Post by Usapang Football on Jun 16, 2015 12:16:00 GMT 8
Very interesting read, guys. Particularly for those who are fellow political nerds and current-events buffs:
World Cup Qualifiers: Azkals to battle Yemen in Qatar
Source: cnnphilippines.com/sports/2015/06/15/World-Cup-Qualifiers-Philippines-Azkals-Yemen.html
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — On Tuesday (June 16), the Yemen national football team will take on the Azkals for their home tie of the World Cup Qualifiers on foreign soil.
The irony of playing a "home" tie away from their own country is something that in not lost on the Azkals.
During the 2010 edition of the Asian Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup, the possibility of the Azkals advancing to the semifinals of the competition was so in doubt that the management of the team failed to prepare a suitable venue to host a football match in the Philippines.
This resulted in the Philippines being forced to play both matches of their two-legged tie against Indonesia in the hostile Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
For the Yemeni side though, their situation is a matter of life and death.
The World Cup Qualifying fixture between the Yemen national team and the Philippine Azkals will be played at the Qatar Sports City Stadium in Doha, Qatar, because Yemen has been deemed unsafe for foreign teams to visit.
Yemen has been held under siege by Saudi Arabia's campaign against Houthi rebels, making a game of football within their borders impossible.
Saudi Arabia also imposed a blockade upon Yemen, leaving an exit by sea as the only viable option for anyone leaving the country.
Ahead of their first World Cup Qualifying fixture against North Korea, the Yemeni side boarded a boat in the seaport city of Aden to cross the Bab el-Mandeb strait en route to Djibouti before finally making their way north towards Qatar.
The trip, which takes around 13 hours, has been taken by thousands of refugees that have tried to escape the war torn country.
Yemen's youth and sports minister, Rafat Ali Al-Akhali, took to Facebook to post photographs of the team's journey to Djibouti.
"These images summarize the Great Spirit of the Yemeni people," said Al-Akhali. "I chose to hang on to hope that Yemen will rise from the rubble."
The Yemeni side met with their Czech coach, Miroslav Soukup, in Doha where they made their preparations for their matches against North Korea and the Philippines.
On June 11, soon after the Philippines upset Bahrain 2-1 in Bocaue, a spirited Yemen eleven fell to North Korea after So Hyun-uk hit a wicked volley to secure a 1-0 win.
The following day the Filipinos boarded a plane to Doha to prepare for the Yemeni challenge.
Though come kick-off at the Qatar Sports Club, the Philippines could expect a side fighting for so much more than just the three points.
World Cup Qualifiers: Azkals to battle Yemen in Qatar
Source: cnnphilippines.com/sports/2015/06/15/World-Cup-Qualifiers-Philippines-Azkals-Yemen.html
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — On Tuesday (June 16), the Yemen national football team will take on the Azkals for their home tie of the World Cup Qualifiers on foreign soil.
The irony of playing a "home" tie away from their own country is something that in not lost on the Azkals.
During the 2010 edition of the Asian Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup, the possibility of the Azkals advancing to the semifinals of the competition was so in doubt that the management of the team failed to prepare a suitable venue to host a football match in the Philippines.
This resulted in the Philippines being forced to play both matches of their two-legged tie against Indonesia in the hostile Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
For the Yemeni side though, their situation is a matter of life and death.
The World Cup Qualifying fixture between the Yemen national team and the Philippine Azkals will be played at the Qatar Sports City Stadium in Doha, Qatar, because Yemen has been deemed unsafe for foreign teams to visit.
Yemen has been held under siege by Saudi Arabia's campaign against Houthi rebels, making a game of football within their borders impossible.
Saudi Arabia also imposed a blockade upon Yemen, leaving an exit by sea as the only viable option for anyone leaving the country.
Ahead of their first World Cup Qualifying fixture against North Korea, the Yemeni side boarded a boat in the seaport city of Aden to cross the Bab el-Mandeb strait en route to Djibouti before finally making their way north towards Qatar.
The trip, which takes around 13 hours, has been taken by thousands of refugees that have tried to escape the war torn country.
Yemen's youth and sports minister, Rafat Ali Al-Akhali, took to Facebook to post photographs of the team's journey to Djibouti.
"These images summarize the Great Spirit of the Yemeni people," said Al-Akhali. "I chose to hang on to hope that Yemen will rise from the rubble."
The Yemeni side met with their Czech coach, Miroslav Soukup, in Doha where they made their preparations for their matches against North Korea and the Philippines.
On June 11, soon after the Philippines upset Bahrain 2-1 in Bocaue, a spirited Yemen eleven fell to North Korea after So Hyun-uk hit a wicked volley to secure a 1-0 win.
The following day the Filipinos boarded a plane to Doha to prepare for the Yemeni challenge.
Though come kick-off at the Qatar Sports Club, the Philippines could expect a side fighting for so much more than just the three points.