Busy Azkals aim for berth in Asian Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Once the Philippine Azkals get back into training later this month, the team will have its hands full trying to capture a slot in the AFC Asian Cup, the next big thing after the Fifa World Cup, while attempting to climb in the world rankings.

“Bringing home the AFC Challenge Cup next year, that’s our immediate goal because that will ensure our participation in the Asian Cup in 2015,” Azkals manager Dan Palami said.

The Azkals have qualified to the main draw of the AFC Challenge Cup on March 3-18 in Nepal along with Palestine, India, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Tajikistan, North Korea, and the hosts. Winner of the tournament will earn a ticket to the 2015 Asian Cup where 2011 champion Japan, host Australia, and Korea are seeded.

Palami said the Asian Cup is big for the Azkals, who failed in their recent effort to reach the 2014 Fifa World Cup after losing to powerhouse Kuwait in the second round, 5-1, on goal aggregate.

“It (Asian Cup) is not akin to the World Cup but the hype and excitement will be at level of World Cup also,” he said.

While preparing for the Asian Cup-qualifying Challenge Cup, the Azkals also look to improve on their current 162nd standing in the Fifa world rankings.

“Our intention right now is to play as many international friendlies as possible to improve our FIFA rankings,” Palami said.

For this, the Azkals are arranging friendly matches against India or Pakistan and around three countries in the Gulf region in between their participation in next month’s Long Teng Cup in Chinese Taipei.                                

By Olmin Leyba  

So Where Do The PH Azkals Football Really Stand?

Excited Football fans, endlessly thrilled despite that humbling defeat by the Philipine Azkals to Kuwait, are also asking another question. Where do their newfound sports heroes actually stand? Of course, the Azkals deserved all the applause for the gallant battle they waged against powerhouse Kuwait at the Rizal Memorial Stadium last week. But without meaning to dampen enthusiasm, there were other observers here at home who felt the Kuwaitis were not properly appreciated.

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Why?

For one, there were post-game reports that the gifted Kuwaitis were seen enjoying intimate moments with comely Filipino entertainers at the Sofitel, while the Azkals were deep in final training for that crucial game. Which could only mean that, contrary to earlier reports, the Kuwaitis had never been seriously bothered by the Azkals, which they blanked, 3-0, in their homeground. “Kuwait showed a lot of class last Thursday—they are No. 95 and we are 162nd in the Fifa rankings of July 27,” informed premier national sports statistician Joseph Dumuk, now retired in La Union.

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That was definitely a demotion, Dumuk said, adding that, it more than showed how far the Philippines has lagged and the Kuwaitis showed how much harder we have to work in order to advance. “To give you an idea,” Dumuk said, “where our neighbors stand: THA 119, SIN 131, INA 137, VIE 144 and MAS 146.” He added that the top teams in Asia are: Japan 16, South Korea 28, Iran 54, People’s Republic of China 73, Qatar, 90, Jordan 91, Saudi Arabia 92.

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He asked: Can you imagine the resources we need in order to break into the Top 100? Dumuk did not say it, but he definitely felt that it would take more than the current tact of taking in talented foreigners with Filipino lineage to the national squad in order to hit the dream goal. Indeed, the Azkals, with their current worth, have surpassed themselves by firing up football enthusiasm hereabouts. But, as cold-bloodedly demonstrated by the Kuwaitis at the Rizal Memorial field, we need more than the current momentum in order to fully redeveloped football in the Philippines. The Azkals and their great results are, at best, products of a commendable crash program.

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But you need not be a sports development expert to know that, more than instant popularity, there’s the crying need to honestly upgrade game standards here at home. And this can’t be done by one sector, or one person alone, as in the case of the amiable national team manager Dan Palami. The game against Kuwait clearly showed that while our players were often frantically sprinting, the visitors would just strut, if not stroll, in full control. The Philippines, no doubt, is light years behind Kuwait in the area of native football pedigree. OK, the Azkals will continue to be great in their own right for now. But manager Palami cannot deny how he dreams of one day handling an All-Filipino team that could match dribbling and dancing wits with world-class talents like the homegrown Kuwaitis, home or away, rain or shine.

By Recah Trinidad

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 Prepare for 'Hot' Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals will fly to Bahrain on Friday to begin their acclimatization process for their away game against Kuwait.

The Philippine team hopes that a few days training in Bahrain will help them get used to the scorching heat in Kuwait, where temperatures can go as high as 45 degrees Celsius.

The Azkals will have 2 friendly games in Bahrain, which is also among Asia’s football powerhouses.

“I'm excited, I've never been there,” said Azkals’ Nate Burkey. “I'm curious to see the country, what it would be like. Just ready to get focused on this game.”

The team’s conditioning coach already prepared things that they would need to help the Azkals get used to the heat in the Middle East.

“We're preparing icebags, sprays and sunglasses.... lahat,” said Joseph Malinay, the Philippine team’s conditioning coach.

Filipino-foreigners who were not present during the first phase of the Azkals’ training, like Neil Etheridge, Ray Jonsson and Rob Gier, will join the squad in Bahrain.

Azkals midfielder Jason de Jong is hopeful that they can pull off an upset even in hostile territory.

“You’ll never know. The ball's round... the last time we went to Suzuki Cup, they said we cannot beat Vietnam, but we beat them 2-0. So you never know,” he said.

The Azkals' away game versus the Kuwaiti Al-Azraq (The Blue) will take place at the Mohammed Al Hamad Stadium, Hawalli on July 23.

This will be followed by the home game at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on July 28.

Kuwait is 102nd in the FIFA world rankings while the Philippines is 159th. – With a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

Filipinos in Kuwait Catch Azkals Fever

KUWAIT – Fans of the Philippine Azkals in Kuwait are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Philippines new sports heroes.

The Azkals, who already left the Philippines for their acclimatization in Bahrain, are scheduled to play against the Kuwait Al-Azraq in Hawalli on July 23.

Filipinos based in Kuwait have also caught the Azkals fever and are now busy printing Azkals t-shirts, badges and banners which will be used in their away game in Kuwait.

“Ginawa namin ito pang-suporta lang actually sa team Azkals. Proud nga tayo dahil makakarating ang Philippine team dito. Kaming grupo gumawa kami ng paraan para suportahan [sila],” said Azkals fan Nelson Lacson.

“Kaya dito, go, go kami sa Azkals. Support the Azkals,” said another Azkals fan, Romano Roman.

The Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is also helping the Filipino community in Kuwait in their efforts to boost the morale of the Philippine Azkals.

“This is one occasion that the Philippine Embassy and the Filipino community here in Kuwait should join forces together in showing their unity in boosting the morale of the Filipino football national team,” said Ambassador Shulan Primavera.

Impressed

The Kuwait Football Association is also preparing for the arrival of the Azkals.

Talal Al-Mehteb, Kuwait Football Association Media Officer, said their local organizing committee has already laid out plans in welcoming the Philippine national team.

Kuwait Football Association headquarters

“Everything is ok, moving smoothly…but we are waiting from the Philippine team to confirm their time of arrival to Kuwait, to prepare the technical meeting, the press conference for them,” he said.

Al-Mehteb said the Kuwait football team was impressed with the Azkals’4-0 victory over the Sri Lankan Brave Reds early this month.

Despite its higher ranking, Team Kuwait refuses to underestimate the Azkals.

“Most of them are professionals. It's a big problem for our team,” said Al-Mehteb. “All of our players are non-professionals, but we are all preparing for them now.”

The away game will take place at the Qadsia Club Stadium.

The Kuwait Football Federation prepared security measures as fans are expected to fill up the 25,000-seater football stadium

“But I don't think there will be a problem. Kuwait is a peaceful country and they can enjoy with the Kuwait people,” said Al-Mehteb.

Ticket for the Azkals’ away game against Kuwait are priced at 5 Kuwait Dinars (P765), 3 Kuwait Dinars (P459), and 2 Kuwait Dinars (P306). -- With a report from Maxxy Santiago, ABS-CBN Middle East Bureau

Fixture

World Cup 2014 Qualifyer

Round 2: Philippine Azkals Vs. Kuwait Al-Azraq

DATE	VENUE		MATCHES
July 23	HAWALLY  Mohammed Al-Hammad Stadium	KUWAIT	-	PHILIPPINES
July 28	MANILA Rizal Memorial Stadium	PHILIPPINES	-	KUWAIT

1^st Leg (July 23) – Mohammed Al-Hammas Stadium, Hawally

Kuwait	WCQ	Philippines
	-

2^nd Leg (July 28) – Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila

Philippines	WCQ	Kuwait
	-

FIFA RANKINGS

(Last Updated: 29 Jun 2011)

Philippine Azkals	Kuwait Al-Azraq
159	102

RESULT: 4-Nil (5:1 Aggregate Score)

Round I: FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifyer

1^st Leg – Sugathadasa, Colombo

Sri Lanka	Matches	Philippines
(43') Chathura GUNARATHNA	1:1 (1:0)	(50') Nathaniel BURKEY

Officials

Referee: Tayeb SHAMSUZZAMAN

Assistant Referee 1: Mahabubur RAHMAN

Assistant Referee 2: Aminul RIPON

Fourth official: Abdul MIRON

2^nd Leg – Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila

Philippines	Matches	Sri Lanka
(19') Emelio CALIGDONG	4:0 (2:0)
(43' 57'PEN) Phil YOUNGHUSBAND
(51') Ángel GUIRADO

     Officials

Referee: KIM Sang Woo

Assistant Referee 1: JANG Jun Mo

Assistant Referee 2: YOON Kwangyeol

Fourth official: KO Hyungjin

AGGREGATE SCORE:

PHILIPPINES	Matches	SRI LANKA
5	:	1