Azkals draw the Brave Reds in June World Cup Qualifiers

This appears in the Friday, April 1, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

Azkals draw the Brave Reds in June World Cup Qualifiers

by mia domingo and rick olivares

LOS BANOS, LAGUNA -- A few minutes after the press conference for the PFF Suzuki Under-23 National Cup, Philippine Football Federation President Mariano V. Araneta, National Team Manager Dan Palami, and National team Head Coach Hans Michael Weiss gathered alongside members of the media to follow the drawing of lots that appeared in the Asian Football Confederation website (www.the-afc.com) for the first round of the World Cup Qualifiers this June.

When the name of the Philippines was matched against Sri Lanka, Palami exulted with an emphatic, "Yeah!" The match up is seen by PFF officials as a favorable draw that could help see the Philippines advance farther that it has in World Cup qualifying history.

The Philippines, currently ranked #151 in the world by FIFA will be playing Sri Lanka, ranked at #173 in a home and away two-part match this coming June 29 and July 3. “The Brave Reds,’ as the Sri Lankan men’s national football team is known by, will host the Azkals on June 29 at the Sugathadasa Stadium. The PFF has yet to decide where the country’s home match will be played in Panaad Stadium in Bacolod or at the newly refurbished Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

Coach Weiss, who earlier said that they don't want to speculate yet on who they will go up against in the World Cup Qualifiers said, "I could personally get tapes of Sri Lanka games but we can also send someone from the PFF to do that. It has to be done. In terms of preparations, hopefully, we can have a physically strong team equipped with the right techniques that we could apply when playing. We want to make accurate preparations in order for us to have a bigger chance of advancing. And with the players coming in, we have to keep them all together now for us to have a fair chance. 

He added, "14 years ago, I saw Japan being in almost the same situation where the Azkals are in right now. But, look at them now, look at where they are right now. They are one of the strongest teams in Asia. With our team, I am very proud and I can see the efforts from them to rise."

The strengthening of the team is a high priority as Palami and Weiss plan to go to Germany to scout for more players with Filipino lineage who want to play for the national team. More tryouts are also scheduled in the Europe and the United States.

Said Palami of the Sri Lanka matchup, "Even if we're meeting Sri Lanka we still can't be complacent. We'll have to prepare for each match as if it's our last; as if our backs are behind the wall. I have faith that the Azkals will shine more and I have full confidence with our coach. Hopefully, we get to the third round. That will be a bigger achievement. We'll take it one step at a time. I am quite confident that we'll have a fair chance with other teams especially those teams more than 50 places ahead of us in the rankings. 

Palami was pertaining to Kuwait which is already seeded for the second round of the World Cup Qualifiers.

Although the Azkals are on a one-month break from national team duty, many still will be seeing action in the ongoing United Football League tournament. “Malaking bagay rin na may pahinga kami,” said Azkals midfielder Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong. “Bawi kami sa mga ibang responsibilities at may team mag-heal yung ibang injuries.”

The Azkals resume practice for the World Cup Qualifiers this coming May.