Azkals ready to go on a blitzkrieg

This appears in the Wednesday, February 9, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

Azkals ready to go on a blitzkrieg

by rick olivares

When the Philippine Men’s National Football Team takes the Panaad Stadium pitch today, new German head coach Hans Michael Weiss wants his team to attack from the opening minute.

“Mongolia hasn’t acclimatized themselves yet to Bacolod and the tropical weather,” noted Weiss who holds a UEFA Pro License and who completed his studies in Sports
Science and Management at the University of Mainz in 1995.  “I know they have been practicing in China but the conditions there are still different from here. They just came in and have to adjust to hot weather. I want us to attack from the first minute so they do not get into a rhythm. We need to press them and to attack them.”

Azkals team captain Aly Borromeo like the strategy. “Finally, we get to play some real attractive and attacking football,” said Borromeo in an interview with BUSINESSMIRROR yesterday. “I always knew we were capable of it and it will help us when we go up against the big teams rather than stay on the defensive.”

When asked about the size of the Mongolians, Borromeo thinks it will be a good battle. “We heard they are big. But it’s a 50-50 ball so we will challenge them for every possession.”

The strategy isn’t lost on defender Rob Gier who planed in from England last Monday. “We just need to touch up on midfield duties and link up the midfield to everyone.”

Team manager Dan Palami knows that there is a lot riding on this match that kicks off at 7pm Philippine time. “No doubt about it, this is a big game for us. It validates what we accomplished and will determine where we are going.”

Weiss came in to the Philippines with three key changes in mind: to change the team’s attitude when it comes to training, to play a more attacking game, and to lay the groundwork for a long-term program of improvement not just for the national team but for Philippine football.

“There must be a change attitude towards training,” pointed out Weiss. Some took it easy. Have to give 100% during training. When players feel that they are 100% they will perform better. It comes with the way we train.”

As for their style of play, the German preaches possession and the quality of their passing game. “If we have better security in passing then we have a more attacking side. Before it was long balls then running behind the ball. That cannot happen again.”

“The German philosophy is good organization, team spirit and hard-fighting. Not so much technically oriented football. Not so attractive football. I am German and we were winning so I loved it. But it was boring and thankfully, it has changed. And so has my philosophy. I have picked up bits and pieces I my time around the world to formulate a philosophy. I am a student of the game.”


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I received a bit of mail regarding Ray Jonsson moving to the midfield. Just to clarify --- Ray has played not just from a defending position but also central midfield in his home country of Finland. He switched to the back only last year.