Undermanned Azkals face Kyrgyzstan today

by Jonas Terrado

Game Today
(Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)
10:30 p.m. – Kyrgyzstan vs Philippines

The Philippine Azkals will be without three key players due to injuries when they take on Kyrgyzstan tonight in their only friendly match of the international window in Bishkek.

Patrick Reichelt and Simone Rota are out because of injuries while Stephan Schrock won’t be suiting up because of unknown reasons in the Azkals’ 10:30 p.m. Manila encounter with the Kyrgyz booters.

Reichelt sustained an ACL injury for Ceres-La Salle in the Singapore Cup semifinals, Rota has been dealing with a minor injury while no one has made a clear explanation over Schrock’s absence.

With the three out of action for the Azkals’ first friendly ahead of the AFF Suzuki Cup, coach Thomas Dooley will rely on Misagh Bahadoran, Manny Ott, Phil Younghusband, Neil Etheridge, Daisuke Sato and Amani Aguinaldo.

The Azkals were supposed to play two friendlies in the current international window but the home match against Turkmenistan, originally scheduled last Friday, was cancelled after the visiting team was decimated with injuries.

Adding insult to injury, tonight’s match won’t be shown on television, denying fans of an opportunity to see the team’s progress with two months remaining before the country hosts Southeast Asia’s biggest football competition.

The last time the Azkals saw action was in July when they lost 2-1 to Australian club Perth Glory in Ilocos Sur.

That time, several players, particularly those from Ceres, were out for undisclosed reasons, leaving the national side with a half-baked roster.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/undermanned-azkals-face-kyrgyzstan-today/#xpyc9UahsuWpwjm4.99

Azkals tackle North Korea in Oct. 10 ‘friendly’

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

WITH preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup far from ideal recently, the Azkals got a boost after the Philippine Football Federation secured a quality opponent in North Korea in a friendly on Oct. 10.

PFF general secretary Ed Gastanes said Sunday the federation is only completing Fifa’s requirements to finalize the match against North Korea.

The Azkals already had a friendly against Turkmenistan cancelled early this month, while losing two key players in Patrick Reichelt and Simone Rota to knee injuries.

http://sports.inquirer.net/221620/azkals-tackle-north-korea-in-oct-10-friendly

Cebuano booters, teams feted in Aboitiz Cup opening

By: Glendale G. Rosal

CEBUANO footballers and football teams were feted during yesterday’s opening ceremonies of the 18th Aboitiz Football Cup at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Organizers from the Aboitizland and the the Cebu Football Association (CFA) handed out awards for the Cebuano players who competed for the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) under-14 girls and boys, under 16-boys, under-19 boys and men’s squads. Also awarded were teams that won in the last year’s National Milo Little Olympics and the National PRISAA meet.

The Cebuanos that competed in the under-14 of PFF in various international tournaments are Alexandria Gumilao of Sacred School Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC), Joaquin Buyco and Trevor Lood of Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) while the under-16 boys awardees were Pietre Dakay of PAREF Springdale,Joaquin Sanchez of CIS, Marcel Ivan Ouano of USPF, Leo Maquiling of SHS-AdC and Jesse Semblante of DB Boys Home. Valentino Calvo of DBTC was the awardee for playing for PFF’s men’s team. The under-19 awardees were former DBTC player Vincent Erik Lovitoz who now competes for De La Salle University of Saint Benilde along with teammate Jake Vicen and former Leylam FC player Julian Miranda.

PAREF Springdale, which dominated the boys secondary division of last year’s National Milo Little Olympics, was also recognized together with DBTC, which won in the National PRISAA secondary division.
Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/104043/cebuano-booters-teams-feted-aboitiz-cup-opening#ixzz4JK10AtYt

AZKALS UNFAZED DESPITE INJURY TO TWO MAINSTAYS

DESPITE the sidelining of Simone Rota and Patrick Reichelt due to injuries, football chief Mariano Araneta Jr. and national team manager Dan Palami are confident the Philippine Azkals will still be competitive in the Asean Football Federation Cup in November.

In a span of a week, defender Rota and winger Reichelt, playing for Global and Ceres FC, respectively, in the United Football League, went down with anterior cruciate ligament injuries, virtually keeping them out of the Suzuki Cup.

The two remained at home when the Azkals Manila last Saturday to play Kyrgyzstan in a friendly match tomorrow, Tuesday, in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek.

Dr. Randy Molo, the national team’s orthopedic surgeon, remained hopeful about Rota’s status after initial findings showed that his ACL was not as bad as initially feared.

“We will still have an MRI of the injury to gauge its extent,” he said.

“We have more depth now in our national pool. We have quality players who can step up and replace Simone and Patrick,” Araneta said. “Our team won’t be a pushover without them.”

Araneta pointed out the presence of Martin Steuble who can fill in the shoes of the Filipino-Italian defensive specialist.

“Of course, Simone and Patrick are quality players. However, it isn’t cause for panic like in the past when their absence would be critical,” said Palami, “We have enough replacements in our present pool to fill their absence.”

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/sports/azkals-unfazed-despite-injury-two-mainstays

Long way to Kyrgyzstan ....

Azkals started their journey to Kyrgyzstan yesterday at 2 pm from Manila

Travel route :

Manila - Bangkok
Bangkok - Astana (Kazakhstan)
Astana - Bishek (Kyrgyzstan)

Estimated to arrive this Sunday in Bishek 6 pm local time , 8 pm Manila time

Alaska Football Cup

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210395823155290&set=gm.831963173571714&type=3&theater

AFC U-16 Women's Championship : Philippines 0-7 South Korea

Philippines 0-7 Korea Republic
Scorers: Hyun Seul-gi (11’, 39’), Kim Hye-jeong (22’ pen), Cho Mi-jin (45’), Noh Heon-yeon (75’, 89’), Jang You-been (90+2’)
Referee: Wang Jia (China PR)

18th Aboitiz Football Cup opens today

By: Glendale G. Rosal

NO less than Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Ramon Fernandez will attend the opening of the 18th Aboitiz Football Cup slated this afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

Cebu Football Association (CFA) Vice President Rico Navarro announced the list of important guests attending the unfolding of the 18th edition of the country’s longest running football tournament which features more than a hundred teams competing in a dozen age-groups and divisions.

Aboitizland’s President and Chief Executive Officer Andoni Aboitiz along with VECO Senior Vice President Anton Perdices who is also the board adviser of the Aboitiz Foundation, will also be joining the program.

Perdices will give a speech in behalf of the Aboitiz Foundation in the opening set to start at 4 p.m.  in the afternoon. The participating teams will also be present.

Today’s highlights include the awarding of the best uniformed teams, a fireworks display and other surprises.

Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/103960/18th-aboitiz-football-cup-opens-today#ixzz4JEQo54bF

Azkals fly to Bishkek for Kyrgyzstan friendly

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

Hit with injuries and absences by key players, the Philippine Azkals hope to give their AFF Suzuki Cup buildup a positive turn when they fly to Bishkek for a clash against higher-ranked Kyrgyzstan in a friendly.

The match on Tuesday marks the start of the preparations for the prestigious biennial tournament in November and Azkals skipper Phil Younghusband sees the team getting a huge boost just by playing a foe ranked No. 105 in the world.

The Azkals, who fell to No. 134 from a high of No. 114 in the latest Fifa rankings, will be embarking on a 28-hour journey to Bishkek via Bangkok and Astana.

“Its never easy to travel that long and be 100 percent, but we have to make sure that when we get there, we have to give the best possible chance to get a result,” said Younghusband after the Azkals wrapped up their final training session at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“We haven’t got a lot of time there. It will be a good test because its difficult opposition and if we want to be stronger for the Suzuki Cup, we have to play against strong teams.”

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley will be bringing 21 players for the trip to Bishkek with goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will link up with the squad in Kyrgyzstan capital on Sunday.

Veterans Simone Rota and Patrick Reichelt are also sidelined until the Suzuki Cup, while Stephan Schrock did not make the trip due to personal reasons.

Meanwhile, ex-national team star Chieffy Caligdong has been appointed to the Azkals coaching staff for the Suzuki Cup. Azkals manager Dan Palami said Caligdong will start working with the team in October when it plays Bahrain in another friendly match at Philippine Sports Stadium.

“As an Azkals legend, Chieffy’s presence and experience will come in handy as he tries to pass it on to our younger players come the Suzuki Cup,” said Palami.

 http://sports.inquirer.net/221352/azkals-fly-to-bishkek-for-kyrgyzstan-friendly#ixzz4J6k3ZwE1

Men's National team line-up in Kyrgyzstan friendly

The men’s National Team is leaving for Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan tomorrow for the scheduled friendly match against the Kyrgzs Republic men’s team on 06 September 2016.
The team is composed of:

1. Daisuke SATO
2. Jovin BEDIC
3. Amani Manuel AGUINALDO
4. Fitch Johnson Daviz ARBOLEDA
5. Kevin INGRESO
6. Roland Richard MÜLLER
7. Kenshiro Michael DANIELS
8. Misagh BAHADORAN
9. Philip James YOUNGHUSBAND
10. Dennis VILLANUEVA
11. Jim Junior MUNOZ
12. Paolo BUGAS
13. Simon GREATWICH
14. Manuel OTT
15. Martin Markus STEUBLE
16. Patrick Phillip DEYTO
17. Iain RAMSAY
18. James Joseph YOUNGHUSBAND
19. Neil Etheridge

The coaching staff is headed by Thomas Dooley who is assisted by Jon Pascua and Josef Malinay.

PH Azkals have ‘70-30’ chance of making finals

WITH the present pool of players and the country hosting the tournament, a coach with international experience firmly believes that the Philippine Azkals have a “70-30” chance of making a historic maiden appearance in the finals of the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup.

“There are a lot of talented players now.  Most are playing for United Football League clubs,” Mark Mangune, former assistant coach of the national women’s team and the Loyola Meralco Sparks, noted.

“With the country hosting the tournament, there is a 70-30 chance we can make to the Suzuki Cup finals for the first time.”

Mangune pointed out “players will always perform at a higher level in front of a hometown crowd. They leave everything on the field,” and urged all Filipino sports fans to troop to the Philippine Sports Stadium in the Bocaue, Bulacan.

A familiar fixture in local football and known by his shiny bald head, Mangune bared that he would soften ride his motorcycle in whatever conditions to Bulacan just to watch the Azkals go up against foreign opposition.

“I may just be one voice but if all of us sports fans fill the Philippine Sports Stadium and root for the Azkals, we can expect great things to happen,” he said.  “With God’s help, this is a big opportunity for all of us together achieve another historic breakthrough in Philippine football.”

With Turkmenistan withdrawing from a friendly with the Nationals scheduled for today at the PSS due to injuries to its players, the Azkals will have their first tuneup match on Sept. 6 against Kyrgyzstan in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.

The charges of American coach Thomas Dooley open their campaign in Group A of the Suzuki Cup against Singapore on Nov. 19, followed by the match versus Indonesia three days, before facing defending champion Thailand on Nov. 22 for its last group assignment.

The Filipinos have reached the Suzuki Cup semifinals thrice, losing to Indonesia in their semifinal debut in 2010, to Singapore in 2012, and 2014 to Thailand.

With the Philippine Football Federation pulling all stops in hosting the Suzuki Cup group stage, the Azkals find themselves in the best position of reaching the finals of the region’s premier men’s football tournament for the first time, and possibly all the way to their inaugural championship.

http://www.thestandard.com.ph/sports/214979/ph-azkals-have-70-30-chance-of-making-finals.html

Setback for Azkals: Reichelt tears knee

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

A CANCELLED friendly and a slew of injuries have thrown off the Philippine Azkals’ preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup kicking off on Nov. 19 at Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Patrick Reichelt, a veteran of the 2012 and 2014 Suzuki Cup tournaments, became the latest player to join the injured list after suffering a torn right ACL recently.

The Ceres-La Salle standout sustained the injury while playing against S-League side Tampines Rovers in the Singapore Cup semifinals last week.

The injury rules Reichelt out of the Suzuki Cup, just like teammate Simone Rota who is set to undergo surgery for a similar injury.

It was another heavy blow for the Azkals, who had their friendly against Turkmenistan called off at the 11th hour last week.

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley rued the missed opportunity to play a full international for the first time since March 29, when they beat North Korea, 3-2, in World Cup Qualifying.

Reichelt would have added depth to the wing positions, which he shares with the likes of Iain Ramsay, Misagh Bahadoran and Stephan Schrock.

The Azkals are flying to Bishkek on Saturday for a friendly match against Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday.

Foreign-based players Ramsay (Australia) and Daisuke Sato (Romania) have already joined training sessions of the Azkals.

Azkals manager Dan Palami said Javier Patino will likely miss the match against Kyrgyzstan.

http://sports.inquirer.net/221272/setback-for-azkals-reichelt-tears-knee#ixzz4J2loDM1O