Edsa, Azkals' keeper in Challenge Cup?


If Azkals coach Michael Weiss and goalkeeper trainer Pascal Zuberbühler had their way, Ed Sacapano would be their hands-down choice as the team’s keeper for the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifiers from March 22 to 26.

Weiss hinted that Sacapano, with the way he played in last year’s Suzuki Cup, could easily make it to the Azkals' final roster.

"To make the decision (of Scapano) playing or not is heartbreaking. (He’s been) playing fantastically and is a different person two years ago when I arrived," Weiss said. "Sacapano will always be with the team, he knows his role and pushed him to the limits."

The German coach, who signed a six-month extension to coach the Azkals, said their decision to use Sacapano as the team’s keeper in the Suzuki Cup is in anticipation of Neil Etheridge and Roland Müller not playing in the group stages.

Weiss said he expects Sacapano to play more matches for the team. "Ed is at a certain level where we can easily expose him. And if the young keepers from Europe got injured we have (Scapano) and other good players to fill in."

Zuberbühler, who played for the Swiss national team in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, also praised Sacapano’s work ethic.

"He played fantastic in the Suzuki Cup, he’s been on top of the situation. I have the biggest respect for him,” said Zuberbühler, who trained Sacapano in November before the start of the Suzuki Cup. “He learns very quick, he’s very clever and a smart guy. He knows what to do."

Sacapano, the 2012 Best Goalkeeper in the four-nation Peace Cup, only gave up three goals the entire Suzuki Cup and even held Vietnam and Myanmar to scoreless draws. He prevented Singapore to score in the first leg of the semifinals but the Lions’ Khairul Amri sneaked one in the return leg to advance to the finals against Thailand.

The Philippines, in Group E, open its Challenge Cup campaign against Brunei on March 22 then takes on Cambodia on the 24th. The Azkals close out the group stages when they face last year’s semifinal tormentor Turkmenistan on March 26.

All games will be played at the Rizal Memorial Football Field.

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