Philippine Football officials head for Germany on Monday for a two-day meet with the Deutscher Fussball Bund (DFB, the German Football Federation) to discuss how the Germans can help not just the national squad but Philippine football.
The DFB provides aid, training and technology to some 17 countries.
According to Philippine football officials, the DFB has also offered the services of Hans Michael Weiss as a coach for the national team.
Whether that means the English head coach Simon McMenemy will be replaced is unsure at the moment.
When asked about the Philippine job, Weiss, who has worked with Rwanda, the Chinese and Japanese Football Associations, and worked as an intern with Real Madrid FC, Arsenal FC, Argentina�s River Plate, and the Bundesliga�s FC Kaiserslautern, said, �Hopefully the Azkals will continue their momentum not only in 2011, but also in the upcoming years. For the moment I cannot comment on anything. After next week the Philippine soccer world will know more.�
McMenemy steered the Azkals to a semifinal appearance in the 2010 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup. With the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup looming, McMenemy might be disqualified on a technicality as he lacks a coaching license that is a requirement to coach at this level.
In a conversation with McMenemy on Sunday, the Englishman informed the BusinessMirror that AFF officials have signified their intention to help him secure the license needed to continue with the Azkals.
�I�d love to comeback and continue what we started with the Philippines,� said McMenemy. �Hopefully, we can secure a long-term contract because I think we can put together a three-year plan to make the team better and go farther.�
McMenemy clarified reports about Vietnam being interested in his coaching services.
�It wasn�t only I who received offers,� underscored the former Worthing FC assistant coach. �The players were also getting interest from different countries. As for Vietnam, it was a club team from their premier league. As I understand, it was the former team of Mr. [Henrique] Calisto.�
Calisto is the head coach of Vietnam who piloted the emerging Asean powerhouse to the 2008 Suzuki Cup title and refused to shake McMenemy�s hand after the Philippines� 2-0 win in the group stages.
Calisto, who is Portuguese, accused the Philippines of degrading the sport by �parking the bus� in the endgame.
McMenemy countered by saying, �I believe that the objective is to win the game. And you do what it takes to do that.�
The BusinessMirror also learned that James and Phil Younghusband have been offered $6,000 each to play for an Indonesian club.
The National Team returns to action on February 9 when they host the Mongolian National Team in Panaad, Bacolod City, in a home-and-away series in the qualifying stages of the AFC Challenge Cup. The visitors are ranked No. 182 in the world by the world governing body Fifa. The Philippines is currently at No. 150.
Business Mirror
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