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 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