2 friendlies for Azkals

A mixture of new and returning players will suit up for the Philippine Azkals when they play in two international friendly matches starting this Saturday against Southeast Asian powerhouse Malaysia.

New Azkals coach Thomas Dooley has brought in several United Football League standouts to complement mainstays like brothers Phil and James Younghusband, Rob Gier, Stephen Schrock, Neil Etheridge and Javier Patino for the friendlies that also includes a date with Azerbaijan on March 5.

The returnees are 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup veteran Anton del Rosario of Kaya FC, Nate Burkey of Pachanga Diliman and Simon Greatwich of the Loyola Meralco Sparks. The three have been out of the national squad for at least two years. New faces that will don the national colors are Kaya’s Kenshiro Daniels and goalkeeper Nick O’Donnell while Fil-Swedish Martin Steuble, who hopes to make his first cap for the Azkals in both friendlies. (JT)

Weiss disappointed at being replaced after Azkals’ rise in rank

FORMER Philippine Azkals coach Michael Weiss is obviously disappointed over his being replaced after having brought the national team from a FIFA ranking of No.160, when he took over to 127, when he was dumped.

“Of course, I am disappointed to be taken out of the opportunity for which I have worked very hard together with the staff and the players for three years. To be taken away, this dream to go to the Asian Cup for the Philippines and the Filipino people is a sad thing,” Weiss told the Manila Standard. “It happens in football where people have the right to make decisions like that.”

The German coach also lamented the fact that he “didn’t get the support we needed to make the team stronger and to prepare accordingly for the Challenge Cup, which was my ultimate target.”

Weiss was denied the opportunity when the Philippine Football Federation and Azkals manager Dan Palami replaced him with American Thomas Dooley, who played for the United States in two World Cups, just months before the biggest challenge faced by the Azkals.

Despite the hurt caused by his ouster, Weiss said he wanted to “thank everyone, who supported me the last three years fantastically. Foremost were the players who have a fantastic character, the coaching staff and also the management even though I must say that 2013 was not so good anymore.”

He claimed that during the past year, he didn’t have the support needed to make the team stronger and prepare accordingly for the Challenge Cup.

“The numbers don’t lie. I don’t want to place it only on my shoulders. It’s the team and I am part of the team. I am very happy being part of this experience,” said Weiss.

He said the PFF and manager Palami have their reasons for his replacement. “We have to accept this and move one.”

At present, there are some unsettled financial issues which include incentives for past achievements, but Weiss isn’t keen on getting into the details which, he believes, “is not something for the public.”

Thomas Dooley bringing in new Azkals

MANILA, Philippines — There could be a slew of new faces seeing action for the Philippines when it plays a couple of friendlies early next month as part of its buildup for the AFC Challenge Cup.

Coach Thomas Dooley, who took over early this month, is keen to test some of the local-based players for the match against Malaysia on March 1 in Kuala Lumpur, with most Europe-based players unavailable for the game and several key players injured.

Among the players expected to see action against Malaysia is Martin Steuble, the Fil-Swiss midfielder, who traces his roots in Bacolod.

Steuble who secured his Philippine passport recently, plays in the Swiss league.

“I want to give players experience and show me what they have to offer for the team,” Dooley told the Inquirer.

Dooley has tested several new players and returnees, including Kaya’s Anton Del Rosario and former Loyola striker Chad Gould as well as teenager Kenshiro Daniel.

They join the initial pool bannered by veterans Chris Greatwich, Ed Sacapano, Patrick Reichelt and Jeffrey Christiaens.

Azkals manager Dan Palami said that Phil and James Younghusband could be rested for the match against Malaysia to allow them to recover from injuries, while Chieffy Caligdong has already been ruled out of the clash because of a foot injury.

“Coach Dooley may try out some new players. He may experiment but this is just one of the steps we need to take in our mission to win the Challenge Cup,” Palami said.


source: sports.inquirer.net

Globe taps Azkals skipper Caligdong for grassroots program

MANILA, Philippines -- Azkals skipper Chieffy Caligdong will spearhead Globe Telecom's Football Para sa Bayan 2014, a grassroots program for underprivileged youth.

Caligdong, who also plays for Globe Telecom-bankrolled Green Archers United in the United Football League (UFL), will grace the launching of football tournaments in Metro Manila and Iloilo.

The Manila leg will kick-off this weekend, February 22, while Caligdong's homecoming in Iloilo where hails from the town of Pototan, will lbe launched on March 8 to 9.

The Metro Manila event will be held in partnership with the Philippine Navy at the Fleet-Marine football grounds in Taguig City while the Iloilo leg will be conducted in Sta. Barbara, about 16 kilometers from the city proper.

“The festivals will serve as a platform where in kids, regardless of their socio-economic background can enjoy the sport of football. At the same time, these events can serve as an inclusive platform for socially advantaged and less advantaged teams to interact and work together. We also want to capitalize on the sport to achieve our desired impact:  for children to stay in school, aspire for higher marks, and be in a position to vie for scholarships both athletic and academic,” said Fernando Esguerra, Globe OIC for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Globe's Football Para sa Bayan 2014 will bring together 35 community football teams composed of underprivileged youth not only to compete but to interact, and share best football practices with 35 other teams from varsities of private schools and private football clubs.

The Manila leg will be participated by about 900 kids and young adults under the  7-17 age bracket.

All 35 community football teams will be supported by Globe via free inclusion into the tournament.

Globe and Caligdong are hoping that through this tournament, underprivileged players are given access to high-level competition and opportunities to network and to get scouted by private schools and teams for possible scholarships.

Over at Iloilo, about 1000 kids from football communities are expected to join the 2nd Football Para Sa Bayan festival in Caligdong's home province, which will also include a football clinic.

Globe Football Para Sa Bayan is a year-round football campaign of the giant telecommunications company to bring the program around the country to impact nation-building in a big way.

Football is just the first step in Globe sports advocacy as the company continues to develop various sports programs for its CSR communities.

Mixed emotions for Weiss as he bids Azkals goodbye

MANILA, Philippines – Former Philippine Azkals head coach Michael Weiss is dealing with mixed emotions as he said goodbye to the team that he coached for three years.

Weiss made no secret of the fact that he dealt with several challenges in his three years at the helm. But he said he is proud of what he has achieved with the Azkals, including bringing the team to its highest-ever FIFA ranking.

“(Last year), things got a little bit… I don’t want to say messy, but we were drifting apart,” Weiss said, referring to himself and management. “So we didn’t have the preparations as they should have been.”

“You could imagine that some things like this happen, because I was very vocal, and also very strong over defending the team against not so good influences from outside, and maybe some people too it personal or took it against them,” he added. “That was never my intention.”

Even so, the Azkals rose to 127th in the FIFA world rankings last year, their highest ever.

“Imagine we brought the team from 160 in 2011 now to 127, No. 1 in Southeast Asia,” said Weiss. “I think the numbers don’t lie, but I don’t want to put these only on my shoulders.”

“It’s the team,” he stressed. “I’m part of the team and I’m very happy to have been part of this wonderful experience.”

Weiss is admittedly disappointed that he will not get to coach the Azkals in the AFC Challenge Cup in Maldives this May, where the team is hoping to achieve their goal of qualifying to the Asian Cup.

“Of course I’m disappointed, to be taken (away) the opportunity for what I have worked very hard together with the staff and the players for three years,” he said. “To be taken away, this dream of myself to go to the Asian Cup for the Philippines and with the Philippine football, it’s a sad thing.”

“But it happens in football,” he added.

Weiss expressed his gratitude to the players and the Azkals coaching staff, as well as the management of the team, even though he acknowledged that his relationship with the management “was not so good anymore” in 2013.

“The people have the right to make decisions like that if they think they have to, and I wish the team, management and the PFF all the best,” he said.

Weiss was replaced by Thomas Dooley, who kicked off the preparation for the AFC Challenge Cup earlier this week with a 34-man training pool. -- From a report by Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News.

Emelio Asada Caligdong

Azkals Player Profile:

Name: Emelio Asada Caligdong a.k.a. Chieffy Caligdong

Position: Vice-captain/ Left Winger

Born: 28 September 1982 (Pototan, Iloilo, Philippines)

Current Club: Philippine Air Force

Jersey No.: 13

3 Cebuanos join Azkal training pool

Chad Gould

IT WAS five years ago when Chad Gould last suited up for his country for the 2010 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifiers in Maldives. At 31 years old, the former Azkal has a chance to once again represent the Philippines in international competition as he was called back to join a 34-man training pool in preparation for the AFC Challenge Cup on May 19 to 30 in Maldives.

“I was very happy to be selected for the training camp. I have worked so hard over the last two years for this and I am grateful to be given the opportunity,” said the British-Cebuano Gould.

Two other Cebuano booters were also invited to the training pool – Patrick Reichelt and Paulo Pascual.

In 2011, Gould was supposed to be part of the training pool for the 2014 World Cup qualifier but had to pull out after an infected mosquito bite needed a minor surgery.

Gould returned to England but returned to the Philippines in 2012 and play for the Meralco Sparks FC in the United Football League (UFL), scoring 48 goals in 26 matches.

“I had such a wonderful time with the club not just domestically but internationally too. Scoring in the Singapore Cup has to be one of the highlights. To end my time at Meralco lifting the clubs first trophy was stuff dreams are made of. Scoring in the final was the icing on the cake too,” said Gould.

With a new coach in Thomas Dooley, a former defender of the US national team, Gould gets another chance to play for the team.

“I’ve always made myself available for the Azkals. Playing for the national team has been the pinnacle of my football career. In football though, sometimes the face doesn’t fit. Unfortunately for me Coach Weiss (German Hans Michael Weiss) wanted to use other players which is fine. I know being a coach must be a tough job especially when it comes to breaking the hearts of players,” said Gould.

“I have been told good things about him already from my fellow teammates. I’m excited to work and learn off him. I remember watching him in the Fifa ‘94 and ‘98 World Cups and it is a testament to how far Philippine football has come that we can have someone of his caliber at the helm of the team.”

Gould has suited up for the Azkals in 13 matches and has scored six goals for the country.

The other players that were invited in the training pool are Jose Elmer Porteria, Christopher Greatwich, Emilio Caligdong, brothers James and Phil Younghusband, siblings Marvin and Marwin Angeles, Carlos de Murga, Jerry Barbasoi, Mark Hartmann, Jason De Jong, Amani Aguinaldo, Patrick Deyto, Jeffrey Christiaens, Misagh Bahadoran, Anton Del Rosario, Charles Pettys, Simone Rota, Eduard Sacapano, Nate Burkey, Ryan Lerio, Jake Hugo, Rudolf Bebangco, Nick O’Donnell, Curt Dizon, Reymark Fernandez, Ronnie Aguisanda, Deo Segunial, Nathan Octavio, Milan Justin Arends and Kenshiro Daniels.

By Edri K. Aznar

Alexander Charles Luis Borromeo

Alexander Charles Luis Borromeo

Azkals Player Profile:

Name: Alexander Charles Luis Borromeo

Position: Team Captain/ Defender

Born: 28 June 1983 (San Francisco, California, USA)

Current Club: Kaya

Jersey No.: 11

Football superstar David Beckham goes to Tacloban

Remember when Phil Younghusband asked David Beckham to exchange jerseys after the game? The football star is back...

CEBU - Football legend and former LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham arrived at Cebu-Mactan International Airport via Hong Kong at 11 a.m. Thursday on board Cathay Pacific flight CX 931.

Airport sources said that Beckham, together with seven other passengers from Unicef, will board a Dornier 228-200 aircraft flight UNO-117H to depart from Cebu at 12 noon and arrive at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City at 12:30 p.m.

Beckham, who has been the Unicef Ambassador since 2005, visits the Philippines for the second time to oversee relief efforts of the UN agency focused on children in typhoon-ravaged areas in Tacloban. He was here in December 2011 when his former team LA Galaxy played an exhibition game with the Philippine national men’s football team on December 3 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Celebrity couple Beckham and his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria, raised funds for typhoon survivors and personally donated 20 boxes of clothes to the British Red Cross.

source: interaksyon.com

Clubs heed PFF call for Azkals

UNITED Football League (UFL) clubs have agreed to release any of their players who will be selected for the national team to this May’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup in the Maldives.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has requested the UFL teams to lend their players to the Azkals, who are now coached by American Tom Dooley.

UFL President Randy Roxas thanked the teams for their cooperation. “The clubs have no objections to the PFF’s request that national team players be released for national team practice sessions twice a week starting this February,” Roxas said. “The league will also work with the PFF in terms of the proposed schedule for training camps abroad prior to the Challenge Cup.”

Roxas congratulated Dooley on his appointment and reiterated UFL’s support for the Azkals.

“The UFL remains committed in its support of the PFF and the Azkals. Our objectives in terms of football development are aligned and we fully recognize that a successful performance of the men’s national team in the AFC Challenge Cup will lead to faster growth of the sport in the country,” Roxas said.

The fifth edition of the AFC Challenge Cup is set from May 19 to 30 in the Maldives. The winner will qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup to be hosted by Australia.

Dooley, who played twice for the United States in the World Cup in 1994 and in 1998, was appointed as the Azkals’s new coach last week.

Dooley also served as assistant to US men’s national team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann and was also involved in the country’s U-20 side.

source: businessmirror.com.ph

Australian James Fraser is U20/U21 Azkals New Coach

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) announced Monday that James Fraser will be the new coach of U20/U21 Azkals. The PFF also appointed Marlon Maro as technical adviser, former Azkal Leigh Gun and Marlon Pinero as Fraser's assistant, and Noel Marcaida as goalkeeper coach, in preparation for the team's stint in the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy tourney this August.

PFF President Mariano Araneta said:

“We welcome Coach Jim Fraser in the Philippines and we look forward to his contributions to our junior national team. Given the need for our younger teams to be more competitive, we tap the services of experts from developed footballing countries to help us inspect and scout players properly.”

PFF introduced Thomas Dooley as Azkals new coach

MANILA (UPDATE) -- The Philippine Football Federation formally introduced on Friday the new coach of the men’s national team.

Tasked to get the Azkals in winning form for the Challenge Cup is 2-time World Cup player Thomas Dooley, a German-American who played for the US World Cup team in 1994 and became captain in 1998.

Dooley was also assistant coach of the US American team and was inducted to the USA Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

Prior to moving to the USA, he played in Bundesliga in Germany and also played and coached in the UEFA Cup.

Dooley said he is thrilled to be in the Philippines and is looking foward to meeting with the players and working on their mission to win the Challenge Cup in May.

Dooley plans to implement a simple and attractive style of football, perfect the fundamentals of the players, put pressure on the opponent, and more importantly, make everyone in the team know and perform their roles on field.

Dooley will set up training immediately for the Manila-based players and meet the foreign-based Azkals in the friendlies set in Malaysia and Dubai in March to form the best team for the Challenge Cup in Maldives.

After evaluating the players, Dooley will work on more technique, tactics, fitness and team spirit.

With a good plan, belief and hard work, Coach Dooley believes winning the Challenge Cup is attainable.

source: abs-cbnnews.com

PH Akzals, Azerbaijan to face in international friendly

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine football squad will square off with world No. 94 Azerbaijan in an international friendly on March 5, the Philippine Football Federation announced Sunday.

Azerbaijan, which is ranked 33 spots higher than the Filipinos, will be a good test for the Azkals as they gear up for the AFC Challenge Cup in May.

In a statement, the PFF said that it did not have second thoughts in accepting the invitation from Azerbaijan football federation for the two national teams to meet.

“We cannot let pass the invitation of Azerbaijan to a friendly match. It will be a good exposure for our national team, and would help our preparations for the AFC Challenge Cup Maldives finals in May 2014,” said PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

The match will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but the PFF said it was still working on other details like the venue and kick-off time.

source: MB.com.ph