‘Nothing like winning the Suzuki Cup’

BANGKOK—Notwithstanding their achievements the past four years, the Philippine Azkals still feel they are fighting for respect in Southeast Asia and—for the recognition of the sport  back home.

Still considered as an outsider to reach the last four at the start of the tournament, the Azkals stormed to a third straight semifinal appearance in the AFF Suzuki Cup here.

Those achievements may not be enough as the Azkals also feel they have to keep winning to keep the sport relevant back in the Philippines.

“It’s always exciting to reach this point of the tournament,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami as the Azkals prepared to face Thailand in the second leg being played at press time at Rajamangala Stadium.

Palami was already at the helm in 2010 when the Azkals reached the semifinals for the first time against Indonesia. And while he feels getting that far was already an achievement in itself, the pressure of finally getting a trophy is growing.

“In 2010, the result didn’t really matter because  making the semifinals was an achievement in itself,” said Palami. “But by winning the Cup, the prospect of opening new doors for Philippine football and be a part of the Filipino psyche excite me the most.”

He added: “Until we get that Cup, we will still be potential Asean football power  but there’s nothing like winning the Cup to prove that we are a force to reckon with.”

The Azkals are actually in the midst of one of their most remarkable runs in recent memory. And coach Thomas Dooley believes the emergence of midfielders Manny Ott and Jerry Lucena has been one of the reasons for their impressive campaign so far.

“I think Manny has had a great tournament,” said Dooley of the Ceres FC player who led the competition in passes completed after the group stage.

“He’s been working so hard, running all over the place, his passing has been great. He scored a beautiful goal against Indonesia and that helped him focus.”

But Dooley said only a total team effort can boost a team to greater heights in a tournament as tough as the Suzuki Cup.

“Phil (Younghusband) has had a great start and fell into it a little bit but you can always count on him,” Dooley said.

“If you go through to the semifinals against teams that we had to go through, we had to do a good job and I think the team has been great.”