But Tajiks’ coach says PH has ‘no chance’
KATHMANDU—There’s one person who isn’t a fan of the Philippine Azkals’ playing style in the AFC Challenge Cup here.
After watching his team get the boot from the Philippines Tuesday, Tajikistan’s Bosnian coach Kemal Alispahic quickly dismissed the Azkals as a title contender in the tournament the Tajiks won in 2006.
“No chance,” Alispahic told a couple of Filipino reporters Sunday night at the Everest Hotel where the teams playing in Group B are billeted.
“Turkmenistan is very good. The Philippines do not play football.”
Alispahic, who speaks little English, even went to the extent of gesturing hand signals to illustrate that the Tajiks are supremely above the level of the Filipinos in football.
The Bosnian coach, who is only 20 days into his job with the Tajik national team, didn’t give the Azkals credit for the win, saying his squad beat themselves.
“My players were tired,” said Alispahic, whose squad took a first half lead, before yielding two to the Azkals in the second half. “It would have been different if we had more rest.”
Alispahic took a swipe at the Azkals’ defensive and counter-attacking style: “The Philippines only knows how to play long balls.”
Azkals coach Michael Weiss said the Azkals are only starting to pick up their rhythm what with players coming in and out of the squad because of club commitments.
“We cannot play Barcelona football, but we can play very well tactically-disciplined football,” said Weiss in reference to the Spanish club, considered as the best team in the world because of its superb passing game and goal-scoring abilities.
