Post by Usapang Football on Dec 22, 2010 21:47:56 GMT 8
A look back at the year 2010, what it meant for the Azkals and especially for Filipino football.
[Prelude] December 2009: Desmond Bulpin becomes Azkals head coach
Highly-rated English tactician, Desmond Bulpin, signs a one-year deal to become Azkals coach. He is widely known to have discovered England internationals Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe and was a former coach at Tottenham Hotspurs in the Premier League.
January 2010: Azkals compete in the Interport Cup in Taiwan
Des Bulpin's first test as Azkals head coach, the well-built squad composed of Chad Gould, Rox Dorlas, the Greatwiches and many more veterans faced opposition, Taiwan and Taipei P.E. College.
The Azkals would draw 0-0 with Taiwan but fell short to Taipei P.E. College, 2-1.
March 2010: Bulpin to leave Azkals head coach role?
Rumors have spread that Des had a rift with key officials in the PFF and is seeking to resign from his post. It is also rumored that Bulpin had not been paid for over two months.
July 2010: Des Bulpin becomes India U-19 coach
After months of speculation, Des Bulpin finally resigns as Azkals head coach and accepted the job as head coach of India's U-19 team.
August 2010: The Arrival of Coach Simon
The vacant role as head coach of the Azkals was filled in by English coach Simon McMenemy. His appointment was met with widespread criticism due to his lack of experience as coach.
October 2010: The Long Teng Cup
In a pre-qualifiers training, the Azkals competed in the Long Teng Cup (otherwise known as the Dragon Cup) against teams such as the Hong Kong Asian Games football team, Taiwan and Macau.
In Coach Simon's first test as a head coach, the Azkals finished third overall in the competition, losing 4-2 against Hong Kong, drawing 1-1 with Taiwan and winning 5-0 against Macau.
The tournament was also a first for newcomers, Christopher CamCam, Ray Jonsson and Gino Pavone.
November 2010: Suzuki Cup Qualifiers
En-route to their famous Suzuki Cup performance, the Azkals made waves in the qualifiers first. They beat Timor Leste on the first day of the competition, 5-0. They came from behind to salvage a two-all draw with hosts Laos and held Cambodia to a nil-all encounter on the final match of the qualifiers.
Ian Araneta's hat-trick against Timor Leste completed his impressive run of seven goals in three international matches.
December 2010: The Return of Philippine Football
Despite problems that hit the team during their training sessions, the Azkals pulled off their best Suzuki Cup campaign to date; drew 1-1 with Singapore and nil-all with Myanmar as well as recording the famous 2-0 win against Vietnam, the hosts.
The campaign also brought about massive home support for the Azkals, made politicians aware including the President, Noynoy Aquino. Sports patron Manuel Pangilinan of PLDT also made a donation of P1M to the team.
The Azkals would end their campaign after losing 2-0 on aggregate against Indonesia in the semi-finals. Despite the defeat the Azkals went home with their heads high, recalling where they came from before the campaign. It was also the ending of their fairytale year, the year of the Azkals.
[Prelude] December 2009: Desmond Bulpin becomes Azkals head coach
Highly-rated English tactician, Desmond Bulpin, signs a one-year deal to become Azkals coach. He is widely known to have discovered England internationals Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe and was a former coach at Tottenham Hotspurs in the Premier League.
January 2010: Azkals compete in the Interport Cup in Taiwan
Des Bulpin's first test as Azkals head coach, the well-built squad composed of Chad Gould, Rox Dorlas, the Greatwiches and many more veterans faced opposition, Taiwan and Taipei P.E. College.
The Azkals would draw 0-0 with Taiwan but fell short to Taipei P.E. College, 2-1.
March 2010: Bulpin to leave Azkals head coach role?
Rumors have spread that Des had a rift with key officials in the PFF and is seeking to resign from his post. It is also rumored that Bulpin had not been paid for over two months.
July 2010: Des Bulpin becomes India U-19 coach
After months of speculation, Des Bulpin finally resigns as Azkals head coach and accepted the job as head coach of India's U-19 team.
August 2010: The Arrival of Coach Simon
The vacant role as head coach of the Azkals was filled in by English coach Simon McMenemy. His appointment was met with widespread criticism due to his lack of experience as coach.
October 2010: The Long Teng Cup
In a pre-qualifiers training, the Azkals competed in the Long Teng Cup (otherwise known as the Dragon Cup) against teams such as the Hong Kong Asian Games football team, Taiwan and Macau.
In Coach Simon's first test as a head coach, the Azkals finished third overall in the competition, losing 4-2 against Hong Kong, drawing 1-1 with Taiwan and winning 5-0 against Macau.
The tournament was also a first for newcomers, Christopher CamCam, Ray Jonsson and Gino Pavone.
November 2010: Suzuki Cup Qualifiers
En-route to their famous Suzuki Cup performance, the Azkals made waves in the qualifiers first. They beat Timor Leste on the first day of the competition, 5-0. They came from behind to salvage a two-all draw with hosts Laos and held Cambodia to a nil-all encounter on the final match of the qualifiers.
Ian Araneta's hat-trick against Timor Leste completed his impressive run of seven goals in three international matches.
December 2010: The Return of Philippine Football
Despite problems that hit the team during their training sessions, the Azkals pulled off their best Suzuki Cup campaign to date; drew 1-1 with Singapore and nil-all with Myanmar as well as recording the famous 2-0 win against Vietnam, the hosts.
The campaign also brought about massive home support for the Azkals, made politicians aware including the President, Noynoy Aquino. Sports patron Manuel Pangilinan of PLDT also made a donation of P1M to the team.
The Azkals would end their campaign after losing 2-0 on aggregate against Indonesia in the semi-finals. Despite the defeat the Azkals went home with their heads high, recalling where they came from before the campaign. It was also the ending of their fairytale year, the year of the Azkals.