Azkals brass meets Germans while Macca waits
by rick olivares
The Philippine National Football Team brass heads for Germany today for a two-day meet with the Deutscher Fussball Bund (the German Football Federation). On the agenda is to discuss how the Germans can help not just the national squad but the Philippine Football Federation and Philippine football. The DFB provides aid, training, and technology to some 17 countries.
According to Philippine football officials, the DFB has also offered the services of Hans Michael Weiss as a coach for the national team. Whether that means the English head coach Simon McMenemy will be replaced is unsure at the moment.
When queried about the Philippine job, Weiss, who has worked with Rwanda, the Chinese and Japanese Football Associations, and worked as an intern with Real Madrid FC, Arsenal FC, Argentina’s River Plate, and the Bundesliga’s FC Kaiserslautern said, “Hopefully the Azkals will continue their momentum not only in 2011, but also in the upcoming years. For the moment I cannot comment on anything. After next week the Philippine soccer world will know more.”
McMenemy steered the Azkals to a semi-final appearance in the 2010 Suzuki Cup, the nationals’ best finish in an international tournament. With the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup looming, McMenemy might be disqualified on a technicality as he lacks a B coaching license that is a requirement to coach at this level.
In a conversation with McMenemy yesterday, the Englishman informed BUSINESSMIRROR that Asean Football Federation officials have signified their intention to help him secure the license needed to continue with the Azkals. “I’d love to comeback and continue what we started with the Philippines,” said McMenemy. “Hopefully, we can secure a long term contract because I think we can put together a three-year plan to make the team better and go farther.”
McMenemy clarified reports about Vietnam being interested in his coaching services. “It wasn’t only I who received offers,” underscored the former Worthing FC assistant coach. “The players were also getting interest from different countries. As for Vietnam, it was a club team from their premier league. As I understand, it was the former team of Mr. (Henrique) Calisto.”
Calisto is the head coach of Vietnam who piloted the emerging Asean powerhouse to the 2008 Suzuki Cup title and refused to shake McMenemy’s hand after the Philippines 2-0 win in the group stages. Calisto, who is Portuguese, accused the Philippines of degrading the sport by “parking the bus” in the endgame.
McMenemy countered by saying, “I believe that the objective is to win the game. And you do what it takes to do that.”
BUSINESSMIRROR also learned that James and Phil Younghusband have been offered $6,000 each to play for an Indonesian club.
The National Team returns to action on February 9 when they host the Mongolian National Team in Panaad, Bacolod City in a home and away series in the qualifying stages of the AFC Challenge Cup. The visitors who are ranked #182 in the world by FIFA. The Philippines is currently at #150 it’s highest ranking to date.
foo'so Simon...hope you can work out that license glitch swiftly.."GOD" bless!
ReplyDeleteIs that $6000 a week or 6000$ a month for the Younghusbands? If it is the former it would be hard to turn down.
ReplyDeleteI would rather see them play in higher quality leagues in Europe instead. Maybe even see what offers they can get in Japan, Korea or Australia. They need to be training in a professional environment 5 times a week with a game on the weekend to stabilize their performances and improve. BTW forget about MLS in the US. They will try to lowball you if you don't have any experiences in the top flight leagues of Europe. This is a function of their hard salary cap.
It's $6K a month. At this point, Asia sounds good. But I don't see it happening. Why? I am not at liberty to say without offending anyone.
ReplyDeleteIn a way their staying here is more beneficial to Philippine football than playing abroad. Not only have they been promoting the sport but they have established academies to teach young kids the proper way to play.
ReplyDeleteHowever for their sake and for the sake of the national team, they need go abroad to improve and be challenged everyday.
When they are finished with their careers, and this goes for the rest of our foreign contingent, it would be a good idea for them to consider coaching in our future pro leagues and establishing academies,etc.
By transferring their experience and technical expertise to our younger players we can form a sustainable foundation for developing elite level players right at home.
Rick, what license does Mcmenemy have? National B? is it the same with UEFA B license? Thanks
ReplyDelete6K a month? I think they'd make more money by endorsing products here in the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think it would be nice to have some of the azkals to have their own sports show on TV as a means to promote football. I think they'd even make more money out of that especially if it's under the big networks like ABS or GMA.
I agree that if they have to play in a foreign league, it must be outside of South East Asia because of the level of competition but preferably EUROPE. I think it's best if they wait for other more lucrative offers instead of making a crucial decision this early.........
That's exactly what's wrong here. Ginagawang showbiz yung laro. They are football players first.
ReplyDeleteThey shouldn't be doing clinics here. They can do that when they are older and have more experience. Teaching is an art. Not everyone can do it. I am not saying the brothers cannot.
They should try to play now because in a few years time they will have been left behind.
Im sure madali na ung license. If they really want to keem McMenemey, then there's always a way. I think its much better to keep the current manager- after all the core of the team are brits.
ReplyDeleteAre there any organizations out there doing what the Younghusbands are doing? That may be the reason why they put up the academy coz no one else are interested in introducing football to pinoy youngsters. All the powers that be here have always been dedicated to basketball and most recently, boxing because of Pacman..........
ReplyDeleteWe can't really blame them for stepping up.
^ the pff have a program called kasibulan, im just not sure if its active. its for 6 - 12 yrs old
ReplyDeleteYou can't blame the Younghusband brothers. They have to capitalize of what they've got. The National Team does not pay them. How they'll make a living at the present and in the future if they don't start a football academy?
ReplyDeleteIf their mere presence will make more people watch football games on TV and in the stadium, sure why not, so be it.
Sports is also about sex- you watch the hottest players. May it Beckham or Kournikova. C'mon Rick go easy with the 2 bros.
Hi. First of all, they get paid and they get an allowance for being on the national team. Second, there's nothing wrong with putting up s football academy. But clearly and much respect to the brothers, the experience in instructing isn't there yet. They will gain that with more seasoning and when they are able to get a coaching license. Don't think that I am saying this from out of the blue without knowledge of what goes on. At the end of the day, it's their choice. All I am saying is a football player has only so many years. An injury can even cut things short. I think and believe they should play first because that window of opportunity is open for only so long. Oh by the way, Phil told me he hates the showbiz stuff. He did it only because he needed to do it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 110 % that they should be playing more competitive games. They should have a very good Jerry Maguire who'll think about their welfare at best and at the same time with more lucrative offer. Of course this goes for every Azkal who got an offer.
ReplyDeleteNT allowance? How can you support an entire family with that widget of a wage?
Then again, who's more qualified to teach basic football in the PHI in the open era? Someone who went for 6 mos. training or the one who breathe and lived football from Chelsea Academy for more than a decade? I'm going for someone with the hands on.
Case in point, McMenemy vs. Calisto. 2-0 (experience vs obsolete)
I think instead of deterring football fans which for now will be a lot of girls, well that's a start, we should be putting more pressure on the gov't to build a ballpark. Build and they will come. Players, fans, investments, tourists, etc...
You can't compare the experience of sitting in a wide open stadium rooting for your countrymen, much more singing our national anthem in unity. I have my Heineken and placards all ready boys!
I live for this stuff and I'm a grown woman.
Do you consider putting up a Football Academy and going around the country teaching little kids how to play football " showbiz "? I don't think so.........
ReplyDeleteAppearing in commercials/ endorsing products is more " showbiz" to me but even that is not really detrimental to their career growth because it will only take them 2 days to shoot a commercial.
Your ignorance is as appalling as your sarcasm. In case you know anything, the showbiz refers to a noontime show. Not the commercials. I think it is in their best interests to play real competitive football rather than putting up clinics at the moment. No footballer grows up thinking of putting up a clinic. They think of playing and exhausting that. When you're done then you can teach. Now if there were no options for them to play then teach. But now there are options. If you insist on being anonymous and trying to debate this then man up (unless you're of the opposite sex then come out and discuss this properly).
ReplyDelete