are pegged at P3,000 and P2,000 for the center grandstand, P1,500 and P1,000 for the upper and lower grandstand while the center and side bleachers are at P500 and P300, respectively.
Ticketworld will also be selling tickets at the venue as early as 10 a.m. Tuesday.
“The crowd won’t be as big as the World Cup qualifiers, but we’re hoping the Filipino fans will give the team another warm welcome,” said Cathy Revilla, Philippine Football Federation’s Local Organizing Committee coordinator.
inquirer.net
Nepal National Team To Train Twice Today
Nepal National team head coach, Graham Roberts informed GoalNepal.com that the team would undergo two times training today.
After having a breakfast, Nepal National team will go to Rizal Memorial staduium at 9 PM, Roberts told GoalNepal.com.
"We will also train in the evening but it will be light training", Roberts added.
"If we are not allowed to train at Rizal Memorial pitch tomorrow morning, we have to ask organizers to arrange us another ground", Roberts said, "We need to train on the grass before playing the match against Philippines on 11th October".
goalnepal
After having a breakfast, Nepal National team will go to Rizal Memorial staduium at 9 PM, Roberts told GoalNepal.com.
"We will also train in the evening but it will be light training", Roberts added.
"If we are not allowed to train at Rizal Memorial pitch tomorrow morning, we have to ask organizers to arrange us another ground", Roberts said, "We need to train on the grass before playing the match against Philippines on 11th October".
goalnepal
09 October 2011
Chieffy, Guirado doubtful vs Nepal
By JONAS TERRADO
October 9, 2011, 10:36pm
MANILA, Philippines — Two key members of the Philippine Azkals are limping and might not be strong enough to sink their fangs on the Himalayan Tigers, the national football team of Nepal, in their friendly match Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sadium.
Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado is nursing an ankle injury he sustained during the Azkals’ 2-0 defeat to Singapore over the weekend in the Lion City.
Top local Chieffy Caligdong continues to feel pain in his leg, a condition that he began to feel in the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan last week.
Despite not being in top form, Caligdong scored a tournament-best of four goals in that tournament where the Azkals finished second.
The Tigers of Nepal are ranked 135th in the world and their stop in Manila is a part of their tour of Southeast Asia meant to toughen them up for the South Asian Football Federation championships.
Aside from the 166th-rated Azkals, the 21-man Nepalese squad will also square off with the national and under-23 squads of Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.
"The tour will also contribute in making the team fit both physically and mentally for the SAFF Championship," coach Graham Roberts told Nepalese-based newspaper Republika.
"We are looking to win every match and improvement in performance in every other match we play,” added Roberts.
Comprising the Nepal roster are goalkeepers Kiran Chemjong, Bikash Malla, Ritesh Thapa, defenders Bikash Singh Chhetri, Biraj Maharjan, Deepak Bhusal, Rabin Shrestha, Rohit Chand, Sandip Rai and team captain Sagar Thapa, midfielders Anil Ojha, Bharat Khawas, Jagjeet Shrestha, Nirajan Khadka, Sujal Shrestha, Bhola Silwal, Ramesh Katwal and forwards Anil Gurung, Jumanu Rai, Ganesh Lawati, Santosh Sahukhala.
The Tigers arrived in Manila from Bangkok Sunday.
Manila Bulletin
October 9, 2011, 10:36pm
MANILA, Philippines — Two key members of the Philippine Azkals are limping and might not be strong enough to sink their fangs on the Himalayan Tigers, the national football team of Nepal, in their friendly match Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Sadium.
Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado is nursing an ankle injury he sustained during the Azkals’ 2-0 defeat to Singapore over the weekend in the Lion City.
Top local Chieffy Caligdong continues to feel pain in his leg, a condition that he began to feel in the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan last week.
Despite not being in top form, Caligdong scored a tournament-best of four goals in that tournament where the Azkals finished second.
The Tigers of Nepal are ranked 135th in the world and their stop in Manila is a part of their tour of Southeast Asia meant to toughen them up for the South Asian Football Federation championships.
Aside from the 166th-rated Azkals, the 21-man Nepalese squad will also square off with the national and under-23 squads of Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia.
"The tour will also contribute in making the team fit both physically and mentally for the SAFF Championship," coach Graham Roberts told Nepalese-based newspaper Republika.
"We are looking to win every match and improvement in performance in every other match we play,” added Roberts.
Comprising the Nepal roster are goalkeepers Kiran Chemjong, Bikash Malla, Ritesh Thapa, defenders Bikash Singh Chhetri, Biraj Maharjan, Deepak Bhusal, Rabin Shrestha, Rohit Chand, Sandip Rai and team captain Sagar Thapa, midfielders Anil Ojha, Bharat Khawas, Jagjeet Shrestha, Nirajan Khadka, Sujal Shrestha, Bhola Silwal, Ramesh Katwal and forwards Anil Gurung, Jumanu Rai, Ganesh Lawati, Santosh Sahukhala.
The Tigers arrived in Manila from Bangkok Sunday.
Manila Bulletin
Nepal National Team Trains At Rizal Memorial Stadium For An Hour
ncessant rain in Manila has caused trouble to Nepal National team as they were forced to train at track-n-field instead of the main playing ground.
Nepal National team coaching staffs spent an hour with players at Rizal Memorial Stadium this evening after the organizers didn't allow the team to train at the main pitch due to soggy field.
Graham Roberts and assistant, goalkeeping and physical conditioning coach, Upendra Man Singh made players sweat out after hopping-n-jumping for 60 minutes.
"The drilling session was done basically to strengthen the muscles of the players", Singh said, "We hadn't trained for few days. Now, players will feel "joy".
The coaching staffs also organized 3 vs 3 football for players to tune up the stamina.
goalnepal
Nepal National team coaching staffs spent an hour with players at Rizal Memorial Stadium this evening after the organizers didn't allow the team to train at the main pitch due to soggy field.
Graham Roberts and assistant, goalkeeping and physical conditioning coach, Upendra Man Singh made players sweat out after hopping-n-jumping for 60 minutes.
"The drilling session was done basically to strengthen the muscles of the players", Singh said, "We hadn't trained for few days. Now, players will feel "joy".
The coaching staffs also organized 3 vs 3 football for players to tune up the stamina.
goalnepal
Azkals vow ‘to protect Rizal’ vs Nepal
By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA—Boosted by the arrival of experienced defender Rob Gier, the Philippine Azkals will be out to protect their homefield when they take on Nepal tomorrow in a Fifa-sanctioned international friendly at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“We’ve worked so hard to finally get this chance (of playing at home), so we’ll do our best to protect Rizal,” said co-skipper Chieffy Caligdong, who has scored four of the Azkals’ last five goals in their past four matches.
The 29-year-old left winger recalled that last year, the Azkals were forced to play a “home” match in Indonesia because no venue was ready when the team went on a historic run to the Suzuki Cup semifinals.
“For us, it’s just a rare chance of playing at home that’s most important,” said Caligdong in Filipino.
Fil-Danish standouts Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena are also primed for their home debut.
Cagara and Lucena missed the World Cup Qualifiers because of club commitments and are raring to produce a quality performance for the home fans.
“It’s always special playing at home,” said Cagara, who, at 26, is already a veteran in European leagues, having played in top-flight tournaments in Germany.
“Most of our teammates (in the Azkals) have shared their stories of how good the feeling is playing in Rizal,” added Cagara.
The match, set at 7 p.m., will mark the first time in 14 years that the Philippines will be hosting an international team for a friendly.
And with their last home match ending in a 1-3 loss to Kuwait last July, the Azkals are expected to go full throttle against the Nepalese.
“We can’t just allow Nepal to come over here and dominate us,” said team manager Dan Palami. “We are not the favored team, so we’re hopeful that we would get all the support at Rizal.”
Gier, who also serves as consultant and scout for the team, is expected to make his return at central defense after missing the Long Teng Cup and the 0-2 loss against Singapore last Friday.
Fil-Dutch player Paul Mulders said the match against Nepal will give him the opportunity to make up for what he felt was a so-so performance against Singapore.
“I wasn’t happy with my performance—I thought I played like a girl,” said Mulders.
inquirer.net
Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA—Boosted by the arrival of experienced defender Rob Gier, the Philippine Azkals will be out to protect their homefield when they take on Nepal tomorrow in a Fifa-sanctioned international friendly at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“We’ve worked so hard to finally get this chance (of playing at home), so we’ll do our best to protect Rizal,” said co-skipper Chieffy Caligdong, who has scored four of the Azkals’ last five goals in their past four matches.
The 29-year-old left winger recalled that last year, the Azkals were forced to play a “home” match in Indonesia because no venue was ready when the team went on a historic run to the Suzuki Cup semifinals.
“For us, it’s just a rare chance of playing at home that’s most important,” said Caligdong in Filipino.
Fil-Danish standouts Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena are also primed for their home debut.
Cagara and Lucena missed the World Cup Qualifiers because of club commitments and are raring to produce a quality performance for the home fans.
“It’s always special playing at home,” said Cagara, who, at 26, is already a veteran in European leagues, having played in top-flight tournaments in Germany.
“Most of our teammates (in the Azkals) have shared their stories of how good the feeling is playing in Rizal,” added Cagara.
The match, set at 7 p.m., will mark the first time in 14 years that the Philippines will be hosting an international team for a friendly.
And with their last home match ending in a 1-3 loss to Kuwait last July, the Azkals are expected to go full throttle against the Nepalese.
“We can’t just allow Nepal to come over here and dominate us,” said team manager Dan Palami. “We are not the favored team, so we’re hopeful that we would get all the support at Rizal.”
Gier, who also serves as consultant and scout for the team, is expected to make his return at central defense after missing the Long Teng Cup and the 0-2 loss against Singapore last Friday.
Fil-Dutch player Paul Mulders said the match against Nepal will give him the opportunity to make up for what he felt was a so-so performance against Singapore.
“I wasn’t happy with my performance—I thought I played like a girl,” said Mulders.
inquirer.net
Scattered Rainfall Welcomes Nepal National Team In Manila
Nepal National team reached Manila at 12:30 local time and was straightly taken to Marriot hotel for lunch.
Philippines Football Federation officials received Nepal National team at N Aquino International Airport. The team is staying at Manila Pavilion.
It is raining heavily here in Manila. The weather forecast says the incessant rain will put Manila under wet condition for few days.
goalnepal
Philippines Football Federation officials received Nepal National team at N Aquino International Airport. The team is staying at Manila Pavilion.
It is raining heavily here in Manila. The weather forecast says the incessant rain will put Manila under wet condition for few days.
goalnepal
04 October 2011
Tickets for Nepal friendly selling slowly
Tickets for the home friendly against Nepal on 11. October is selling slowly. Today 4 days after sale started, tickets in all price categories from 300 to 3000 pesos are still available.
Ticketworld
Ticketworld
02 October 2011
Azkals at full strength vs Nepal
By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
READY. Azkals will come in full force when the face Nepal in a friendly here.
KAOHSIUNG—Talk about the Philippines’ next home match against Nepal and the faces of coach Michael Weiss and manager Dan Palami light up.
The Azkals may be in the middle of their campaign in the Long Teng Cup here, but their top officials are already relishing the prospect of fielding possibly the country’s strongest squad since the team rose to prominence late last year.
“We will see the true potential of the team,” said manager Dan Palami, referring to the 7 p.m. match against the Nepalese on October 11 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“It’s really a rare opportunity to have the guys come together and show Filipino fans what the team is really capable of.”
For the first time, the Azkals will field Europe-based professionals Jerry Lucena, Dennis Cagara, Paul Mulders, Stephan Schrock, Neil Etheridge, Ray Jonsson and Rob Gier playing together with Phil and James Younghusband, Anton del Rosario, Chieffy Caligdong and skipper Aly Borromeo in a match.
Injuries and club commitments have prevented the likes of Mulders, Lucena and Cagara from seeing action in the World Cup Qualifying, where the Azkals’ run ended in a defeat to Kuwait in the second round.
The friendly matches, including the one against Singapore on Oct. 7 at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore, form a major part of the Azkals’ preparations for the AFC Challenge Cup next year, where they are gunning for a berth in the AFC Asian Cup in Australia in 2015.
“I’m very very happy since its the first time that I took over that we will have a full squad,” said Weiss of the game against Nepal.
“We have a very nice team. We have to show fans that we deserve the respect with a fantastic performance.”
More than showcasing their finest players, the Azkals are also using the match to boost their Fifa ranking by playing a team ranked more than 31 notches higher at 135.
“It may be considered a friendly but its a Fifa-sanctioned match,” said general coordinator Cathy Rivilla.
“It will help our rankings as well so the game actually has bearing. The rankings are an important indicator on where the Philippines stand in international football.”
inquirer.net
Philippine Daily Inquirer
READY. Azkals will come in full force when the face Nepal in a friendly here.
KAOHSIUNG—Talk about the Philippines’ next home match against Nepal and the faces of coach Michael Weiss and manager Dan Palami light up.
The Azkals may be in the middle of their campaign in the Long Teng Cup here, but their top officials are already relishing the prospect of fielding possibly the country’s strongest squad since the team rose to prominence late last year.
“We will see the true potential of the team,” said manager Dan Palami, referring to the 7 p.m. match against the Nepalese on October 11 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“It’s really a rare opportunity to have the guys come together and show Filipino fans what the team is really capable of.”
For the first time, the Azkals will field Europe-based professionals Jerry Lucena, Dennis Cagara, Paul Mulders, Stephan Schrock, Neil Etheridge, Ray Jonsson and Rob Gier playing together with Phil and James Younghusband, Anton del Rosario, Chieffy Caligdong and skipper Aly Borromeo in a match.
Injuries and club commitments have prevented the likes of Mulders, Lucena and Cagara from seeing action in the World Cup Qualifying, where the Azkals’ run ended in a defeat to Kuwait in the second round.
The friendly matches, including the one against Singapore on Oct. 7 at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore, form a major part of the Azkals’ preparations for the AFC Challenge Cup next year, where they are gunning for a berth in the AFC Asian Cup in Australia in 2015.
“I’m very very happy since its the first time that I took over that we will have a full squad,” said Weiss of the game against Nepal.
“We have a very nice team. We have to show fans that we deserve the respect with a fantastic performance.”
More than showcasing their finest players, the Azkals are also using the match to boost their Fifa ranking by playing a team ranked more than 31 notches higher at 135.
“It may be considered a friendly but its a Fifa-sanctioned match,” said general coordinator Cathy Rivilla.
“It will help our rankings as well so the game actually has bearing. The rankings are an important indicator on where the Philippines stand in international football.”
inquirer.net
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
