UFL Cup: Global, Kaya Tap Members Of Azkals

MANILA — Bracing for what could be the most competitive season yet in the United Football League, Global FC and Kaya FC have tapped members of the Philippine football team to beef up their roster for the UFL Cup kicking off Oct. 2.

Global, the defending UFL Cup champion, snapped up Fil-Spanish striker Angel Aldeguer Guirado to strengthen its squad that already includes Azkals forward Misagh Bahadoran.

Already formidable with Azkals skipper Aly Borromeo and defender Anton del Rosario in the fold, Kaya FC shored up its defensive line with the acquisition of Jason Sabio and added more attacking teeth by tapping Nate Burkey.

Kaya has also hired former national team mentor Juan Cutillas as head coach.

“The competition will be very strong this season,” said Football Alliance chair Santi Araneta, who also owns Kaya FC.

“We expect better quality and exciting games.”

Araneta said talks with a television network are near completion to pave the way for the UFL games to be aired live for the first time in history.

“This will change the landscape of Philippine football,” said Araneta.

The 26-year-old Guirado has been without a club since last June after his contract with CD Ronda in the Spanish third division expired.

Guirado, who agreed in principle to join the team after meeting with manager Dan Palami, sees playing in the UFL as an opportunity to help raise the profile of the fledgling league, which has been riding high on the success of the Azkals.

“I am happy with the direction of the team that Mr. Palami is putting up,” Guirado said through his cousin and interpreter, Rafa Garcia.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed and Guirado said this was only secondary when he made his decision.

“What’s important is I could help and be able to experience playing in the Philippines,” said Guirado, who has already scored three goals in five matches for the Azkals.

By Cedelf P. Tupas

Palami: Azkals Need New Blood

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine national football team manager Dan Palami said the Azkals are not getting any younger and will need to replenish their lineup for future competitions.

Palami, who appeared on ANC’s Hardball sports show, cited as an example the Azkals' first defensive unit.

“We have Ray Jonsson, who is about 32; we have Rob Gier, who is 30 years old; we have Aly [Borromeo], 28; and Anton [del Rosario] is 29. So we really need to replenish the back 4,” he said.

Although the team's veterans still have a lot of playing years ahead of them, Palami said the team needs younger footballers who will fill their boots.

More foreign-trained players

He added that while the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is building up the country’s grassroots program, the team management is scouting more overseas-based players who can potentially help the Azkals in future tournaments.

“We are concurrently trying to get the interest of good players outside the Philippines and get them to play for us,” he said.

Palami admitted that it is too early for the Azkals to rely solely on local players.

“In fact when I started managing the team, the first thing I did was to look for locally based players,” he said.

“Unfortunately, our grassroots program had been dormant for a few decades so it will take a while before we get locals. [But] it will probably happen in 4 years,” added Palami.

Among the European-based players reportedly eyed by the team management is Alphonse Areola, an 18-year-old goalkeeper who currently plays for the Paris Saint-Germain football club in France.

by Dennis Gasgonia

Azkals Lose Battles With Kuwait But Filipinos Advance In Football

Middle East teams dominated Round 2 of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers in matches all over Asia Thursday including the Philippine Azkals' home game versus Kuwait, who have marked the Filipinos as a future football powerhouse in Asia.

Of the 15 Asian contingents that advanced to Round 3, 10 were West Asian countries. China leads the pack of 15 with a 13-3 aggregate score against Laos. Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore are the Southeast Asian countries that also moved forward into Round 3.

Coach Goran Tufegdzic and other officials of the Kuwaiti side were gracious victors at the post-match news conference. They said, judging by the "very good team" who foiled most of their goal attempts throughout the match, the Philippines will be "one of the top ten teams in Asia" in decades.

But Azkals coach Michael Weiss, undaunted after the loss, said the Philippines can be "a contender for the World Cup" in just four years with intensive training and support from all sectors. He has charted out a path.

Weiss said the national team can bring home a medal from the Southeast Asian Games later this year, follow-through on earlier wins in the AFC Challenge Cup, and try to secure a berth to the Asian Cup.

Team manager Dan Palami told GMA News Online the Azkals will have little time to rest because some of the Europe-based players have matches there in the coming months, the rest of the team will also join more tournaments.

The Azkals will have tune-up matches with several of their country's neighbors prior to the SEA Games in November. In September, the Philippines will compete in the Long Teng Cup to be hosted by Taiwan. Other competing teams are Macau and Hongkong. In October, four Southeast Asian nations meet for the Manila Beer Cup.

Palami said the Azkals will try to sneak in some downtime so they can relax a bit, probably with an out-of-town trip.

Weiss said the team will likely return to Bahrain for more training. He said he will also return to Germany soon to scout for players and entice more sponsors. He also expects the Japan Football Association (JFA) to help the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

World-class football

It is not everyday that a world-class match of football gets played on Philippine soil.

Kuwait showed their Filipino foes and Rizal stadium spectators their battle-honed, training-polished moves and physical conditioning befitting a team that is in the top 100 of the world ranking. Kuwait is 95th in the latest FIFA ranking.

Even when they lost midfielder Fahed Al Ebrahim, who got sent off with a red card in the 60th minute, Kuwait played like they were not one player short.

Though the Azkals got eliminated, they did display some flashes of brilliance, the brightest of which was that rocket Stephan Schrock launched many yards from the left flank of their attack. The solitary goal made the 13,000 spectators at the Rizal Stadium roar, jump for joy and send shock waves via television to viewers nationwide and fans following the match via Facebook and Twitter.

Co-captain Emelio "Chieffy" Caligdong and Phil Younghusband tried several times to punch through the Al-Azraq defense line. Team captain Aly Borromeo and Angel Guirado also came close but missed their chances.

All too often two, three or four opponents surrounded Caligdong and the younger Younghusband or blocked their path. At other instances, no teammate was at the receiving end of their passes for the finishing header or kick near the goal.

Weiss said the most crucial point, in his view, was Younghusband's attempt in the 52nd minute of the match. The German coach said if that had gone through, it would have changed the complexion of the match.

Guirado tried not to show it but he was obviously not at 100 percent fighting form. He was the first Weiss substituted, though late in the second half. Weiss sent Misagh Bahadoran in Guirado's stead. Weiss said Schrock was also trying to shake off some jet lag, having planed in from Germany only two days before.

It was apparent that part of the strategy of Kuwait was to slow down the pace of the match since they already had a three-goal cushion from their home game last July 23.

That buffer widened further at the 63rd minute when midfielder Yousef Naser sneaked in a goal and when another midfielder Walied Ali lured Neil Etheridge away from the goal so his shot could slip by. Ray Jonsson tried to keep that shot from going in but he was several steps behind.

Tectonic Shift

Before 2011, only the sports of boxing, billiards and basketball had the proven drawing power and wide public appeal in the Philippines.

Football has joined their ranks as evidenced by capacity crowds and sold out tickets in Bacolod last February, the last two matches in Manila and the away game at the Qadsia Stadium in Kuwait.

The tectonic shift began when the Azkals shocked Vietnam in the Suzuki Cup of the ASEAN Football Federation. Vietnam was the higher-ranked team and defending champion.

Coach Weiss said it is crucial that various sectors come together to sustain the momentum football now has in the Philippines. He stressed the importance of having good infrastructure and strengthening of the country's grassroots program for homegrown talents.

While that endeavor waits for fruitful harvests, Weiss, Palami and the PFF will scout the globe for foreign-based Filipino talents. Weiss said the national team needs young and fast players.
The Azkals coach said recent discovery OJ Porteria, who had some playing time in the Middle East, is "fantastic" and will be part of the team the PFF will send to the SEA Games.

The PFF has two boys' teams, the Teen Azkals and Little Azkals, and the Under-23 junior men's national team training pool. There are also two women's teams, christened the Malditas.

Unlike other football nations in Asia, the Philippines has yet to formulate its national vision and strategic plan for the "beautiful game." Palami said he has an "initial draft" tucked away that he will review soon. - JVP, GMA News

Azkals-Kuwait Opening Game in Peril?

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
MANILA, Philippines — The Kuwait Football Association (KFA) has threatened to pull out its national team from the 2014 World Cup qualifying tournament following a dispute with its government over funding, according to newspaper reports.

Quoting the non-English daily newspaper Al-Mustaqbal, the Arab Times reported Wednesday that KFA chairman Sheikh Talal Al-Fahd made the threat after the Kuwaiti government stopped supporting the association.

Reached for reaction, Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said he doesn’t think the Kuwaitis will forfeit their match against the Azkals which starts on July 23 (July 24 in Manila) at the Qadisiya Sports Club in Hawally.

The second match is set five days later at the Rizal Memorial stadium.

The Azkals have set up training camp in Bahrain to prepare for their second round match against the Al-Azraq, Kuwait’s monicker.

Meanwhile, the International Football Federation (FIFA), football’s highest governing body, deferred action on the PFF’s appeal with regards to the suspension of Aly Borromeo and Stephan Schrock.

FIFA said it cannot act on the appeal without the endorsement of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC)..

Borromeo, the Azkals skipper, and Fil-German Shrock, an important piece in the midfield, are barred from playing in the first leg against Kuwait after getting their second yellow cards during home match against Sri Lanka in the first round nearly two weeks ago.

Two yellow cards merit automatic suspension.

The AFC had earlier told the PFF to lodge the appeal before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

But FIFA, in a letter signed by Mark Caballero, head of the Discipline and Governance Committee, said the appeal should come from the governing confederation.

“What we’ll try to do is write AFC again, and hopefully we can get their endorsement,” Araneta said.

Unlike the Azkals who had to overcome Sri Lanka in the first round, Al-Azraq, a Middle East power is seeded in the second round.

Azkals coach Michael Weiss admits the team will be a heavy underdog, but promised to pull off an upset against the 10-time Gulf Cup champions who made it to the World Cup finals in 1982

PFF Appeals Azkals' Suspension

By Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star

Manila, Philippines - Still keeping its hope up that the suspension on Azkals Aly Borromeo and Stephan Schrock will be lifted for their July 23 match with Kuwait, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) made a renewed appeal to the International Football Federation (Fifa) through theAsian Football Confederation (AFC).

This after Filipino officials got a letter from Fifa director of legal affairs Marco Villiger and head of disciplinary governance Marc Cavaliero, telling them that Fifa couldn’t act on appeal yet since it was filed by the PFF instead of a confederation, in this case, the AFC.

“According to Fifa, it should be the AFC that should make the appeal. So we already wrote the AFC, through general secretary Alex Soosay, to appeal on our behalf, and they said they will endorse it to the Fifa,” PFF president Nonong Araneta told The STAR yesterday.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed (that the said penalties won’t be carried over in the second round against Kuwait),” Araneta added.

The PFF is asking the Fifa for consideration on the two cumulative yellow cards slapped on Borromeo and Schrock in the first round of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Sri Lanka. The subsequent one-game ban has left a huge hole in the Azkals’ midfield against second round rival Kuwait in their away leg on July 23.

“Kuwait isn’t subject to some risk of sanctions since they did not play in the first round like us. They would field an intact lineup and it would be fair for us if we’ll be able to field an intact lineup, too,” Araneta said.

While awaiting Fifa’s action on their appeal, Borromeo and the rest of Azkals left for Manama, Bahrain yesterday via Hong Kong for their final buildup for the Kuwait series.

The Azkals are scheduled to play two friendlies against Bahrain’s under-23 Olympic squad tonight at the National Stadium in Riffa and Monday night at the Muharraq Club stadium in Arad.

“Bahrain will be the ultimate test. We don’t have so much luxury of time, we’ll be going to Kuwait on 20th. We have to work on our game in general,” Azkals coach Michael Weiss said in a TV interview on the eve of their departure.

AZKALS Itching To Get Away From It All

RICK OLIVARES / COLUMNIST

FOR the AZKALS head coach Hans Michael Weiss, July 15 cannot come soon enough.

The date is when the national squad departs for Bahrain for a pair of friendly matches with the host nation’s Olympic football team—aside from a training camp designed to help the Azkals acclimatize themselves to the heat and humidity of the Middle East when they face Kuwait on July 23 in the second round of the Asian Qualifiers of the 2014 World Cup.

The time away will also be used as a breather, as in the last few days the Azkals have had to fend off allegations of rape and rumors of discontent within the squad.

“I think it’s good that the team will concentrate on playing football,” hoped Weiss, who noted that the training camps abroad have done much for the nationals’ confidence and experience.

“There will be far less distractions, however, there are always challenges. When we played in Mongolia, we had to worry about the cold weather. And now it’s the heat of Kuwait.”

More than the changes in climate, the Azkals face the daunting task of playing a much higher-ranked foe in Kuwait minus key players.

Skipper Aly Borromeo and midfielder Stephan Schrock were suspended following the accumulation of two yellow cards in the home-and-away series with Sri Lanka a few weeks ago. Furthermore, the injuries to strikers Phil Younghusband and Angel Guirado, and midfielders Jerry Lucena and Paul Mulders have the coaching staff worried.

“Jerry has played at a high level of football for the last 10 years,” expounded the German who is now on his sixth month with the Azkals. “He’s 30 years of age and when you suffer injuries at that age, they do not heal as fast. So as of the moment, Jerry will be unavailable for the away leg.”

“As for Mulders, he has an infection in his knee although he is taking antibiotics.”

But it isn’t all gloom and doom for the Philippine team.

Left back Ray Jonsson will be on hand for the Kuwait matches after missing the Sri Lanka series, while Fil-Dutch midfielder Jason de Jong is back in harness and has made a good impression during the team’s recent training and should form a nice partnership with Manuel Ott in the middle third with Schrock out.

With key players unavailable, football analysts have postulated that the Azkals will play a more defensive-oriented game to hold off the Kuwaitis.

“I am not going to give away our strategy for the game but we will play a little more defensive than we were in the past,” reasoned out Weiss. “If we can hold them scoreless or to just one goal, then anything can happen here in Manila for the July 28 match. But of course, we will try to score. If we can go on the attack, then we will.”

Weiss also believes that the team being away will allow them to reflect on how life has changed for them after their phenomenal success in the last nine months.

“Football is brutal,” pointed out the coach. “Not just how the sport is played but also how it affects life. We have to be more humble and not go over the edge. If you look at James Younghusband, he is a quiet competitor.

He’s very low key and he prefers it that way. But I have never seen anything like this. Not in Japan, China, Rwanda...I am told that this only has been reserved for Manny Pacquiao. So I am happy to be a part of it.”

Aly To Act As Azkals’ Scout

TEAM skipper Aly Borromeo will have another role to play when the Philippine Azkals meet the Kuwait Al-Azraq in the first leg of their 2014 FIFA World Cup second-round qualifiers on July 23 at the Mohammad Al-Hammad Stadium in Hawally, Kuwait.

Armed with a chalkboard, a pen and paper, Borromeo will serve out his one-game suspension by scouting the opposition from the comfort of the stands.

“I will be there on the stands, being more of a scout, and taking notes of the game, probably with a chalkboard. This will be a good experience,” said Borromeo after one of the team’s daily practices at the Rizal Memorial football grounds.

Borromeo and Fil-German Stephan Schrock were penalized during the second leg of the Philippines-Sri Lanka match last July 3 with their second yellow cards and will therefore miss the first leg of the Philippines-Kuwait face off due to their one-game suspension.

Nevertheless, the two will still join the trip to the Middle East.

The Azkals will leave today for Bahrain, where they will play tuneup matches against the Bahraini national Olympic team.

The encounters will be held at 7 p.m. at the National Stadium on July 16 and at the Muharraq Stadium in Muharraq two days later.

Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss hopes this will get the team ready for their away-game against the higher-ranked Kuwaitis, who are coached by Serbian Goran Tufegdzic.

Talal Al-Mehteb, the media Officer of the Kuwait Football Association, told the Arab Times during a press briefing at the KFA Headquarters in Adailiya on Monday evening that the Kuwait National Team has been undergoing rigorous training.

The team has just concluded its training camp in Lebanon from June 27 to July 7, when it played two friendly matches against Lebanon and Oman. Peter Atencio

Fifa tells AFC: Decide on 2 Azkals’ Suspension

By Cedelf P. Tupas

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA—The ball is now in the hands of the Asian Football Confederation as far as the one-game suspension of Philippine Azkals duo Aly Borromeo and Stephan Schrock in the World Cup Qualifying duel with Kuwait is concerned.

Responding to the appeal to rescind the away-game ban on the two players, the International Football Federation (Fifa) yesterday directed the Philippine Football Football Federation to seek the endorsement of the AFC to cancel the suspension.

In a July 14 letter to the PFF, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer, Marco Villigel, Fifa director for legal affairs, and Marc Cavaliero, head of Fifa disciplinary and governance, said the football governing body can only act on the appeal at the request of the AFC.

The two Fifa officials cited Article 37 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code, which states that the “FDC may cancel cautions that have not resulted in expulsions to restore balance among teams that have not played the same number of matches during the first round of competitions.”

Borromeo, the Azkals skipper, and Schrock, who made a sterling debut as an attacking midfielder, picked up a yellow card in each of the two legs in the 5-1 first round aggregate victory over Sri Lanka.

Ranked 102nd by Fifa, Kuwait, also known as the Al-Azraq, has already been seeded to the second round of qualifying.

PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta yesterday said they have already sought the endorsement of the Malaysia-based AFC on the matter. He expects to get the soonest response on Monday.

Despite the uncertainty of his status for the first leg in Hawally, Kuwait on July 23, Borromeo yesterday joined the Azkals on their trip to Manama, Bahrain, where they will play a couple of matches against the Bahrain Olympic Under-23 squad.

Also joining the trip to Bahrain was Filipino-Spanish striker Angel Guirado, who scored in the 4-nil rout of Sri Lanka in the home leg.

Rafa Garcia, Guirado’s cousin, who also acts as his interpreter, said the former Spain third division standout is still nursing a knee injury and might see limited minutes in the two exhibition matches in Bahrain.

“Angel really wants to be ready for Kuwait,” Garcia said of Guirado, who already has three goals in five international matches for the Azkals.

OFWs in Bahrain, Kuwait Gear Up For Azkals as FIFA Keeps Watchful Eye

By Earl Victor Rosero, GMA News

Hundreds of Filipino expatriates in Bahrain and Kuwait have mobilized for the matches of the men's national football team, more popularly known as the Azkals, in these Persian Gulf countries.

The team is winding up its training sessions in Manila and will head out to the Middle East Thursday while the global football community keeps an eye on the Azkals' historic series of wins.

Overseas Filipino workers in the countries the Azkals will visit have been coordinating their preparations on Facebook and through text messages. The Facebook group Azkals in Bahrain has about 200 members. While some sell Azkals T-shirts and bumper stickers, others arrange bus rides that will ferry Filipinos to the First Bahrain-Philippines Football Friendship Games.

The first friendly match of the Azkals with Bahrain's Under-23 olympic team will be on July 16 at the National Stadium in Rifa while Game 2 will be two days later at the Muharraq Club Stadium in Arad. Both matches are under the auspices of the Bahrain Football Association. The AMA University International Bahrain is listed as a major sponsor of the friendlies. Tickets to the games are priced at one Bahraini dinar or P114.

Over in Kuwait, northwest of Bahrain, Filipino expats there have set-up Facebook groups and event pages to coordinate their preparations and share information about the Azkals. Tickets to the World Cup Qualifier Round 2 match will be sold at two, three and five Kuwaiti dinars or P311, P467 and P770.

Some of the tickets will be available at various Filipino restaurants and stores in Kuwait City.

FIFA keeps watch

Going into Round 2 of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, The Azkals have remained on the global radar of football, the FIFA website, where in another feature report, coach Michael Weiss and the team's preparations for their toughest match yet are highlighted.

FIFA took notice of the Azkals immediately after their historic victory over Sri Lanka in Round 1 last July 3. It was the Philippines, second attempt to qualify for the World Cup. The first try was during the 2002 cycle.

In the latest FIFA feature, Weiss took stock of the progress the team has made.

"The team have improved a great deal over the past months, particularly in regards to attitude. We have spent much on physical training so they are fit to compete at this level. They used to stick to long-ball tactics but now the team play a good passing game and are stronger in organisation," Weiss said.

Weiss praised team co-captain Emelio "Chieffy" Caligdong, who will lead the Azkals on the pitch if captain Aly Borromeo will be unable to play to serve a one-game suspension after getting two yellow cards in the Azkals' Round 1 match against Sri Lanka. Filipino-German defender Stephan Schrock is also suspended for getting two yellow cards.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) said it will appeal Borromeo and Schrock's suspensions to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.

"He is diminutive but is dynamic and creative. He can provide the team with attacking spark and leadership," Weiss said of Caligdong, who is an Airman in the Philippine Air Force. Caligdong made the first goal that ignited the Azkals' 4-0 win against Sri Lanka on July 3.

Azkals team captain Al Borromeo said, via Facebook the new FIFA article "gave him goosebumps". He also said he is "keeping his fingers crossed" on the appeal to FIFA.

Defense is top priority

Coach Weiss said good defense will be a key part of the Azkals' strategy against Kuwait on July 23 and July 28. The team is reinforcing its defensive line-up with the addition of midfielders Patrick Hinrichsen and Jason de Jong. Team manager Dan Palami said during the practice sessions at the Rizal stadium that they are working on getting two more Europe-based players, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara, to be part of the team's defense.

"We will change the central defense and try not to concede a goal in the first match. Kuwait are good at attacking and recently they thrashed Lebanon 6-0 in a friendly so we must stay compact and keep the back-line tight. If we can come away with a goalless draw, then things will be different when we play as hosts five days later," Weiss said in the FIFA feature.

Azkals-enforced Kaya FC to hold tryouts

Meanwhile, the Kaya Futbol Club, which has several Azkals as players, has announced it will have open tryouts on on July 25, 27, and 29 at 4pm at Manila Polo Club in Makati. Kaya FC also said its football academy will soon form a select team of 15 to 19 year old teens to train all year-round. 

"This team will have scrimmages with Kaya FC and every so often train with Kaya FC. If you want to enhance your skill level and one day play for Kaya FC and possibly the Azkals, this is your chance," the club said in a post on its official Facebook page. - JVP, GMA News

Azkals: The Death of Basketball?

By Ira Pedrasa, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines - Football is back - and with a bang - thanks to the Philippine Azkals, who may force basketball into oblivion.

In his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Wednesday, Amando Doronila said “the revival of football means so much for sports-minded Filipinos. It means we are breaking away from the dominance of basketball—a syndrome that has stunted us from developing athletic prowess in other sports…”

Anthropologist Michael Tan agreed, saying “I like this new focus on football. For decades we have been too fixated on basketball but in terms of international competitiveness, we just don’t have it.”

He went on to say that football very much fits a Filipino’s temperament, like that of the Latin Americans.

He said this temperament is “passionate and ebullient, but also modulated by introspection and constant strategizing.” More importantly, there is more of team play, he averred.

In contrast, in basketball, the player should have a lot of “diskarte” and make do with a small court. Sometimes, “basketball players convert the court into a stage…often ending up so engrossed with individual performance that they lose sight of team play.”

Basketball not for Filipinos?

Doronila even thought of the 4-to-0 win of the Azkals against the Sri Lanka Red Braves on Sunday as a “massacre,” noting “the locals bombarded the Sri Lankan goal with an impunity and élan seen often in the big league World Cup teams.”

The Azkals' win on Sunday brings the country to the second of six qualifying rounds of the World Cup. The team will face the more-experienced Kuwait on July 23 and 28.

Tan said even professional football player Neko Lambey is “gung-ho” about the team reaching Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, where the 2014 World Cup will be held.

Doronila said the country is finally starting to demonstrate that Filipinos can play, and even win, on the playing field where they are not physically handicapped.

“In basketball, we are born losers and we are likely to be doomed to remain a basket case and waste our energies. It is a sport whose only function is to encourage puerile intercollegiate athletic competition, where pride rests on performance in basketball games,” he said.

Achieving the “goal”

To be able to achieve such goals, however, Tan said there is a need for support both from the government and the private sector.

Sports analyst Boyet Sison agreed, saying that upgraded facilities, funding for players and good coaches could finally push the sport back into the Filipino’s senses. Sison is also the host of ANC’s Hardball.

He disagreed, however, that football can overshadow basketball in a country that relies heavily on “visuals.”

“I think, for now, that football is experiencing a resurgence...It helped that the Azkals are fueling the imagination of the public now because they’re making history,” he said.

There may be a downtrend in the ticket sales for certain basketball leagues, but the Filipinos’ love for basketball will always be there, he said.

“Basketball and football can coexist. In terms of training, a football player can do as well in basketball because of [his or her] stamina,” he said.

On one hand, basketball and football should not even be compared, he said. “For one, you’re also talking about pitch conditions…In basketball, they’re always up to standards.”

For football to co-exist with basketball, the private sector should already come in, he said.

Sison said the sport is ready for “commercialization,” which would provide better television and print mileage as well as “create a profession, livelihood for players.”

Already, television is bombarded with advertisements of the Azkals: brothers Phil and James Younghusband are promoting a clothing line as well as a fast-food chain, team captain Aly Borromeo for an underwear line, and striker Chieffy Caligdong for a food supplement.

The advertisements are also wide-ranging, with the Azkals even promoting a brand of condiments.

Azkals Face Toughest Opponent in Kuwait

SPORTS FOR ALL By Philip Ella Juico (The Philippine Star) 

The Philippine Azkals continue to march on after defeating the Sri Lanka Brave Reds in the second leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Football and Track and Field Sunday, 4-0. An overflow crowd of about 14,000, the largest at the football stadium in years, braved the mid-afternoon downpour and the humidity that followed the rains. It was the first time for the Philippines to win a World Cup qualifier.

With the Philippines having played the Sri Lankans to a 1-all standoff in Colombo a week ago, the aggregate score was 5 to 1.

Breaking the ice for the Filipinos in the 19th minute was the diminutive left wing midfielder/forward Emelio (Chieffy) Caligdong from about 15 feet of the goal mouth. A few minutes later, a Sri Lankan was showed the yellow card by one of the four Korean officials assigned to keep order in a game which was marked by some physical contact and verbal exchanges. At the end of the game, four fouls were called against the Filipinos compared to the Sri Lankans three. The Azkals, who attempted 27 times, and the Brave Reds were each shown the yellow card twice.

Some 20 minutes into the second half, Caligdong was down on the pitch and taken out on a stretcher. Four minutes later, the scrappy Caligdong got back into the game to the delight of the crowd. Both squads played aggressively with the Sri Lankans obviously feeling the pressure especially after Fil-British Phil Younghusband made it 2-0 for the Filipinos on the 42nd minute of the first half. The Sri Lankans protested Younghusband’s goal to no avail.

With 50 minutes into the match, rightwing midfielder James Younghusband passed the ball to midfielder Angel Guirado Aldeguer who zigzagged his way into scoring territory and eluded several Sri Lankan defenders to score another goal to make it 3 to zero. The Fil-Spanish Guirado was easily one of the most outstanding players in the Azkals side as he performed his midfielder role of providing the link and the spark in the team’s transition from defense to offense.

Some six minutes after Guirado’s spectacular goal, Phil Younghusband, who was reported to have suffered from severe cramps after the match, scored on a penalty kick to make it 4-0. The Filipinos had clearly mastered the Sri Lankans, ranked per the FIFA Coca-Cola world rankings as of June 29, 2011, 171 in a field of more than 200 countries. The Philippines is ranked 159.

Kuwait, ranked 102, will be the highest ranked team that the Philippines will meet in recent times. Mongolia is at 179 while Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia are ranked 123, 132, 140, 142 and 144, respectively.

The matches in the second round against Kuwait will definitely be much tougher. To begin with, the Kuwaitis have been in one World Cup Finals appearance, the 1982 tournament in Spain which was won by Italy over West Germany, 3-1. The World Cup in Spain marked the first time the finals expanded from 16 to 24 teams thus providing a break for African and Asian teams.

The Kuwaitis, entered in Group 4, battled Czechoslovakia to a 1-1 draw but lost to England and France, which eventually landed in fourth place.

The game between France and Kuwait was, according to reports, a tumultuous one which saw Sheik Fahid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, brother of the Kuwaiti Emir and president of the Kuwaiti Football Association confront Russian referee MIroslav Stupar who allowed a French goal after the Kuwaitis stopped play after they allegedly heard a whistle from the stands. The French played on and scored a goal prompting Al-Sabah to confront Stupar who, surprisingly, disallowed the goal. The decision infuriated the French who promptly scored another goal a few minutes later. The French won, 4-1 while Stupar lost his international refereeing credentials. Al-Sabah was meted a fine of US$10,000.

The Kuwaitis eventually crashed out of the elimination group stage together with the Czechs with a goal difference of -4: two goals scored for versus six goals against. Kuwait drew one game and lost two games: to England and France.

Unsuccessful in World Cup football, the Kuwaitis fared better in the Asian Cup reaching the finals in 1976 and winning the title in 1980. It has also the upper hand in terms of goal difference versus ASEAN teams like Singapore (+12), Thailand (+10), Malaysia (+21), Indonesia (+5) and Vietnam (+1).

The Kuwaitis competed in the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Kuwait’s 20-0 victory over tiny Bhutan was, for a time the biggest winning margin in international football. That record was broken when Australia mangled Tonga, 22-0.

Surely, against Kuwait, the Azkals have their work cut out for them.

Free Agent Guirado Eyed by Foreign Clubs

By Joaquin Henson The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado said yesterday he’s not renewing his contract with Spanish league Third Division club Ronda, opening the door to set up base in Manila and play in Asia where at least five countries, including the Philippines, are showing interest to sign him up.

Guirado, 26, has played five games so far for the Philippine football team, scoring three goals.  The 6-2 forward is unbeaten as an Azkal. He suited up for the Philippines in wins over Bangladesh (3-0) and Sri Lanka (4-0) and draws with Palestine (0-0), Myanmar (1-1) and Sri Lanka (1-1). 

Last Sunday, Guirado booted in the Azkals’ third goal over Sri Lanka after outmaneuvering the defense and eluding the goalkeeper in a display of ball wizardry. Teammate Chieffy Caligdong celebrated the marker by simulating a bull with two forefingers pointed up like horns on his temples and dancing around Guirado. At the end of the match, Caligdong rode Guirado’s back to start the victory parade – a display of camaraderie between a homegrown Filipino and one of several Fil-foreigners in coach Michael Weiss’ squad.

Guirado leaves for Spain tomorrow and will be back here Monday with his Spanish girlfriend Rocio. The Azkals are scheduled to leave for Bahrain to open training camp on July 13 and will play Kuwait in a two-game World Cup qualifying series on July 23 in the Kuwaiti suburb of Hawalli and 28 in Manila.

Guirado’s cousin Rafa Garcia, who acts as his agent and interpreter, said he has received reports that scouts from Indonesia, Japan, China and the United Arab Emirates are closely monitoring the striker’s progress with the Azkals. There are offers to play for United Football League clubs in Manila but at the moment, Guirado is keeping his options open.

“It’s not just the money that I’m looking at,” said Guirado whose mother Angela Aldeguer traces her roots to Isabela. “My priority is to play in a high-level league where I can improve my game. I’m open to the idea of relocating to Manila where I have many relatives. I’ve always loved the Philippines and I’m looking forward to visit Boracay, Palawan and Isabela where my grandfather (Adolfo Aldeguer) lives.”

Guirado said it’s special to play for the Azkals.  “You can’t imagine the feeling when I play for the Azkals,” he said. “I’m motivated to play harder because I’m playing for the Philippines. That’s why at the end of our game last Sunday, I kept kissing the Philippine flag on my shirt.”

Guirado said the Azkals’ hard work in a recent two-week camp in Germany to prepare for the Sri Lanka series paid off. “We’re a team and that’s how we win – as a team,” he said. “It’s important for our team to be cohesive, for the players to know and trust each other. I know it’s difficult to expect instant chemistry with players coming and going because of international commitments. But little by little, we’re getting to where we want to be. We’re jelling. Our team is becoming firmer and more compact as a unit.”

Guirado said the Azkals’ latest recruits have raised the level of talent in the team. He singled out Stephan Schrock, Manuel Ott, Nate Burkey and Paul Mulders as key contributors in the recent Sri Lanka series.

Against Kuwait, Guirado said the Azkals must be prepared to play a tough, physical series. Aly Borromeo and Schrock are barred from playing in the first match because of drawing two yellow cards each in the Sri Lanka series but Guirado said the Azkals will adjust.

“We’ll miss Aly and Stephan but we’ve got to compensate,” said Guirado. “Stephan has commitments in Germany so I don’t think he could’ve played anyway. But I remember Rob Gier couldn’t play a few games before and even if he’s an important player for us, we adjusted.  We’re getting Ray Jonsson and Jerry Lucena back for Kuwait so I think we’ve got enough players to fill in.”

Guirado shrugged off reports that Kuwait will try to use physicality to overpower the Azkals. Kuwait’s players are strong and muscular. Last Saturday, Kuwait crushed Lebanon, 6-0, in a friendly in Beirut and after the match, players from both teams engaged in a free-for-all that was stopped only after security forces fired gunshots into the air. “We won’t back down,” promised Guirado.


With over 30 relatives in the gallery and a huge Fil-Spanish community cheering, Guirado played hurt and dished out a no-relief job last Sunday.  He’s been quietly nursing injuries. His right eye took a direct hit from the ball at camp in Germany and for a while, his vision was blurry.  His inner right thigh has a black-and-blue bruise the size of a small plate and his left knee is banged up. The pain and discomfort didn’t stop Guirado from scoring one of the most memorable goals in his career.

“Before Sunday’s match, coach Weiss reminded us to work together in defense, to play as a team,” he said. “Coach motivated us to play hard for the fans. I am overwhelmed by the fans’ show of support. I truly appreciate their faith and confidence.”

Guirado said while he often jokes with Caligdong, he has no best buddy on the team because everyone is a close friend. After Sunday’s match, the Azkals celebrated with friends, relatives and fans at the Manila Diamond Hotel then partied until 4 a.m. at the Robot Bar near the Manila Peninsula Hotel.

Guirado said he’s slowly learning words in Pilipino and English. Some of his favorites are “I don’t know” “maganda” “saan ka pupunta” “mabuti” and “salamat.” Of course, he has also been taught the naughty words.

Guirado’s older brother Juan Luis, 31, may join the Azkals for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup Finals in Myanmar next March. He lives in Spain and is unable to take a long vacation from work. Juan Luis is still under contract with a Spanish league club. Next year, he hopes to accumulate enough days off to play for the Azkals.

Garcia said he’s negotiating endorsement contracts for Guirado and Caligdong so they’re able to put money in the bank for the future.