|
Post by mrbiik on Jun 7, 2012 5:13:48 GMT 8
This could be a good time to meet-up with cjeagle and bimpel, too. Definitely badleftfoot. Let us start the Pinoy version of Sam's Army in these games. They also started small at one time. pedi sumali:-)...hopefully matuloy
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Jun 7, 2012 5:46:56 GMT 8
Definitely badleftfoot. Let us start the Pinoy version of Sam's Army in these games. They also started small at one time. pedi sumali:-)...hopefully matuloy siempre. pero hindi pa sigurado.
|
|
|
Post by Wiking on Jun 7, 2012 10:48:36 GMT 8
Juan's Army?!
|
|
|
Post by dingodile5 on Jun 8, 2012 9:01:05 GMT 8
Azkals keen on US trainingThree matches highlight camp By Cedelf P. Tupas Philippine Daily Inquirer 10:46 pm | Tuesday, June 5th, 2012 SHAH ALAM, Malaysia—A 15-day training camp in the United States in August highlighted by two international friendlies and a match against Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire is close to being finalized for the Philippine Azkals. Azkals manager Dan Palami Thursday night said the proposed camp, which will run from Aug. 10 to 25, forms part of the team’s preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup late this year in Thailand and Malaysia. Palami is looking at the US Virgin Islands as a possible opponent for the Azkals on Aug. 15, before a duel with the Fire five days later. Another international friendly is slated Aug. 20. A group of Chicago-based Filipinos from Palami’s hometown of Tacloban City is making representations with the Chicago Fire and arranging the matches for the Azkals. “It will be a good experience for the team,” said Palami. “We’ll make sure that we get the best possible preparation for the Suzuki Cup.” Meanwhile, Philippine Azkals skipper Chieffy Caligdong sees no problem in the growing number of Filipino players raised abroad getting picked for national team duty, even if it meant that homegrown players can no longer hold down a place in the lineup. “I don’t see it as a negative thing,” said Caligdong, proud son of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, who is one of only four homegrown players in the lineup. “What’s important is the level of football (in the team) is getting higher.” The squad for the Malaysia match, which included Ian Araneta, Ed Sacapano and OJ Clariño, was probably one of the fewest with homegrown talent as coach Michael Weiss was able to bring in the likes of Europe-based Stephan Schrock, Paul Mulders, Manny Ott, Roland Muller and Denis Wolf. Omitted for the first time since the 2010 Suzuki Cup were veteran Army players Roel Gener and Nestorio Margarse. “It’s a challenge for our local players. They have to show up and prove they deserve the spot,” said Caligdong. sports.inquirer.net/46441/azkals-keen-on-us-training
|
|
|
Post by stellarboy on Jun 12, 2012 16:59:12 GMT 8
Weiss says football is moving in PHBy Ronnie Nathanielsz | For The Record – 7 hours ago Philippine Azkals German coach Michael Weiss says "football is moving in the Philippines" and the leaders of the sport in the country "must see that we continue." Weiss was extremely pleased not merely with the 2-2 draw with Indonesia despite having lost skipper Chieffy Calidong and Manuel Ott on red cards late in the match but the fact that the Azkals held a good Indonesian side with many Indonesian players from the last Southeast Asian Games silver medal winners to a draw. He said the Philippines is now a fiercely competitive team in Southeast Asia and "this is a fantastic achievement." In the last FIFA world rankings the Philippines was No. 149, Indonesia 151 and Malaysia 154. The 2-2 draw with Indonesia which beat the Philippines by a solitary goal in both legs of the last Suzuki Cup semi finals played in Jakarta and the June 1 scoreless draw with Suzuki Cup champions and South East Asia Games gold medal winners Malaysia provided an insight into the potential of the Philippines. However, Weiss made it clear "we need hard and fast preparation in the months ahead. There is no complacency. There not one day we can sit down and relax." He revealed that together with the Philippine Football Federation and the Azkals management they are planning a trip to the United States in August where they will honor an invitation to play against the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer and will also have two official matches against Virgin Islands who are ranked No. 182 and the national team of Belize, a country in Central American ranked no. 140.Weiss said it would give some of the homegrown talents "to gain valuable experience in a different environment which is like a teaching program." Discussing the Indonesian players resorting to time-wasting tactics when under pressure after the cracking equalizer by scoring ace Phil Younghusband, Weiss said it didn't bother him because "in Africa its always like that. To me compared to Africa what the Indonesians did was harmless." However, Weiss agreed with the observation that the Indonesians wanted to salvage a draw and their reputation pointing out that "they never lost to the Philippines. We were a little unlucky but that's okay." Weiss said he will miss the services of Manny Ott and keeper Roland Muller who are returning to Europe when the Azkals face 194-ranked Guam today at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod, although Ott couldn't play anyway because of the red card he received in the melee in the end game. The same infraction also deprives skipper Chieffy Calidong of playing before his hometown fans since he too was given a red card for mixing it up with the Indonesian skipper. Weiss said he would start with the brothers Phil and James Younghusband who scored in the match against Indonesia as well as the outstanding Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena while keeper Neil Etheridge will play the whole game. The match will be televised tonight at 7PM on Studio 23. ph.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/fortherecord/weiss-says-football-moving-ph-012937847.html
|
|
|
Post by stellarboy on Jun 12, 2012 22:42:45 GMT 8
Looks like we're actually invited by the Chicago Fire to play them in their home turf. I know we had a very mediocre run in the previous friendly series this June, but nevertheless, I will look forward to this training camp where our team will finally have a chance to go against CONCACAF teams for the first time.
Although many here won't agree that the teams they plan to go against is lower-ranked (USVI) or just at par with ours (Belize), I do believe this will be good gauge for the team so they would learn how the game is being played in that side of the world. Same goes to the match with the Fire. After that star-studded match with the LA Galaxy, it seems the popularity of the Azkals got their attention that they wanted to play them as well.
I will hope to see this development go further.
|
|
|
Post by stellarboy on Jun 13, 2012 22:10:05 GMT 8
I wonder how Section 8 of Toyota Park would look like if the match against the Fire would push through. I definitely think "electrifying!" ;D Anyway, if the friendlies with Belize and USVI still be at Toyota Park, would that be possible? I'm unsure if Filipinos would follow these matches well.
|
|
|
Post by dingodile5 on Jun 17, 2012 23:52:38 GMT 8
Azkals to play in goodwill games against American teams Written by : JOSEF T. RAMOS PHILIPPINE Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta said the Philippine Azkals would play in three to four friendly matches in the United States in August as part of their preparation for the Suzuki Cup. “The 15-day training camp and the friendly matches are good opportunities for our team because it will make them tougher,” Araneta told The Manila Times on Friday. “Suzuki Cup is the most competitive league in Southeast Asia so we need to prepare seriously.” The Azkals are looking forward to possible friendly matches against the Chicago Fire and US Virgin Islands. Team manager Dan Palami is the one who arranged the 15-day training camp in the US. Araneta also revealed that the Philippines’ hosting of the Long Teng Cup some time in September or October would depend on whether Macau and Taiwan would skip the hosting of the four-country football tournament. “We are still waiting for the final confirmation from Macau and Taiwan but I’m sure we’re the one that will host it because they have decided to skip the hosting,” said Araneta, adding that the 2012 Long Teng Cup would most likely be held at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod. www.manilatimes.net/index.php/sports/top-sports-news/25023-azkals-to-play-in-goodwill-games-against-american-teams
|
|
|
Post by dingodile5 on Jun 20, 2012 7:46:36 GMT 8
PHILIPPINES TO PLAY FOUR FRIENDLIES IN UNITED STATESJune 20, 2012 MANILA (20 June 2012) – The Philippines Football Federation (PFF) have arranged four friendly games for their national side in the United States this August as part of their preparation for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012. The PFF stated that among the possible teams they will be playing against in their 15-day training camp in the US would be against Chicago Fire and US Virgin Islands. “The 15-day training camp and the friendly matches are good opportunities for our team because it will make them tougher,” said Mariano Araneta, the president of the PFF. “The AFF Suzuki Cup is the most competitive tournament in ASEAN, so we need to prepare seriously.” www.aseanfootball.org/?p=8673&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
|
|
|
Post by hollywoodazkal on Jun 20, 2012 13:31:11 GMT 8
There are over 75,000 Filipinos living in Chicago region. It'll take a good marketing strategy to rally the basketball/boxing-mad Filipino community to fill up at least half of Toyota Park in all its friendlies, especially against the lesser known opponents. If 8k - 10k Filipinos show up for EACH game, then consider it a success - for now.
Chicago's Filipino associations and Filipino newspapers should collaborate with PFF on coming up with a slogan to entice the Filipino community to show up and support our national team. Encourage Filipinos living in Illinois to use the social networks to spread the word about getting together for the games. In other words, make each game a social event.
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Jun 20, 2012 14:59:22 GMT 8
Only the Chicago Fire game will be scheduled at Toyota Park I beleive. It would be difficult to fill that stadium to capacity and would be cost prohibitive to rent. The rest of the friendlies might be scheduled in the area or in neighboring states in smaller stadiums from what I have heard.
|
|
|
Post by dingodile5 on Jun 21, 2012 18:58:43 GMT 8
RT @phi_Azkals We are looking forward to the friendlies w/ MLS & CONCACAF teams, also the Long Teng Cup which will be in Panaad - Dan Palami
|
|
|
Post by cjeagle on Jun 21, 2012 22:03:08 GMT 8
More news about the Azkals visit to the US on an American website: www.soccerway.com/news/2012/June/21/philippines-plan-us-assault/Aside from the Chicago Fire, and the US Virgin Islands national team, I have heard that they are also planning to have a friendly against a USL team, which is in the 3rd level in the US soccer league pyramid, in a neighboring state near Chicago which will be their home base during their stay in the US.
|
|
|
Post by dingodile5 on Jun 23, 2012 0:08:56 GMT 8
|
|
|
Post by stellarboy on Jun 23, 2012 0:34:03 GMT 8
I'm unsure if the Azkals would want to play the Columbus Crew in their home turf in Ohio. The Filipino community in the Ohio state is quite small IIRC, and it would be deemed impossible to fill the 20,000-capacity Columbus Crew Stadium, depending though if Filipinos from neighboring states in the East coast and the Midwest would want to travel there.
I think a USL Pro team is feasible though. That would be a cost-effective match if you ask me.
|
|