“The Blue Wolves “ remain a mystery for Azkals

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

“The Blue Wolves “ remain a mystery for Azkals

by rick olivares

The Mongolian Men’s National Football Team remains shrouded in mystery.  They arrived in Bacolod City for the first leg of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup without speaking to the media and in the press conference held at the L’Fisher Hotel yesterday, the curious crowd of media still was hardly fed any information save for the fact that their team is called “the Blue Wolves.”

Head Coach Erdenebat Sandagorj believes that his young team – half with international experience with the other half all rookies to the international game – have a chance to win the match. The last time Mongolia competed in an international match was in 2008.

“The Philippines has a higher ranking,” said Sandagorj through an interpreter. “And they are stronger but any team that plays in the field has a chance.” The Blue Wolves, according to Japanese journalist Takashi Morimoto, who aside from being in town to cover the match for the AFC has worked in Mongolia with the FC Deren Sumida, informed BUSINESSMIRROR that the Blue Wolves are a highly physical team that loves to play the long ball. The visitors also bank on veteran internationalists Zorigt Battulga and Garidmagnai  Bayasgalan who both play in the midfield.

The Mongolian squad trained in Guangzhou, China where the weather is currently not as humid as the Philippine weather.

Said Mongolia Media Officer Bulgan Gantulga, the team is hoping to gain more experience as they are banking on their youth. Team Manager Dambiijav Terbaatar confirmed that their country is also undergoing renewed interest in the sport. “There is a new indoor stadium in our plans,” he said through Gantulga.

The second leg of the home and away series between the two countries is on March 15 at Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia.