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donmar2
Guest
For the least committed fouls by a national team and for not resorting to violence despite the barrage of fouls by their opponents
For the least committed fouls by a national team and for not resorting to violence despite the barrage of fouls by their opponents
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eindhow2
Guest
For the least committed fouls by a national team and for not resorting to violence despite the barrage of fouls by their opponents
Slap this one into Calisto's face..
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donmar2
Guest
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b3lowzro2
Guest
Neil should be the MVP, even Bambang and Cristian had stellar games with Indonesia this year.
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donmar2
Guest
Yeah agreed.. hopefully, they name him in the tournament's XI.. that is of course the organizers decides to name the Team of the Tournament.. I think Phil Y. have a chance to be included too.. though, I expect Malaysia and Indonesia will dominate that line-up..
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b3lowzro2
Guest
a lot of our Singaporean friends in KR.com also agrees that Neil deserves the award.
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b3lowzro2
Guest
this made my day
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dxjayrock20082
Guest
From sunstar.com.ph.
From sunstar.com.ph.
Pages: Scary Jakarta expedition for an Azkal fan
By John Pages
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
MIGUEL Larrauri is a football devotee. He’s more than a follower—he’s a zealot, fanatic, activist. He worships the football on an altar.
Last Dec. 15, Miguel flew to Jakarta. He watched the PHL Azkals play the Indonesian team in Game One of the AFF Suzuki Finals. From Cebu, he was, quite possibly, the only person to witness the game first-hand.
“I have experienced many football games in my life including a championship between bitter rivals Real Madrid and Barca in the Camp Nou,” said Miguel, “but it could not compare to the atmosphere inside the Stadium Utama Gelora Bung Karno.”
When I asked Miguel how much he adores the game of Pele and Maradona, his e-mailed reply summed it all: “I LOVE FOOTBALL!!!! I have loved it ever since I first played football. You see, I come from a family of football players. I don’t mean just my immediate family members, but even my cousins and close family friends. We would play in the beach or any park we could play in.”
The excursion to Jakarta? “I got myself to Indonesia to watch our boys play because I really felt they could beat them. I wanted to watch the eliminations in Vietnam but could not go due to work.
“My brother and I helped arrange the team meeting with President Noynoy Aquino on Monday, Dec. 13, in Malacañang Palace. Then, we had dinner with the team that evening in The Fort.
“I stayed with the team in the Sultan Hotel in Jakarta and watched them train. I could only watch the first game but that was good enough for me. The team was very positive and truly believed they could beat the Indonesians. Sadly, the Indonesian team had 12 players on the field versus our 11. By that, I mean the crowd in that stadium. They truly love their team and they will boo you to death.
“I came out of the dugout with the Philippine flag over my shoulders before the game and the crowd booed me as if I was giving them the finger. I literally had to wear a jacket to cover my Philippine jersey to get to my seat or else the crowd might just throw something at you. Luckily I was staying in the VIP section and the president of Indonesia was five rows behind me. Getting out of the stadium was another story. If we won, it would have been very dangerous but ‘El Loco’ Gonzales made sure it did not end that way.”
In our talk yesterday while he was vacationing in Boracay, Miguel described the Jakarta experience as frightening. The trip from the hotel to the football stadium, he said, was only a five-minute walk. But the players took the bus, complete with police escort, and it took them 30 minutes.
“All the streets, all around, everywhere,” Miguel said, “They were filled with Indonesians. And, believe me, I never saw ‘the finger’ so much in my life! These Indonesian fans were rowdy. It was scary.”
That Game One morning, the Azkals assistant coach Aris visited the stadium. “He made a mistake of wearing the Philippine jersey,” said Miguel. “He was chased by about 10 to 15 Indonesians straight to the hotel!”
Miguel, who played football varsity for Ateneo de Manila University for 12 years (“from Grade 4 until I graduated in college,” he said), wanted to celebrate his team by painting the PHL flag on his cheeks. Absolutely not! He was warned.
Even the Filipinos in Jakarta, knowing the craze and fanaticism for football in Indonesia, were cautious with their cheering for the Azkals.
“After that first game, as expected, our players were kinda down. Etheridge felt guilty; there was a miscommunication between him and the defense that resulted in Gonzales’ goal. It was so loud inside the stadium,” said Miguel. “After the game, I arranged for a team dinner with the expat community. We ate at a German restaurant called Die Stube. There was a big community of Filipinos there. But, here’s the funny part. Many of the Filipinos did not watch the game live. They were scared. Many were told not to go. Instead, they gathered in a coffee shop to watch. Everybody was praning.”
From sunstar.com.ph.
Pages: Scary Jakarta expedition for an Azkal fan
By John Pages
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
MIGUEL Larrauri is a football devotee. He’s more than a follower—he’s a zealot, fanatic, activist. He worships the football on an altar.
Last Dec. 15, Miguel flew to Jakarta. He watched the PHL Azkals play the Indonesian team in Game One of the AFF Suzuki Finals. From Cebu, he was, quite possibly, the only person to witness the game first-hand.
“I have experienced many football games in my life including a championship between bitter rivals Real Madrid and Barca in the Camp Nou,” said Miguel, “but it could not compare to the atmosphere inside the Stadium Utama Gelora Bung Karno.”
When I asked Miguel how much he adores the game of Pele and Maradona, his e-mailed reply summed it all: “I LOVE FOOTBALL!!!! I have loved it ever since I first played football. You see, I come from a family of football players. I don’t mean just my immediate family members, but even my cousins and close family friends. We would play in the beach or any park we could play in.”
The excursion to Jakarta? “I got myself to Indonesia to watch our boys play because I really felt they could beat them. I wanted to watch the eliminations in Vietnam but could not go due to work.
“My brother and I helped arrange the team meeting with President Noynoy Aquino on Monday, Dec. 13, in Malacañang Palace. Then, we had dinner with the team that evening in The Fort.
“I stayed with the team in the Sultan Hotel in Jakarta and watched them train. I could only watch the first game but that was good enough for me. The team was very positive and truly believed they could beat the Indonesians. Sadly, the Indonesian team had 12 players on the field versus our 11. By that, I mean the crowd in that stadium. They truly love their team and they will boo you to death.
“I came out of the dugout with the Philippine flag over my shoulders before the game and the crowd booed me as if I was giving them the finger. I literally had to wear a jacket to cover my Philippine jersey to get to my seat or else the crowd might just throw something at you. Luckily I was staying in the VIP section and the president of Indonesia was five rows behind me. Getting out of the stadium was another story. If we won, it would have been very dangerous but ‘El Loco’ Gonzales made sure it did not end that way.”
In our talk yesterday while he was vacationing in Boracay, Miguel described the Jakarta experience as frightening. The trip from the hotel to the football stadium, he said, was only a five-minute walk. But the players took the bus, complete with police escort, and it took them 30 minutes.
“All the streets, all around, everywhere,” Miguel said, “They were filled with Indonesians. And, believe me, I never saw ‘the finger’ so much in my life! These Indonesian fans were rowdy. It was scary.”
That Game One morning, the Azkals assistant coach Aris visited the stadium. “He made a mistake of wearing the Philippine jersey,” said Miguel. “He was chased by about 10 to 15 Indonesians straight to the hotel!”
Miguel, who played football varsity for Ateneo de Manila University for 12 years (“from Grade 4 until I graduated in college,” he said), wanted to celebrate his team by painting the PHL flag on his cheeks. Absolutely not! He was warned.
Even the Filipinos in Jakarta, knowing the craze and fanaticism for football in Indonesia, were cautious with their cheering for the Azkals.
“After that first game, as expected, our players were kinda down. Etheridge felt guilty; there was a miscommunication between him and the defense that resulted in Gonzales’ goal. It was so loud inside the stadium,” said Miguel. “After the game, I arranged for a team dinner with the expat community. We ate at a German restaurant called Die Stube. There was a big community of Filipinos there. But, here’s the funny part. Many of the Filipinos did not watch the game live. They were scared. Many were told not to go. Instead, they gathered in a coffee shop to watch. Everybody was praning.”
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Silent Killer2
Guest
For the least committed fouls by a national team and for not resorting to violence despite the barrage of fouls by their opponents
fair play award. LOLZ at coach calisto
Top Goalie should be Neil Etheridge..
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kisssabayhug2
Guest
Exactly. People seem to be losing perspective. The Azkals making it to the semis of the Suzuki Cup is the equivalent of Smart Gilas making the semis of the SEABA. The former is an achievement; the latter is a given.
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astig pinoy2
Guest
Caslib explains how to fortify Azkals
Caslib explains how to fortify Azkals
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) technical director and former national coach Aris Caslib plans to build up the Azkals through a comprehensive selection process where at least five players are nominated for each position with the goal of winning the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in 2012.
“If we have to check our under-23 team down to the under-19, we have to do it with clear reason and direction,” said Caslib in explaining how to strengthen the Azkals. “The attitude in the selection process must be inclusive and well-planned.”
Caslib, who was the national coach before Desmond Bulpin and Simon McMenemy, said the process must involve recruiting standouts from local and overseas leagues.
“When we started opening our door to Filipino players based outside the country, we informed them that they had to come over for inspection,” said Caslib. “Chris Greatwich and Chad Gould did it in 2004 by staying for a month before competition. Phil and James Younghusband were inspected early in 2005 before the Southeast Asian Games which we hosted. This formula must be reaffirmed and be a policy for overseas players who would like to join the national team. The reason for this is to get quality players for the national team. The possible exceptions are those with top flight clubs in Europe.”
The recruitment and evaluation process has elevated several Fil-foreigners to the national squad. At the recent AFF Suzuki Cup, the Azkals were reinforced by overseas recruits Neil Etheridge of Fulham, Rob Gier of Ascot United, Ray Jonsson of Grindavik, Jason de Jong of Veendam, Greatwich of the Morris County Colonials and the Younghusband brothers. Other Fil-foreigners in the national pool are Mark Drinkuth of Agon Dusseldorf, Gino Pavone of the Bay Area Ambassadors, Manuel Ott of Ingolstadt II and Gould.
Etheridge, the country’s No. 1 goalkeeper, is the third youngest of the Fil-foreigners at 20. Gier is 30, Jonsson 31, James Younghusband 24, De Jong 20, Greatwich 27, Phil Younghusband 23, Greatwich 27, Drinkuth 19, Pavone 22, Ott 18 and Gould 28. The age limit for the SEA Games is 23, making only Etheridge, De Jong, Drinkuth, Pavone and Ott eligible. Phil Younghusband will be 24 when the next SEA Games begin in Indonesia in November.
Caslib said on the domestic front, priority must be given to players who have risen from the national youth program and are actively playing before elevation to the Azkals pool.
“Experience provides maturity, mental toughness, quality decision-making and stability,” he said. “However, late bloomers must be considered provided there is good reason for the player to be included. It is imperative that each national player plays at least 40 to 50 matches before international competition. Previously, national players got to play at least 30 to 36 matches in the Ang Liga.”
Caslib said there must be cooperation among club coaches to release their players to the national team at the start of training for an international tournament.
“It is imperative to release players if they are invited to play for the national team,” continued Caslib. “Some coaches don’t release players for reasons of safety of their own program in their respective colleges, universities and clubs. But we have to take a positive risk in order to raise football standards in their team and in our country. All coaches in the country must develop the habit of going for education courses. Also, we must provide coaches with a venue where potential players are selected and not only consider their own players in their respective clubs but the best players available.”
Caslib said no doubt, a competitive local league and the opportunity to play overseas in friendlies are vital in strengthening the Azkals.
“This year, we played against Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong,” he noted. “We also played against clubs in Taiwan and Thailand. International exposure is important to stabilize our match experience. Playing against stronger opponents must be scheduled properly to reach our objective in 2012.”
Caslib said retaining McMenemy, team manager Dan Palami and the core of the Azkals is a priority.
“We hope Mr. Palami stays and manages the Azkals,” continued Caslib. “He showed great respect with the technical side under McMenemy’s leadership. He allowed the coach to make decisions in the preparation, selection of players and approach to the competition. We must keep the team but strengthen it. The Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in March is coming and we play Mongolia. We will host the first match and we must prepare our stadium and support our team. We should allow our players to play their strong side and protect them in training by not exposing them to all the problems we encountered this year.”
Caslib said support for the Azkals must be widespread to move the team forward. “We should encourage partnership with companies that believe in football,” he said. “Local government units must be involved in grassroots development in order to continuously produce youth players for the national team.”
Caslib explains how to fortify Azkals
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) technical director and former national coach Aris Caslib plans to build up the Azkals through a comprehensive selection process where at least five players are nominated for each position with the goal of winning the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in 2012.
“If we have to check our under-23 team down to the under-19, we have to do it with clear reason and direction,” said Caslib in explaining how to strengthen the Azkals. “The attitude in the selection process must be inclusive and well-planned.”
Caslib, who was the national coach before Desmond Bulpin and Simon McMenemy, said the process must involve recruiting standouts from local and overseas leagues.
“When we started opening our door to Filipino players based outside the country, we informed them that they had to come over for inspection,” said Caslib. “Chris Greatwich and Chad Gould did it in 2004 by staying for a month before competition. Phil and James Younghusband were inspected early in 2005 before the Southeast Asian Games which we hosted. This formula must be reaffirmed and be a policy for overseas players who would like to join the national team. The reason for this is to get quality players for the national team. The possible exceptions are those with top flight clubs in Europe.”
The recruitment and evaluation process has elevated several Fil-foreigners to the national squad. At the recent AFF Suzuki Cup, the Azkals were reinforced by overseas recruits Neil Etheridge of Fulham, Rob Gier of Ascot United, Ray Jonsson of Grindavik, Jason de Jong of Veendam, Greatwich of the Morris County Colonials and the Younghusband brothers. Other Fil-foreigners in the national pool are Mark Drinkuth of Agon Dusseldorf, Gino Pavone of the Bay Area Ambassadors, Manuel Ott of Ingolstadt II and Gould.
Etheridge, the country’s No. 1 goalkeeper, is the third youngest of the Fil-foreigners at 20. Gier is 30, Jonsson 31, James Younghusband 24, De Jong 20, Greatwich 27, Phil Younghusband 23, Greatwich 27, Drinkuth 19, Pavone 22, Ott 18 and Gould 28. The age limit for the SEA Games is 23, making only Etheridge, De Jong, Drinkuth, Pavone and Ott eligible. Phil Younghusband will be 24 when the next SEA Games begin in Indonesia in November.
Caslib said on the domestic front, priority must be given to players who have risen from the national youth program and are actively playing before elevation to the Azkals pool.
“Experience provides maturity, mental toughness, quality decision-making and stability,” he said. “However, late bloomers must be considered provided there is good reason for the player to be included. It is imperative that each national player plays at least 40 to 50 matches before international competition. Previously, national players got to play at least 30 to 36 matches in the Ang Liga.”
Caslib said there must be cooperation among club coaches to release their players to the national team at the start of training for an international tournament.
“It is imperative to release players if they are invited to play for the national team,” continued Caslib. “Some coaches don’t release players for reasons of safety of their own program in their respective colleges, universities and clubs. But we have to take a positive risk in order to raise football standards in their team and in our country. All coaches in the country must develop the habit of going for education courses. Also, we must provide coaches with a venue where potential players are selected and not only consider their own players in their respective clubs but the best players available.”
Caslib said no doubt, a competitive local league and the opportunity to play overseas in friendlies are vital in strengthening the Azkals.
“This year, we played against Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong,” he noted. “We also played against clubs in Taiwan and Thailand. International exposure is important to stabilize our match experience. Playing against stronger opponents must be scheduled properly to reach our objective in 2012.”
Caslib said retaining McMenemy, team manager Dan Palami and the core of the Azkals is a priority.
“We hope Mr. Palami stays and manages the Azkals,” continued Caslib. “He showed great respect with the technical side under McMenemy’s leadership. He allowed the coach to make decisions in the preparation, selection of players and approach to the competition. We must keep the team but strengthen it. The Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in March is coming and we play Mongolia. We will host the first match and we must prepare our stadium and support our team. We should allow our players to play their strong side and protect them in training by not exposing them to all the problems we encountered this year.”
Caslib said support for the Azkals must be widespread to move the team forward. “We should encourage partnership with companies that believe in football,” he said. “Local government units must be involved in grassroots development in order to continuously produce youth players for the national team.”
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sergio232
Guest
Im wondering what is the reaction of Calisto if he heard that Azkals received an award
TrueBluePinoy2
Moderator
I ADVISE YOU ALL TO READ IT CAREFULLY. I SAID NO SUCH THING ABOUT REPLACING ANYONE. GIVE IT TIME AND THIS WILL SORT ITSELF OUT. - Olivares
http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2010/12/german-to-coach-azkals.html
German to coach Azkals?
German to coach Azkals?
by rick olivares
The Deutscher Futball-Bund, governing body of German football has sounded off to help the Philippine National Men’s Football Team and team manager Dan Stephen Palami will be flying over for a two-day meet this January for exploratory talks.
Aside from meeting with the DFB, Palami will be meeting with Fil-Germans Manuel Ott, Mark Drinkuth, Stephan Schrock, Will Gueridon (Itzehoe), and Patrick Reichelt (Energie Cottbus) to possibly suit up for the Azkals AFC Challenge Cup campaign that kicks off this coming February 9 in Bacolod City in a home and away series with Mongolia.
The word is that the DFB has also offered to the national team the services of head coach Hans Michael Weiss, the current U-17 coach of Rwanda as well as the technical director of the Rwanda Football Association. Weiss, the 45-year old native of Dannenfels, Germany has also worked with the Chinese Football Association, and the Kyoto Purple Sanga of the Japan Football League among many others. Weiss has also served an internship with Spanish giants Real Madrid, English football club Arsenal, Argentina’s River Plate, and the Bundesliga’s FC Kaiserslautern.
http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2010/12/german-to-coach-azkals.html
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donmar2
Guest
Bundesliga has been sending aid to PFF for a couple of years now...
Anyway, it wouldn't hurt having additional foreign coaches.. maybe Hans Weiss can coach the U-23 team for the SEA Games.. or serve as assistant to Simon M. .. although, Weiss have the experience and qualification.. if ever PFF hire him... I said "IF"... then Simon might've have to be relegated to the assistant coach position if that happen... although, I'll stick to Simon.. we got a good run with him plus his age were close to the players and because of that, he can relate to them.. he understand them..
Honestly, I think its a big plus... Bundesliga offering us a foreign coach and even Figueiredo... foreign coaches and leagues see the potential in our country...
TrueBluePinoy2
Moderator
I know coaching licenses apply when coaching club teams, but are they also required when coaching NTs at higher level competitions?
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sergio232
Guest
its good to know that Bundesliga us helping us.wait what will happen to coach Simon?
The article doesn't say anything about replacing a coach so it should be that german coach will be our consultant..
The article doesn't say anything about replacing a coach so it should be that german coach will be our consultant..
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b3lowzro2
Guest
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donmar2
Guest
I dunno... I read before that Simon's age does not qualify him to coach a national team but I don't really know anything about coaching licenses...
its good to know that Bundesliga us helping us.wait what will happen to coach Simon?
Just like Olivares said... there is no such thing about replacing anyone... it just happen that we got an offer from the German Federation...
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kaiziken_pinas2
Guest
an admin in the Azkals Fanpage said that Weiss is going to be the Coach in the AFC Challenge cup since Mcmenemy doesn't have a license yet.
here is the actual statement
here is the actual statement
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donmar2
Guest
ah ok... In that case, I think Simon should serve as assistant coach to Weiss during the AFC Challenge Cup... he might learn from Weiss and keep him in touch with the players too....