Azkals sport new look and renewed hope

A new-look Azkals side will try to inject a new formula to match—or surpass—its historic run in 2010 in the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup, where it squares off with powerhouse Thailand on November 24 at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
Thailand is co-hosting the Suzuki Cup with Malaysia from November 24 to December 22. The SCG Stadium in Nonthaburi, Thailand, the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, and the Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor are the other venues.
Team Manager Dan Palami said most of the players who joined the Middle East camp would likely be included in the national team's final 30-man roster for the Suzuki Cup. He added that the veterans and new members—plus the available local materials—have strengthened their chances this year.
“Coming from 2010, we had difficulty forming the team. I have seen their progress, and we are a much stronger team now. We now have many offensive options. Unlike in 2010, when we needed to focus more on defence and counterattacking, now we can build up and set up for scoring opportunities,” said Palami.
Marwin Angeles, Misagh Bahadoran, and Demitrius Omphroy are some of the new faces on the roster. They will be playing in their first Suzuki Cup.
Palami said some members of the 2010 team that reached the Suzuki Cup semifinals are no longer around because they have to compete for spots on the final roster.
“We are thankful for their contribution. We look on and move forward. We must play the best way that we can because the other teams are not resting on their achievements, especially those who failed to enter the semifinals; they will be preparing hard,” said Palami.
“We are still on a catching-up stage with our Southeast Asian neighbours. We are probably the busiest team in Asia, and that allowed us to develop the team further and surpass some of our neighbours.”
True enough, the Philippines jumped from 10th place in Southeast Asia to third in the latest International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) rankings.
They are now 22nd in Asia, up from 33rd.
“Our neighbours no longer consider us underdogs and are giving us a second look. In 201,0, we surprised them; now we have to live up to their expectations, our ranking, and the reputation we are getting from the football community,” said Palami.
The Azkals will play their final friendly against Singapore on November 15 in Cebu before leaving for Thailand. They hope to repeat their 2-0 win over the same squad in a friendly earlier this year.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saskatoon resident raises concern over rising theft in the city

The Saskatoon Police Service has an initiative called Project SHIELD, which aims to identify repeat offenders. SASKATOON—Arnel Mendoza, a member of the local Filipino community, has raised concerns about the safety of businesses and residents on the west side of the city, writing a letter to Mayor Cynthia Block and the Saskatoon Police Service. Mendoza, in his letter to Block, said that he is presenting his perspective on the issue as a concerned citizen of the city, since, like all immigrants who came to Canada seeking a better life, he also wants to live in a safer community. Full story:  http://SASKTODAY.cahttps://www.sasktoday.ca/saskatoon-today/saskatoon-news/saskatoon-resident-raises-concern-on-rising-theft-in-the-city-10942778
Read more

Boy wonder of Philippine golf

Image
Young golf prodigy Sean Dominique Granada's family wants him to enjoy every moment of each golf tournament to avoid pressure. Winning a crown is just an added bonus. From his parents, Chrisaram Villacrusis Granada and Leriza Yumang Granada to grandfather and coach Vic Granada, the eight-year-old has their full backing. "We just want him to live his dream and be proud of whatever he has achieved," said Vic a Philippine Golf Association of the Philippines member. Sean beating 13 other bets in his division to win the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship Qualifier International last May 15 to 17 is another proud moment for their family. The Don Bosco Technical College third grader earned a qualifying spot for the 2013 tournament to be held at the Dr. Leroy Culver and John Dunn Tucker-designed layout from July 29 to August 5 at Pinehurst No. 1 at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Granada is aiming to join the list of five-time winners Dottie Ardina, Clare ...
Read more

Still waiting for things to change

Image
MANDALUYONG, Philippines-- As I write this post, it is already past 1 pm, April 2, here in Manila. It is hot and humid; the current temperature is 31 degrees Celsius but feels like 36. There is a 33 per cent chance of afternoon rain showers. I doubt it would happen. Currently, it is crowded and noisy as the midterm elections campaign for local (governors, city and municipal Councils, and House of Representatives and Senate at the national levels heats up. Thousands of positions are up for grabs locally, while 12 spots are up for grabs for the Senate. Various campaign jingles serve as alarm clocks and wake people in their neighbourhoods. They use the music of different international and Filipino artists, like the collaboration of Bruno Mars and Rose, changing the song's lyrics to promote their cause or what they would do if elected. It has always been like this since I earned my right to vote when I turned 18, eons ago. The same old message where candidates say they are pro-poor and...
Read more