Azkals keen on US training

Three matches highlight camp

10:46 pm | Tuesday, June 5th, 2012

AZKALS Jason Sabio (left) and Rob Gier tackle Indonesia’s Irfan Bacchdim in last night’s match at Rizal Memorial Stadium. August dela Cruz

SHAH ALAM, Malaysia—A 15-day training camp in the United States in August highlighted by two international friendlies and a match against Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire is close to being finalized for the Philippine Azkals.

Azkals manager Dan Palami Thursday night said the proposed camp, which will run from Aug. 10 to 25, forms part of the team’s preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup late this year in Thailand and Malaysia.

Palami is looking at the US Virgin Islands as a possible opponent for the Azkals on Aug. 15, before a duel with the Fire five days later. Another international friendly is slated Aug. 20.

A group of Chicago-based Filipinos from Palami’s hometown of Tacloban City is making representations with the Chicago Fire and arranging the matches for the Azkals.

“It will be a good experience for the team,” said Palami. “We’ll make sure that we get the best possible preparation for the Suzuki Cup.”

Meanwhile, Philippine Azkals skipper Chieffy Caligdong sees no problem in the growing number of Filipino players raised abroad getting picked for national team duty, even if it meant that homegrown players can no longer hold down a place in the lineup.

“I don’t see it as a negative thing,” said Caligdong, proud son of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, who is one of only four homegrown players in the lineup. “What’s important is the level of football (in the team) is getting higher.”

The squad for the Malaysia match, which included Ian Araneta, Ed Sacapano and OJ Clariño, was probably one of the fewest with homegrown talent as coach Michael Weiss was able to bring in the likes of Europe-based Stephan Schrock, Paul Mulders, Manny Ott, Roland Muller and Denis Wolf.

Omitted for the first time since the 2010 Suzuki Cup were veteran Army players Roel Gener and Nestorio Margarse.

“It’s a challenge for our local players. They have to show up and prove they deserve the spot,” said Caligdong.

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Tags: Football , Major League Soccer , Philippine Azkals

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZUKP6WT322K5JITYNBQWK5UOBA Judy

Of course they’ll go to the USA. Among the many fine and delightful qualities of Filipinos is the sad one of their colonial mentality. Tune into the TV – the word “American”, which means USA, is used every two minutes. I once saw a creature wearing an “I (heart) USA” T-shirt on Independence Day. It would be more appropriate to train in South Africa where there are social problems of poverty, as in the Philippines; and certainly in Argentina.
MNLFoodcritic

Why in the US? Why? What’s the justification for playing in the US? Is the US a great football playing nation? Why not in Europe? Why not in South America like Brazil or Argentina? Why US?

Alajero

….why not in US…? …Soccer is in developmental stage in US…it has the resources…facilities…and willing opponents….a lot to learn …

1tiago2bangkilan3

developmental but only in if they face european and south american teams. surely the us national teams are way better than the philippines’. for that alone, it cool for the azkals to face us opponents…

i guess if you really want to show a disparity between teams, your question should be addressed to any us team, ‘why play the the azkals?’

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_7T2BPPGLG457K5BUPQBPOKDPA4 Marlon

because we can’t afford Europe. you need to pay them before you can play them.

CmdrAdobo

True. Good point.

In addition to that, Europe is expensive. Players and coaching staff multiplied by plane ticket to europe *cough* as we all know we dont have direct flight to Europe.

CmdrAdobo

Who said US is not a great football nation? They are always in world cup. They always win World cup in women. Their kids play soccer in HS. And they have good Fifa ranking.

http://profile.yahoo.com/NNAJQQUKFAB4DITXYZPSG26FYA Martin

The US is known in American Football not soccer. There’s a difference between the two.
CmdrAdobo

Hahaha. Of course I know.

You watch soccer? USA always in the world cup. They hosted world cup 1994. USA ranked in FIFA 20 something. They won many times in World Cup in Women. Their soccer tradition is good, they played soccer while in HS. Off-season LA galaxy trashed PHL 1-6.

USA is known for NBA/American football doesnt mean they are not good in soccer.

yumahuman

Maybe because they thought American Football andthe game which the rest of the world refers to as football are the same.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3GHKVTBFQ64NQJNIGS3P6LNPPI ryan

@BryanMatt: I agree… AZKALS need to control their emotions which they should have won if the squad was complete til the sound of whistle.. it seems AZKALS have’nt learn the lesson yet.
BryanMatt

A decent performance vs Indonesia; slightly disappointing result. But most disappointing of all is the continued problem of the team’s on-field discipline. You can’t succeed if you keep getting players sent-off. There’s a huge difference between playing for your country with passion and simply being hot-headed or acting “macho”. Etheridge in Nepal (and he’s a Premiership player who should be cool and composed at this level) and now Chieffy and Ott; plus other ridiculous yellows/reds (remember the other players we lost in Nepal and in previous tournaments?) . Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Weiss and the PFF have to sort this out and tell players there will be repercussions for needless yellow cards and red cards that severely cost the team. Maybe that’s something they need to focus on while in the US.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZUKP6WT322K5JITYNBQWK5UOBA Judy

Indeed, Bryan. The lesson must be learned quickly. If a rush of blood to the heard results in playing with ten men or giving away a free-lick or penalty that results in a goal scored doesn’t wake them up, there needs to be sanctions against such players.

http://profile.yahoo.com/NNAJQQUKFAB4DITXYZPSG26FYA Martin

No matter what and where the training is for as long the team is never complete, they’ll remain the same.

Azkals keen on US training

Three matches highlight camp

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