With Ray Jonsson, Rob Gier, Chris Greatwich and Phil Younghusband at the lobby of the Sultan Hotel Jakarta. This was before we left for the final team practice before the second game with Indonesia. We practiced in a nearby pitch and not at the Bung Karno because it rained earlier.
They sent a OB van to cover the Azkals' team practice! Imagine that. After practice, I walked around the perimeter with Mark Zambrano to interview people and take videos and pics of them. I should upload that soon. It was the first time I had watched a team practice where people were cheering goals! Cheering practice goals can you believe that?
And of course, there was an interview with the head coach. I interviewed a female television reporter earlier in the day and I asked her impressions of the Azkals. She said that if she didn't root for Indonesia she'd cheer for the Philippines. After I helped her get an interview with Coach Simon after the limber session, she once more sought me out to ask for my help. She wanted me to tell the coach that she was in love with him! I said why don't you tell him yourself because you just might get lucky. She replied, "I am afraid I would faint if I tell him." I told coach and he had this huge smile on his face. "Amazing," he said with the broadest of smiles.
With Indonesia's excellent captain Bambang Pamungkas who is perhaps the most popular footballer in this country.
I don't know where I saw the interview but I think it was Phil Younghusband who said, that they are the most good looking squad in this tournament! And I couldn't agree more, sa coach pa lang talbog na sila! hahaha
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to the team! I think this time, half of the Indonesians would be cheering for the Azkals! Yay!!!
wow sir..so lucky that you yau have bambang..
ReplyDeletecorrection sir..it's Pamungkas..
Thanks. Typo.
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