Azkals’ heartthrobs arrive

BY NIDA BUENAFE - The Visayan Daily Star

His face covered with a hood and a baseball cap and wearing large ear phones, Phil Younghusband smiled to the crowd, stopped for a brief media interview before joining his brother James in the Azkals bus after the Philippine Men’s Football Team Azkals arrived yesterday at the Bacolod-Silay Airport for a weeklong camp in Bacolod City.

With the Younghusband brothers are a couple of Fil-foreign faces, the latest recruits to the team, and Under 23 players who will start training for the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia in November.

Both Phil and James said they are happy to be back in Bacolod and they are excited to share the experience with the recruits, who are setting foot in Negros for the first time.

Azkals’ coach Hans Michael Weiss said bringing the team to the provinces and having the locals witness them play has always been emphasized to the members of the team.

“We are happy to be here and I personally have good memories of Bacolod. Last time was my first time to be here and we had a good match against Mongolia,” Weiss said.

He remembered the very good accommodation they had and the “very friendly” people who supported the team during the game against Mongolia.

Weiss said the Azkals will hold camp in Bacolod in preparation for the coming big tournaments such as the four-nation Long Teng Cup in Taiwan later this month.

With the professional players like keeper Neil Etheridge and midfielder Stephan Schrock not able to join the Azkals, coach Weiss said the recruits have to come up to the ranks since the team need fresh blood.

But even without Etheridge, Weiss said the young team has a good perspective with the infusion of new players.

Ray Johnnson, Manuel de Ott, and Ray de Jong are also set to join the team this weekend in time with the friendly games against a team from Manila and the PFF Suzuki Cup Under 23 national champion Ceres – Negros Team.

Earlier, Gov. Alfredo Maranon said he is happy to have the Azkals back in the province and the public can watch the friendly games at the Panaad for free.

The governor said the game between the national team and the Ceres – Negros squad on September 13 at 5:30 p.m. will be a good match to watch.