Malaysia, India invited vs Azkals

I remember Coach Weiss said in one of his interviews before that Azkals will have more international matches to improve the Azkals performance. I like this idea since the Azkals team still needs some improvements in their performance. Since most of the Azkals players came from different countries, more football matches will make the bonds of the team stronger. Hopefully, these matches will serve its purpose to improve Azkals level of play.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Football Federation has invited Malaysia and India to play the Azkals in October at home in friendly matches serving as preview of the national team’s two important competitions next year.

PFF chief Mariano ‘Nonong’ Araneta Jr. Friday said the invitation to the two squads came after Nepal turned down the PFF’s invite for an Oct. 6 exhibition match at the Rizal Memorial Football Field.

Playing against Malaysia and India, ranked No. 146 and No. 153 in the International Football Federation (Fifa), will give the Filipinos an opportunity to gauge their level of competitiveness as they will get to test the mettle of their future rivals in the AFF-Suzuki Cup and AFC-Challenge Cup, according to Araneta.

“We’ve invited India for an Oct. 6 date while Malaysia for Oct. 9,” said Araneta, noting that a response from Malaysia is expected in the next two days.

Malaysia, which beat Indonesia in the finals on 4-2 aggregate, is the reigning Suzuki Cup champion. The tourney is the same event where the Azkals’ brush with fame started following their historic semifinals finish last year.

India, on the other hand, is the 2008 Challenge Cup champion.

India alongside the Philippines, Nepal and five other countries, will play in the finals of the 2012 edition slated this March.

Araneta said Nepal, the host of Challenge Cup finals, declined the invite because the schedule runs in conflict with the Dashain, Nepal’s biggest festival of the year, which will keep the Nepalese booters busy.

source: mb.com.ph

2 Fil-foreigners to boost Azkals

Its great to know that Azkals is not giving up to strengthen their ranks by getting more players. 2 Fil-foreigners will be invited to boost the Azkals ranks. But I would love to see more local players to be included in the rank. I know that it will take some time to get some good local players here since Basketball is one of the most popular games here in the Philippines. But whether they are locally grown or fil-foreigner what important is the heart to play football and to play for the national team. We salute companies who also support sports teams not only the Azkals since our government cant support most of our sports teams.

PHILIPPINE Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss yesterday revealed that two more Filipino-foreign players are slated to arrive in the country to reinforce the Azkals and the national under-23 squad as they prepare for a series of international meets in the coming months.

Weiss, who has just arrived from a three-week visit from his hometown in Germany, said the team needs to be reinforced by high-caliber players if it hopes to be competitive against football powers in the near future.

“We have many players in line. We have to bring in high-quality players, not average,” said Weiss during Wednesday’s ceremony honoring the Azkals and the Philippine national 4-a-side team to the Homeless World Cup at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.

During the ceremony, executives of Pharma-Rex, the official marketer of paracetamol brand Cortal SQR, presented P500,000 as financial support to the football teams’ stint in the Long Ten Cup in Taiwan and the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

At the same time, HWC coach Rudy del Rosario and team supporters also received a check of P300,000 from Cortal SQR brand manager Anton Panajon. The national four-a-side squad will see action in the 2011 Homeless World Cup in Paris, France on Aug. 21 to 28. Peter Atencio - manilastandardtoday.com

2 Azkals may miss match

The Azkals faces another player problem because two of their players, Neil Etheridge and Marcus Stephan Schrock cant play next match. We have seen this kind of scenario when two of their players wasnt able to play in their 1st leg of Azkals vs Kuwait game. Hopefully they will find the right replacement for these players as soon as possible so that they will be able to play with the team or else they will surely have a hard time winning any match for their next play. We still dont know how much this will affect the Azkals team but they are surely still positive to win their next football matches.

MANILA, Philippines — Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and attacking midfielder Marcus Stephan Schrock are unlikely to join the Philippine football team when it sees action in the Long Teng Cup slated in Kaohsiung, Taiwan late next month.

The four-nation tourney is the first of many lined up for the Azkals following their elimination in the second round of the World Cup qualifiers last July.

The presence of the two players, who shone against the Kuwaitis during the qualifiers, will surely strengthen the Azkals’ chances, but team manager Dan Palami said he may just tap their services for a more important competition in the future.

The 6-foot-2 Fil-British Etheridge, 21, is set to be promoted as regular reliever on the first team of Fulham, which competes in the Premiere League, while the 5-foot-5 Fil-German Schrock is busy with his ballclub Greuther Furth playing in the German second division.

“It’s unlikely that he (Etheridge) will play. For Schorck, may be not also,” Palami said in a recent interview.

“We want to preserve our relationship with their teams, so we bring in the players only when it’s absolutely necessary,” continued Palami, who left for Europe Wednesday to scout possible reinforcements for the Azkals.

Palami, though, said the Under-23 pool preparing for the Southeast Asian Games in November will join the Azkals in the event, where they are bidding to improve on their second place finish behind Hong Kong last year.

The Sept. 28-Oct. 6 competition will have competing teams from Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong and Philippines although Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano ‘Nonong’ Araneta Jr said the organizers plan to expand the cast to six.

Last year, the Philippines finished with a 1-1-1 record in the competition, thumping Macau, (5-0) drawing with Taiwan (1-1) and bowing to Hong Kong (4-2).

Dragon boat paddlers not comparing selves to Azkals

The Azkals team is still pretty young compare to the Dragon boat team who were able to bagged medals before. The two sports should not be compare since they are different sports. If there is one thing to compare the Philippine Dragon boat team with the Azkals is their dedication to give honor for our country. They did their best to give prestige to our country. Although the Dragon boat team was successful in bringing home five gold medals while the Azkals team failed to make it in FIFA, both teams deserves our support. I just hope that people will give the Dragon boat team the same support they gave with Azkals. Its a good thing that President Noynoy acknowledges the Dragon boat team efforts and pushes to stop politics in sports.

MANILA, Philippines – Members of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) team are shrugging off comparisons with the Philippine national football team, the Azkals.

"We are not comparing ourselves (with the Azkals)," said team manager Major Harold Cabunoc.

"What matters is we now saw that many of our countrymen appreciate this victory of ours," Cabunoc added.

The PDBF team won 5 gold medals and 2 silvers in the recent 10th International Dragon Boat Federation World Championships in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Cabunoc said that it is not right to compare the dragon boat team with the football team, whose World Cup dreams ended last month after losing to Kuwait.

"It just so happened that we won," Cabunoc said. "Let's give them time and they’ll win maybe in a few years."

"It's hard to compare because... we play different sports," he added.

Cabunoc said he sees the growth of the dragon boat team's popularity through their Facebook fan page.

"We are very happy. Our Facebook fan page has already reached almost 5,000... This means that more and more people are supporting the group," Cabunoc said.

More honors

The dragon boat team continues to reap commendations from various organizations and has already received offers for product endorsements.

The 12 soldiers from the team were awarded the Military Merit Medal by Armed Forces of the Philippines vice chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo Mapagu last Monday in Camp Aguinaldo.

Cabunoc said that Davao City and Negros Occidental are also planning honors for the team.

Meanwhile, team captain Sgt. Usman Anterola was grateful for the support being showered on the dragon boat team.

"We are very thankful that we were welcomed warmly. We are very happy with the outpouring of support for us, including those from abroad," Anterola said.

source: abs-cbnNEWS.com

Azkals radio stint at 101.9 Tambayan

Azkals Rob Gier, Misagh, Nate and Simon guesting at 101.9 Tambayan. You can watch their interview below.

Neil Etheridge Sexy Pics for F&H Ad

No doubt that Azkals continue to make a scene in Philippine entertainment industry as they get more Ad projects. Aside from Phil Younghusband, Neil Etheridge is also one of the favorite faces of Azkals team and there are many girls (and men) that go gaga to this young hunk. What is great about Neil is that he remains humble and unaffected by fame that he is currently getting.

Keeper of the goal
By: Tim Yap
Source: Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines - What the people have seen over the past few days has been a terrible sight. For those involved and those watching, the country is already in a deep recession which we are trying hard to get out of and this looting and violence against our own people has not helped the cause or helped anyone for that matter. Shop owners, property owners and individuals have been attacked for reasons unknown to anyone. With the Olympics coming up next year we should be uniting as a country not destroying our own.’

Those words were uttered not by a commentator on the BBC or on any news channel for that matter. They came from the mouth of famed Azkals goal keeper Neil Etheridge -- someone we can call our very own.

Neil Etheridge lives 20 minutes away from where the London riots happened earlier this week. “The people involved are selfish and have destroyed many major cities all over the country,” says Neil over the phone, disappointment quite apparent in his low voice. Neil has attracted quite a lot of attention recently for keeping the flames alive for fans of football in the Philippines. This country needs new sports heroes. Neil Etheridge is one of the new flag bearers for this generation’s goal setters.

Not so slowly, the cityscape’s billboards are being lined with athletes telling us what to wear, eat and drink. Some mayors may squirm upon seeing men stripped down to their bare essentials, but hey, that’s their issue. Athletes, whether in their underwear or not, have replaced celebrities in selling fitness because for these titans, fitness is a 24-hour job. They wake up to train. And even if they know how to party, at the end of the day, they still have to get up and train. Playing ball is no easy feat.

Eyes on the prize

While we’re on the topic, I ask Neil about his photos, which circulated all over Twitter. Yes, his Folded and Hung (no pun intended) campaign where Neil keeps his eye on the goal, his intense gaze, arms raised and ready for action.

How did he prepare for the F&H shoot? I mean, it’s not everyday that you get photographed in your underwear. “I have a really great fitness trainer and he has helped me get into shape. Believe it or not my body never looked like that, and I am always looking to improve it. Steve Hines at Fulham Football Club has been a great help with my nutrition and work out. If you’re interested, he leaves tips and information at @peakxvfitness (on Twitter).” I will definitely follow this guy to see if my body will become like Neil Etheridge’s.

“In fact, I was a little shy because I didn’t really want to take my top of in front of a camera straight away. I am quite body concious, if you can believe that. I think (if) you ask most guys, they are.” Who would have known, right?

“He is extremely focused and gives his 110% when it comes to football. He’s really serious about fitness and sometimes goes to the gym twice in one day,” shares Neil’s and the Azkal’s constant companion, Joanne Samson, his agent at W Talent Management.

No to riots, no EDSA billboard

For this particular shoot for F&H, Neil shares, “At that shoot I was just myself. No special work out before. (I) just turned up to have fun in front of a camera.”

And then it got leaked on Facebook and on Twitter.

“I didn’t know at first it was being released and I thought it might have been leaked by accident because I saw it (first) on Twitter. Of course, I was very happy and proud of what I did and how it came out,” Neil speaks in a gentle giant tone, unaffected by fame and just really focused on whatever he does. “My agent from W Talent Agency was the one (who) encouraged me to do the F&H campaign.” That one photo has gone viral and is now posted all over the Internet, making Neil Etheridge a de facto sex symbol overnight.

How does he feel about the “sex symbol” tag? Does it make him feel uncomfortable, like some of our politicians? “Myself as a sex symbol? No, not really. I see myself as a normal person (who) always has time for others. I was lucky enough to be given a talent and I have (worked) hard (on) improving (it) to get to where I am today.”

Ladies, don’t cause a riot over this one. This one won’t be on EDSA anytime, so feel free to share.

The Azkals sexy posts for Health and Beyond

Behind the scenes of the Azkals Photo Shoot for Health and Beyond with Nate Burkey, Misagh Bahadoran, Anton Del Rosario, Simon Greatwich and Rob Gier by Thinline Advertising.

Azkals thanks their fans and sponsor

Pacquiao is also an Azkals fan

Before HBO secured the much awaited Pacquiao vs Marquez fight, Manny Pacquiao revealed to his fans that he is also a fan of the Azkals. It surely surprised the underdog Azkals that one of the well known athlete that the Philippines ever produce is their fan. Well, this surely has boosted the moral of the Azkals amidst the rape controversy that some members are currently facing. You can read the whole interview to Manny Pacquiao below.

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao has so many secrets – some must remain as secrets, though. But last Saturday, he revealed one.

To the surprise of a huge, animated crowd, Pacquiao admitted that he’s also one of the many who were caught up in the football fever that swept the country the past months following the sucess of the national football team.

His revelation further energized the crowd, especially the enthralled Azkals squad.

“Dati po hindi ako mahilig sa football. Pero ngayon mahilig na ako dahil sa Philippine Azkals,” said Pacquiao during the annual Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night at the historic landmark Manila Hotel.

The revelation came as a piece of good news for Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta and members of the Philippine Azkals, who were bestowed with the Presidential Achievement award.

The Azkals sparked a football buzz after their historic semifinal finish in the Suzuki Cup last year.

The eight-division world champion claimed that he was rooting for the Mexican football team before.

But when the Azkals shocked defending Suzuki Cup champion Vietnam, 2-0, his admiration for the Azkals got bigger.

“Dati Mexico ang pinapanood kong team. Ngayon Azkals na,” said Pacquiao who is set to fight Shane Mosley for the Filipino’s World Boxing Organization’s welterweight title on May 7 in Las Vegas.

The Azkals sustained their sizzling run last month by beating Mongolia, 2-0, in the first leg of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifier.

Pacquiao also had a fond memory of international boxing referee Carlos Padilla, Jr. – one of the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement awards.

He said in jest that Padilla helped him during his fight with Nedal Hussein of Australia.

“Nong natumba ako, matagal ako binilangan ni Mr. Padilla, syempre para maka-recover ako,” said the smiling Pacquiao.
Luckily for Pacquiao and Padilla, the fight was held in Antipolo City in 2000. Had it been fought somewhere else, a riot could have ensued.

“Andito na tayo sa Pilipinas, ginamit na niya ang pagka-advantage natin,” said Pacquiao who eventually stopped his foe in the 10th round. This was published in Manila Bulletin

2015 Asian Cup is Azkals next target

MANILA—The Philippine Azkals are setting their sights on qualifying for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia. And they will get their first shot as early as March next year when they see action in the final round of the AFC Challenge Cup hosted by Nepal.

“Bringing home the Challenge Cup is our next target as it ensures our participation for the 2015 the Asian Cup,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami. “It’s not akin to the World Cup, but the hype and excitement will be at the level of the World Cup.”

This early, Palami is already mulling the staging of friendlies for the Azkals in preparation for the Challenge Cup.

Palami rattled off India and Pakistan as prospective opponents for friendly matches for the Azkals in October.

“All of the friendly matches we will have are preparatory to the Challenge Cup and keep our rankings up,” said Palami, who had lamented the recent drop of the Azkals’ position in the Fifa rankings despite their victories against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh early this year.

When Palami flies to Europe late this month, he intends to talk to the clubs of Europe-based Azkals like Stephan Schrock, Paul Mulders, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara and lobby for their release for the March 3 to 18 tournament.

“We want to bring the best possible team to the Challenge Cup,” he said.

Although he has yet to reveal their names, Palami is also seeking to talk to new Filipino prospects for the team based in Europe.

“So far, we have six names, but it might expand to 10 before I leave,” said Palami.

The Azkals return to action in the Long Teng Cup starting Sept. 28 in Taiwan, with Palami expected to field a mix of the seniors team and the Under-23 squad that is preparing for the Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta in November.

The Azkals advanced to the AFC Challenge Cup main tournament for the first time by overcoming Mongolia in pre-qualifying, before finishing second behind Palestine in the group qualifying in Myanmar last March.

The other teams that qualified for the Challenge Cup, a competition for emerging Asian countries, are North Korea, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Nepal and India.

The Azkals saw their World Cup qualifying run end last July 28 when they lost to Kuwait, 1-5, on aggregate after the second round.

Still, the Azkals already made history by reaching the second round after beating Sri Lanka in their first World Cup qualifying tie in close to 10 years.

The Azkals missed standouts like Lucena, Cagara and Mulders in the Kuwait tie because of club commitments

“This early we will already ask permission for their clubs so that it will be easier for us next year,” Palami added.

Published in inquirer.net

Dan Palami Scouts For New Azkals Members

Philippine Azkals manager Dan Palami is off, with Brussels, Belgium as the first stop on a working tour of Europe, searching for more football players of Filipino lineage to lure to the national cause. Some of the veteran Fil-foreign players on the Azkals are playing bigger roles with their mother clubs in Europe, and are going to be less available as the seasons wear on. Some of them may not even be released by their pro teams, at all.

When asked how he was going to attract these players, and if the job was easier now with the team’s relative fame, Palami had a standard-issue answer.

“What’s my pitch going to be? It’s going to be the same as it was with guys like Rob Gier, when nobody knew – or cared – about the Azkals,” explained Palami. “It’s a chance to play for flag and country.”

What the general public does not realize (particularly those who have biases against the inclusion of “half-Filipino” players), is that it is often a great financial sacrifice for these young men to come to the Philippines at the cost of jobs with limited slots in the soccer hotbeds in Europe. Some of our players receive $10,000-$20,000 salaries to play professionally in Europe, which is no mere pittance. Yet, many of them have risked their professional careers and taken leaves of absence to suit up for matches wearing the Philippine flag.

Managing sensitivities on the issue of race is also something the Philippine Football Federation is now conscious of. Bear in mind that the huge sums being given as sponsorship money to the Azkals actually go to the coffers of the PFF for grassroots development. With the sport’s development having been “dormant for decades” as Palami says, it will “take four years” or so before we develop another Chieffy Caligdong. In the meantime, the team needs the technology transfer and seasoned talent of Fil-foreign players who are willing to don the flag.

There are a lot of big tournaments awaiting the Azkals, who are also part of the United Football League individually, and to some extent, members of the Under-23 team. The Southeast Asian Games involves the younger Azkals, while the Suzuki Cup and AFC are slated for next year. These major tournaments coincide with breaks in major European leagues, as FIFA avoided the overlap between national and club teams. In the meantime, there are more diamonds in the rough home and away, waiting to be discovered. Published in The Philippine Star

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