BY BONG PEDRALVEZ - Malaya Business Insight
EVEN the American TV cable sports network ESPN is taking notice of the phenomenal Philippine Azkals.
A story written by John Duerden headlined "Southeast Asians dreaming of Brazil" posted on the ESPN website yesterday devoted five of its 27 paragraphs on the national men’s football team.
British coach Simon McMenemy, the architect of the Filipino booters’ surprise semifinal finish in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup, was quoted extensively in the piece that appeared on the same day the nationals battled the hometown Brave Reds in the opening round and first leg of the Asian World Cup qualifiers.
"Due to the Philippines’ links to the United States, the archipelago has been traditionally less attracted to the beautiful game than its neighbors–it didn’t even enter qualification for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
"The 2010 AFF Cup, however, woke the country up to its potential… the former American colony finally reminded the continent that it actually played football," Duerden wrote.
McMenemy, who has since been replaced by German mentor Michael Weiss, had kind words for his former wards and expressed confidence they would prevail over the Sri Lankans.
"The fans in the Philippines are incredible and if they (the Azkals) are like that against Sri Lanka, they should beat them comfortably," McMenemy was quoted as saying.
He noted that because of the team’s success in last year’s Suzuki Cup "holding trials and bringing players in was more accessible for (team) management."
"Players who were qualified to play for the Philippines and playing in better leagues wanted to play for the country," said McMenemy, who now coaches the Vietnamese club Dong Tam Long An.
"Now the team is holding its own and is attracting better players," he said.
Assuming the Azkals advance to the next stage, McMenemy, however, declined to predict how they would fare against second-round foe and former Asian Cup champion Kuwait.
"Kuwait in the next round is a different question," the English coach said.
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