Asian Beach Soccer Qualifiers - Philippines 2-8 Uzbekistan

Fri 25.01.13 in Qatar

14:00 – Philippines 2-8 Uzbekistan (Play-off for the 13th place)

Asian Beach Soccer Qualifiers - Philippines 0-6 Iraq

Asian Beach Soccer qualifiers in Qatar :

Last group match for Philippines today, they lost 0-6 to Iraq and finished last in group.

PFF targets SEA Games podium finish

By Olmin Leyba

After the debacle in the previous Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine Football Federation is bent on sending a better-equipped under-23 side in an attempt to come up with a podium finish in this year’s SEAG in Myanmar.
“The goal is already for the gold but to be realistic, considering that other teams have been preparing as well, this time a medal finish is something that the federation has set,” said PFF’s national teams committee head Dan Palami.
Two years ago, the PFF fielded a mix of local and Fil-foreign stalwarts but the Phl U-23 crew fell short of expectations and finished last in Group B, winning only one (2-1 over Laos) while yielding to Vietnam (1-3), Timor Leste (1-2), Myanmar (0-5), and Brunei (1-2).
For the 2013 SEAG, the PFF looks to start preparing the team by March, arranging a series of camps overseas before the Dec. 11-21 Games.
“We’re already preparing a training list for the U-23. In fact some of the players are already with the Azkals,” Palami said.
He was referring to twins Marwin and Marvin Angeles, Jeffrey Christiaens, Matthey Uy, Jason de Jong, Manny Ott and his brother Mike, their newest recruit. Neil Etheridge of Fulham, the first choice keeper of the Azkals, is still eligible to play in the SEAG, although his presence will depend on his club’s schedule.


These U-23 stalwarts are part of Azkals’ training pool for their campaign in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers on Mar. 22-26 at Rizal Memorial.
“These players will be training with the Azkals up to March and from March onwards, they will join the U-23 training team that will be augmented by other local players as well as those based abroad. We’re also setting up two to three training camps for them abroad,” said Palami.
The Phl has never won a medal in the men’s football competitions dating back to SEA Peninsular Games in 1959. The country has a bronze in women’s play in 1985.

philstar

Despite potential clash with Azkals friendly , UFL to kick off league competition Feb 5

Karl Decena, InterAKTV

Despite facing a possible conflict with a scheduled friendly match of the Philippine national men’s football team, the new season of the United Football League will still push through next month.


The League competition will start on February 5, with the Philippine Army facing the Loyola Meralco Sparks in the first game and defending champion Global FC battling Pasargad FC in the nightcap, according to UFL marketing manager Coco Torre. Those matches will be played a day before the Azkals face Myanmar in a friendly game on February 6 in Yangon.

The little window between the matches raised concerns about the clubs’ willingness to lend its players to the Azkals, as well as the players who could not suit up for their squad in its first match of the season.

The Army, Sparks and Global have a handful of players who are members of the Azkals, namely Eduard Sacapaño, Phil and James Younghusband, Patrick Reichelt and Denis Wolf, among others.

Despite that, the UFL assured that a club versus country scenario won’t happen.

“Clubs are to release their national team players (for the Azkals friendly),” Torre said, adding that the league will not move its scheduled opening on February 5.

Last season, the UFL moved some of its matches to give way to a number of Azkals friendly games, including the Cup final which was close to the national team’s preparations for the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup last year.

But last year, some clubs refused to release its players for the Azkals after the national team’s match against South Korean side Icheon Citizens clashed with UFL matches on the same day.

World governing football body FIFA obliges clubs to release their players if a national team match is slated on an international match date. It has long marked February 6 in its international match calendar.

interaksyon

Asian Beach Soccer Qualifiers - Philippines vs China

Asian Beach Soccer Qualifiers - Philippines 1-11 China in Qatar

Roel Gener scored for Philippines.

Qualifiers for 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

Watch the match live on www.beachsoccer.com

Little Azkals gearing up for 2 exhibition matches vs Chelsea this weekend

MEMBERS of the Philippine Under 14 football team otherwise known as the Little Azkals are expected to arrive in Metro Manila today in preparation for their two exhibition matches against Chelsea FC U14 this weekend.

Their first match will be this Friday at 3 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Stadium and both teams will meet again the next day Saturday at the Turf Bonifacio Global City at 4 p.m.

The team will be billeted at the PhilSports Arena, formerly known as the Ultra.

Little Azkals head coach Oliver “BingBing” Colina said he will immediately be conducting light drills for the team this afternoon for team bonding and assessment so he can plot out their game plans for tomorrow’s morning and afternoon practices.

The last time that the national U14 has played together was in October, where they clinched the first runner-up honors in the 5th Pintaflores National U16 Invitational Football Cup in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.

Colina said he will also focus on the team’s tactical skills such as set plays, formation and positioning and review their plays before.

“We will improve what needs to be improved, correct the weaknesses and their positioning because there were some members who were not in San Carlos and are now able to join the team against Chelsea FC,” Colina said.

Aside from preparing physically, Colina said they will also be preparing mentally for the two exhibition matches such as the level of their maturity especially that the last time they had gone up against U17 teams.

Colina added that it will not matter much if they are not able to practice in the two venues, what is important is that they are able to practice together. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON

Cebu Daily News

PFF explains six months offer to coach Weiss

Francis Respicio, News5 

The Philippine Football Federation is finalizing the details of Hans Michael Weiss’ new six-month contract as the coach of the Philippine national men’s football team.

PFF general secretary Ed Gastanes and Azkals team manager Dan Palami said the deal for Weiss to stay with the team at least for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will be finalized this week.

Gastanes justified the six-month extension for the German coach, which has raised eyebrows among local football fans.

“The qualifiers is in March and if we don’t qualify, then we don’t have any tournament for the year. We also have to consider the cost of having a head coach at that kind of level,” he said.

“The decision was made after considering all the factors and based not only on the success, but the problems that we had.”

Palami, for his part, said that Weiss’ contract would depend on the Azkals’ performance in the Challenge Cup qualifiers.

“He will be coaching us for the Challenge Cup campaign — from the qualifiers up to the final group stages. However, if we do not qualify, then the campaign ends and his contract ends,” said Palami, adding that the main issues over the contract have been resolved.

“All we need is the document to sign both contracts. But the basic terms have been agreed and we look forward in the preparations for the Challenge Cup.”

The Azkals will face Turkmenistan, Brunei, and Cambodia in Group E of the qualifying stages in Manila from March 22-26.

interaksyon

Weiss may begin Azkals’ preparations

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

With a deal with coach Michael Weiss nearing completion, the Philippine Football Federation can now focus on preparations for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in March.

As soon as Weiss is on board, the Azkals will have two months to prepare for the Group E qualifiers on March 22 to 26 at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“I think the main issues have been resolved,” said Azkals manager Palami in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

“The basic terms have been agreed and we look forward to the preparations for the Challenge Cup.”

The PFF offered Weiss a six-month extension, which federation general secretary Ed Gastanes said was a collective decision involving him, PFF president Nonong Araneta and Palami.

“The decision was made … based not only the success but the problems that we had,” said Gastanes.

A three-day camp is set from Jan. 28 to 31 for the Azkals, who are flying to Yangon for a friendly with Myanmar on Feb. 6.

Palami said Fil-Spanish striker Javier Patino Lachica will be part of the pool for the Challenge Cup as soon as he gets his passport.

Patino, who traces his roots in Cebu and plays for Cordoba in the Spanish second division, is expected to fly in this week to process the requirements needed to get a passport.

In the Challenge Cup, the Azkals will face Brunei, Cambodia and Turkmenistan with the top team in the group earning a spot in the main tournament in the Maldives next year.

Gastanes hinted that Weiss could stay longer if he steers the country to the Challenge Cup main tournament next year.

inquirer.net