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