Extra motivation for Azkals in AFC Challenge Cup

MANILA, Philippines — A major trophy and a chance to face the finest teams in the continent.

The Philippine Azkals now have extra motivation in their bid to nail the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives in May following the Asian Cup draw that placed the tournament winners in a grouping alongside the last two continental champions, Japan and Iraq.

This year’s Challenge Cup winner will also join another Middle East powerhouse, Jordan, in Group D, which is considered one of the toughest brackets in the prestigious tournament in Australia next year.

The Philippines hasn’t played in a tournament alongside elite company in recent years and manager Dan Palami hopes that prospect will fire up the Azkals to achieve their goal in Maldives.

But before even thinking about the Asian Cup, Palami knows winning the eight-nation Challenge Cup will already be a daunting task with the Azkals grouped with Afghanistan, Laos and Turkmenistan.

“We’re leaving no stone unturned to realize Philippine football’s dream of playing in the AFC Asian Cup,” he said.

“I’m all for it (making the Asian Cup),” said goalkeeper Neil Etheridge. “I want to go to Australia.”

Meanwhile, the Azkals have parted ways with assistant coaches Edwin Cabalida, Edzel Bracamonte and Rolando Pinero, following a Philippine Football Federation directive to have only AFC “A” licensed coaches work with the side.

The Azkals management team plans to fill the coaching void by tapping former national coach Aris Caslib to be the lead deputy to coach Thomas Dooley.

Philippines set for Nepal Friendly in Qatar

A Philippines media suggests Philippines National team is set for a friendly football arrangement against Nepal National team in Qatar where they will hold up a camp for the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in May.

Azkals manager Dan Palami said arrangements are being made to bring the team to Qatar to hold a weeklong session beginning April 8 and pick up match fitness in matches against Nepal and Qatari club Al-Ahli as reported in philstar.

Although we are yet to hear about the friendly match from All Nepal Football Association.

Philippines that currently ranks 127 in FIFA ranking played a friendly match against India back in November and ended 1-1 draw in the same venue four days before Nepal got 2-0 down to India.

Last time Nepal played Philippines was back in 2011 when Nepal faced a 4-0 defeat in Manila.

source:givemegoal.com

2 more Middle East camps for Azkals

DUBAI—Two more training camps in the Middle East are being lined up for the Philippine side preparing for the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives in May.

The Azkals, who were slated to face Azerbaijan in a friendly Wednesday night, are scheduled to hold camps in Qatar and Bahrain in the next two months before they plunge into action in the Maldives.

The Qatar camp starting April 8 will include matches against Nepal and Qatari club team Al-Ahli.

Azkals manager Dan Palami plans to hold the Bahrain camp from May 6 to 16 before they fly to the Maldives for the event that stakes a spot to the AFC Asian Cup next year. Palami is also hoping to have the Azkals together for a four-day training sessions in the Philippines.

The Azkals, handled by former United States skipper Thomas Dooley, open their Challenge Cup bid against Afghanistan on May 20, before facing Laos two days later.

Turkmenistan will be the Azkals’ last assignment on May 24 in Group B where the top two teams will advance to the semifinals.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Philippine Azkals face Malaysian Tigers Saturday with new Coach

The Philippine Azkals will be facing the Malaysian Tigers in a friendly game Saturday night with new coach Thomas Dooley, who will lead the Philippine National Football Team to the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup competition in Maldives starting May 19.

Dooley replaced Michael Weis, who was instrumental in improving the Philippine ranking from 162 in July 2011 to 127 in the latest FIFA rankings.

During his three-year stint with the Azkals, Weis led the team to the semi-finals of both AFC Challenge Cup and Suzuki Cup.

The FIFA international friendly game in Malaysia is part of Azkals' preparation for the upcoming 2014 AFC Challenge Cup scheduled for May 19-30, 2014 in Maldives.

The Maldives games will be the last of a series of five tournaments in the AFC Challenge Cup as the the football body prepares for the bigger and expanded Asian Cup.

The Azkals and the Malaysian football team have figured in past games in their respective home courts. The Azkals won over Malaysia 1-0 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in 2012 while both teams ended with a scoreless game in the same year in Malaysian home court. Read more:

On March 5, the Philippine team will face Azerbaijan in another friendly.

A few days before the Azkals' first friendly, Dooley called up at least 23 players who will make up the team in the upcoming friendly.

The list include veteran players in the Azkals team as well as comebacking and new members.

Chieffy Caligdong, who remains in the injured list may not see action this Saturday and will likely be replaced by veteran defender Rob Gier.

The Younghusband brothers, Phil and James are expected to be fielded by Coach Dooley along with Marwin Angeles, Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran, Jeffrey Christiaens, Jason De Jong and Mark Hartmann of Global FC.

They will be joined by other Azkals veterans including Ed Sacapaño, Juani Guirado, Patrick Reichelt, Marwin Angeles, Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran, Jeffrey Christiaens, Jason De Jong, Mark Hartmann, OJ Porteria and Chris Greatwich.

The others in the list include comebacking players Anton Del Rosario, Ruben Doctora, Nate Burkey and Simon Greatwich. First timers in the team include, Kenshiro Daniels, Andrew Liauw and Nick O’Donnel of Kaya FC and Filipino-Swiss Martin Steuble.

The Philippine Azkals will figure in at least five friendlies before settling in the main competition in Maldives from May 19-30, 2014.

The game will be held at the at Selayang Municipal Council Stadium in Kuala Lumpur starting at 8:45 p.m.

At stake in the Maldives games is a slot in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

source: digitaljournal.com