by Cedelf P. Tupas
MANILA—The Philippines is leaving no stone unturned in its preparations for the Southeast Asian Games as it bids to land a first medal in the men’s football competition slated in the Indonesian cities of Palembang and Jakarta.
With five months to go before the Games, the Under-23 squad began training yesterday at the PhilSports pitch with 20 aspirants showing up led by veteran international Simon Greatwich as well as former national team players Yannick Tuason, Mark Ferrer, Chris Camcam, David Basa, Jerry Barbaso and the returning Matthew Hartmann.
In the runup to the biennial competition, the Under-23 squad will also see action in a five-nation pre-SEA Games tournament next month in Jakarta.
Aside from the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia are also fielding teams in the tournament, according to Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.
The team is awaiting the arrival of veteran German coach Erich Rutemoller, who will serve as team consultant as Azkals coach Michael Weiss focuses on the senior squad now training in Germany for its
World Cup qualifying match against Sri Lanka.
by Cheska D. Geli
AS the senior team of Philippine Football is down to its last week of preparations for the World Cup first round match, the Southeast Asian Games bound team will start preparing for the biennial games today.
The under-23 coaching staff will work on finalizing a 23-man team out of the 47 hopefuls. The coaching staff will be led by team manager Dan Palami, coaches Norman Fegidero and Rolando Pinero and goalkeeper coach Michael Casas.
The team has yet to finalize the venue for the practices but they are looking at Alabang Country Club to host their training every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Palami, who will arrive today from Germany after being with the senior team, will meet with the players and staff to sort out plans for the SEA games preparation.
However, the training pool will not yet be complete as those who are based in the province and outside the country will be missing the first day of training. The team is expected to be completed within the week.
Manila, JUNE 20 (Sugod.com) – Electrical Engineers have been successful in football. Don’t you agree? Arsene Wenger had a degree in Electrical Engineering from Strasbourg University and his influence in the beautiful game was tremendous and world-class.
Jacques Van Bossche, a filipino electrical engineering student at Ghent University and defender at Sporting Lokeren, may also take the same path.
He was invited by German head coach Hans Michael Weiss to try-out for the national team in February and a possible international call-up is likely to follow after a good performance in the Nagold Cup.
According to usapangfootball.proboards.com, Van Bossche will join the training camp of the U23 squad on thursday in preparation for the upcoming 2011 AFF Under-23 Youth Championship in Pelambang, Indonesia on July 16-26.
In the said tournament, the Philippines have been drawn against Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Myanmar, and Singapore in the group stage. Source
