Iligan: Azkals Fans Celebrates

Azkals Fans celebrates goal in the qualifying match between Azkals and Sri Lanka last July 3, 2011. Quoted by the maker of the vid, "We love football, we play football, we are encouraging footballers around the country to shoot also while watching the game of azkals, this is our means to show support for the Ph National Football Team, before we only cheers and watch together with our favorite International Clubs and World Cup Teams, but now we are really supporting and cheering for our own country and team! this is not a dream this is football, lets make Philippines a FOOT CRAZE country! Nothing is impossible as always taught we BELIEVE! Go azkals Go!" -Marlyndon B. Roco BSFC Pres." This clip was also featured yesterday in abs-cbn Northern Mindanao. Source

A Reminder from 'PH Azkals'

by: Azkals (Philippine National Football Team)

Just a reminder to all those who are going to watch the game at the stadium, please leave a good impression on the visiting Sri Lankan supporters. Don't boo their national anthem, don't swear at them, don't give them the finger, don't spit at them, don't do racist/insulting chants. This is football after all, the beautiful game. There is no room for such ugly scenes in a game.

If they did these to Filipinos in Sri Lanka, let us show them that we are different; we are a decent and respectful people. We are Filipinos after all. Let us not stoop down to the level of hooligans and savages. 

So to all those who will be watching the game this afternoon in the stadium, enjoy the game. Relish your chance to see your national team play up close. Show your passion to the world, but remember, there is a fine line between passion and hooliganism.

GO AZKALS!

Azkals promise to get aggressive against Sri Lanka in Manila today

by Cheska D. Geli

A MORE aggressive Philippine national football team will take on Sri Lanka in the second leg of the Fifa World Cup qualifiers today at the Rizal Stadium in Manila.

The Azkals will try to make use of the familiarity of the playing field and the support of a partisan crown to pull off a better finish. The previous match resulted to a 1-1 draw.
Despite the unwanted turnout of their last match, Ian Araneta said the team will remain consistent with their game plan of pressing their rivals early and concentrating more on the attack.
The team will work on its offensive strategy in trying to score the first goal of the match before an expected crowd of 15,000 supportive Filipinos.

Azkals ready for home game vs. Sri Lanka

expected to play before a full stadium of 13,000 fans at the Rizal Memoria Sports Complex as they face the Sri Lanka's Brave Reds for the return leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers group stage playoff.

Everything is all set and taken care of by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), the local host of the match. “We're 100 percent ready and we are expecting a full stadium tomorrow, said Cathy Rivilla, chair of the local organizing committee during the pre-match press conference at the Rizal Stadium.

Despite the 1-1 draw result last Wednesday in Colombo, Azkals Coach Hans Michael Weiss

Azkals in high spirits, all set vs Sri Lanka

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals are ready to go for their home game against the Sri Lankan Brave Reds at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Sunday as they tangle for the right to advance to the next round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Nationals are positive that the hometown advantage will give them the needed boost to get past Sri Lanka, which held them to a 1-1 draw last Wednesday.

Phil Younghusband cleared for Azkals home leg vs Sri Lanka

Cedelf P. Tupas

MANILA—The “miracle” Philippine striker Phil Younghusband had hoped for happened yesterday.

The country’s top international scorer the past five years has made himself available for the home leg of the Azkals’ first-round World Cup qualifying duel against Sri Lanka at the Rizal Memorial Stadium this Sunday.
His presence thrown into doubt after limping off in the 40th minute in the 1-1 first leg draw in Colombo, Younghusband was cleared by Dr. Randolf Molo, a sports medicine specialist at St. Luke’s, yesterday after an MRI revealed the hamstring injury was not as serious as the striker had earlier feared.
The Sri Lankans scored three minutes after Younghusband’s departure, but his replacement, Filipino-American striker Nate Burkey, headed home the equalizer in the 50th

Azkals ready, excited to play before home crowd

by Earl Victor Rosero
"Cohesion takes time," Philippines men's national football team coach Michael Weiss said Saturday morning as he asked for understanding as regards the performance of his players thus far. But for Sunday's World Cup Qualifiers match, Weiss assured that his team is feeling "no pressure" because they are fit, excited and happy to play on home soil.

Azkals team captain Aly Borromeo said, "Team spirit's high." He explained the team's excitement about Sunday's match is partly due to the fact that they will try to qualify for the World Cup before a home crowd.

Weis said that with the unavailability of Ray Jonsson, "We had to make adjustments." He also said it was important for the team "to get back into mental fitness and physical fitness" as soon as they got home, so he gave the national players time "to refresh and settle down with
their families."