Azkals Shiver in Biting Cold at Japan Training Venue

by: Cedelf P. Tupas (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA—The cold weather doesn't seem to pose a problem for the Philippine football team, at least on the first day of their training in Japan.

Honing up in Gotemba, a city nestled on a plateau at the southeastern foot of Mt. Fuji, the Azkals—most of whom were experiencing extremely cold weather for the first time—were hardly bothered by the zero-degree temperature as they went through passing and shooting drills at an artificial pitch.

The Azkals are toughening up for the return leg of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying duel with Mongolia in sub-zero conditions in Ulan Bator on March 15.

The team holds a 2-nil edge against Mongolia after the first leg at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City last Feb. 9.

The Mongolians need to win by at least three goals to oust the Filipinos and advance to the group qualifying in Rangoon against host Myanmar, Bangladesh and Palestine from March 21 to 25.

“Trained at zero degree earlier,” said Azkals skipper Aly Borromeo on his account on social network site Twitter (@alybor11). “All the boys didn’t seem to mind the cold too much.”

“(We’re) Alive in Japan. (It’s) cold but amazing,” said defender Anton del Rosario (@anton_delro).

“Cozy place, great soccer complex and great food,” added Del Rosario in describing the facility in Japan, the top team in Asia.

“The team is OK, there’s coughing because of the cold but we are OK,” Chieffy Caligdong, the scorer of the opening goal in the first leg, also said on twitter.

The Azkals will play a tuneup match against a university team today. Another test match is scheduled on Friday, before they fly to Ulan Bator on March 13.

Shortly after arriving in Japan, Azkals team manager Dan Palami moved to quell concerns that “distractions” off the pitch were hampering their preparations for the Mongolia clash.

Palami did not specify these distractions, although star striker Phil Younghusband has been in the news recently because of rumors of his links with celebrities.

“I would like to categorically assure everyone that the coaches and I are taking all steps necessary to ensure that the Azkals always give their best,” Palami said in a statement.

Two members of the team—Jason Sabio and Simon Greatwich—are expected to join the team on Thursday, while Ray Jonsson and Jason de Jong will be with the team in Ulan Bator a day before the match.