Photo by Marc Reyes/INQUIRER
KUALA LUMPUR — Nine points to the semifinals.
That’s the immediate goal of the Philippine men’s under-22 football team here as it embarks against Cambodia Tuesday in the Southeast Asian Games at Selayang Stadium.
Head coach Marlon Maro said the Philippines have a more potent lineup — compared to winless squad in Singapore SEAG — composed of several club players like Kou Ichi Belgira.
But they are up against a motivated Cambodia side whose prime minister reportedly promised them $1,000 each for every won game.
Posted on the aseanfootball.org, Prime minister Hun Sen was also said to have dangled $10,000 each if they win the gold, $7,500 for silver and $4,000 for bronze.
Cambodia’s sponsor Angkor Beer Company reportedly promised $5,000 for a semifinal finish and $8,000 for a gold medal feat.
Despite that, Maro said the Philippines will have a very strong chance of winning in the 8:30 p.m. match.
“They beat us 1-0 with the Philippines having a depleted team and Cambodia playing in their home turf,” said Maro.
Now, according to Maro, the PH strikers are “healthy, very strong and very excited to play.”
However, Games officials didn’t allow the Philippines to train in the evening for “lack of lighted stadium.”
“I don’t understand that because they have so many football stadium with flood lights,” said Maro. “But we will still practice in the morning and the afternoon.”
The country needs to score nine points — a win is worth three points — to make the semifinals.
“I think it’s doable because if there’s one team to dominate it would be (defending champion) Thailand, the rest will split points,” said Maro.
The country’s best performance in the SEAG was bronze in the 1977 SEA Games.