This article appears in the Friday July 22, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.
Looking at the angles for Azkals vs. Al-Azraq
by rick olivares pic by tunying p.
KUWAIT CITY – The first practice of the Philippine Men’s Football National Team in Kuwait City had all the feel of a real match. With over a thousand Filipinos trooping over to the Taha Field which is used by Kuwaiti professional team Al Salmiya SC for practice (that is next to the 16,000-plus capacity Thamir Stadium), the nationals’ intra-squad scrimmage was focused and intense.
“They (the Azkals) know the stakes,” observed assistant head coach Edwin Cabalida of the match that saw the first team come back from a 2-nil hole to win 3-2. “Hindi ordinaryong kalaban ‘tong Kuwait. We have to be at our absolute best.”
With the fate of suspended skipper Aly Borromeo and midfielder Stephan Schrock still unknown, the team has gone into it’s Middle East camp and training with the mindset that the two will be unavailable for the away match in Kuwait City. The pair were assessed two consecutive yellow cards during the first round of Asian Qualifiers of the 2014 World Cup against Sri Lanka.
The Azkals will be playing a compact formation against Al-Azraq (the Blues) with Ray Jonsson, Rob Gier, Anton del Rosario, and Jason Sabio at the back; Emelio Caligdong, Manuel Ott, Jason De Jong, Angel Guirado, and James Younghusband in the midfield; and Phil Younghusband at the forward position. The middle third will be not be flat with Ott and de Jong in more defensive position while supporting Guirado in a triangle formation at the back.
An informal poll I conducted among local Kuwaitis pegged the home side to romp away to a 4-nil or 5-nil win. Al-Azraq’s Serbian head coach Goran Tufegdzic, in an interview with the local media also waxed optimistic: “I think we are strong enough for the Philippines. So I am sorry, Filipinos; we are going to win.” Al-Azraq recently held a series of tune-up matches against the national squads of Lebanon and Jordan.
As for Filipinos living in the Gulf Coast Country, they are just praying for the best. Rod Cerezo, who has been living and working in Kuwait for 30 years did not mince his words, “Kuwait is good,” said the Overseas Foreign Worker who also oversees a local basketball league for expatriate Filipinos. “But as the saying goes, ‘bilog ang bola.’”
Cabalida echoed the expat’s statement when he pointed out to the recent win of Japan in the Women’s World Cup where the Asian country knocked out the world’s number one seed in a penalty shootout to claim the crown. “We play best as underdogs,” pointed out the coach who is also the bench tactician of the Philippine Air Force football team that counts current Azkals Caligdong and reserve strike Ian Araneta among others as players.
Local Kuwaiti media who covered the Azkals’ first practice at Taha Field were surprised that several players had Caucasian-sounding names and thought it an unfair advantage that the Philippines was fielding a lineup of “naturalized players.” I had to explain that the players had Filipino-lineage and how under current FIFA rules they are not considered as naturalized players.
“We will attack and defend as a team,” said the nationals’ head coach Hans Michael Weiss before practice began. “We go with the game plan of tight defending and keeping possession of the ball. Kuwait knows this and they will try to attack and seize the advantage here in their home pitch. The ideal scenario is, of course, to win. But if we can go home with a scoreless draw or should we not win the game, go down, say, 2-1, then that is still a good scenario because all we need to do in Manila is win 1-0 then the away goals will count.”
“But that is easier said than done,” cautioned the German coach who has been at the helm of the nationals for six months now.
Mindful of the desert heat that during the Filipinos’ first full day in Kuwait in which temperatures peaked at 57° Celsius, the Azkals’ were pleasantly surprised to find out how quickly the weather changed by the time of their evening practice. “This is the best evening temperature we’ve had in over a week,” noted Cerezo. “The weather was just like Manila’s. Let’s just hope and pray that it holds up all the way to the Saturday game.”
“The heat was like being inside a furnace,” described Azkals’ defender Rob Gier of the humidity. “You just want to stay indoors.”
Expatriate Filipinos and Kuwaitis mentioned that at times during the Middle Eastern summer, temperatures went as high as the 60s.
“We really have to prepare hard for this match with one eye towards hydration and our legs especially in the match’s last 15-20 minutes,” said Borromeo. “I figure coach will use all three of his substitutes just to reinforce key positions.”
Summed up Cabalida, “The only way for us to win this game – is to play as a team.”
From Mongolia's -20 Celsius to Kuwaits 50 Celsius. That is crazy.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be some kind of record for the most extreme temperatures an away side has had to play in one year. Odd fact one may want to look up and verify.
Mr. Olivares, thank you for the updates on our national football team. It's good to hear that the Azkals are doing well in Kuwait.
ReplyDeleteThe Kuwait National team is the highly favored one to win in the second round of the world cup qualifiers. They have the higher ranking, training and experience. They've had a lot of wins in the past couple of years - even decades. All of which seem to be ingredients of a winning team. Yet, there are different roads to success.
I have confidence in our team. And this isn't a misplaced confidence or a lack of understanding of the game. This confidence stems from personal experience and inspiring stories of people who have successfully attained the “impossible.” Mark Zuckerberg was a Harvard dropout who became the world's youngest billionaire and co-founder of Facebook. J.K. Rowling was merely a simple mom who became the author of one of THE best books in the world. Our local boxing hero, Manny Pacquiao, best sums it all in his HP tablet commerical – “(They say that I couldn't win a fight) BUT I DID.” Different roads to success.
Our national football team's history is completely opposite from the other team. The Azkals' path has led them to this moment, on their way to playing their 2nd world cup qualifiers. I had this question in my mind – if other national teams followed the same path as the Azkals, would they had survived and gotten to this point? I think that our football team's experience is unique to their own, which can equip them to conquer the upcoming games.
I watched last weekend the women's world cup qualifiers. I have respect for both teams (USA & Japan). USA was favored to win. They dominated the game. Yet, the honor of becoming world cup champions was eventually given to Japan. The Nadeshiko team was inspiring to watch. They showed resiliency, patience and teamwork all throughout. I remember how they closed their eyes during their national anthem. One could tell that they were playing for their country on a different level that only they could comprehend. Different roads to success.
We're privileged to have Filipino players with experience and talents to play for our country. There may have been setbacks but I think that the team has all it needs to do well this Saturday. I believe in the coach, trainors, and management have prepared them well. Do you think its a coincidence that most of the players who will be playing this Saturday are the players who played in last year's Suzuki cup? Or how about the away game being played in a country where there are thousands of Filipinos supporting the Azkals?
Different roads to success.
To our national football team, God bless on your upcoming game this Saturday (and on Thursday)! You're in our prayers. We believe!