Manager fears frostbite for Azkals more than Mongolians

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO

MANILA, Philippines � Ulan Bator, Mongolia�s capital city, is considered the coldest national capital city in the world, with temperature dropping to as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius in January.

When the Philippine Azkals fly in there next month for their second AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match against the Blue Wolves, the capital will be more hospitable with temperature a little warmer ranging from - 2 and -15 degrees.

Still, Azkals team manager Dan Palami is worried for his players� welfare there and even fears of them getting frostbite, a medical condition where the skin is damaged due to extreme cold.

�I fear a lot. Hindi ko alam kung ano pang pwedeng mangyari dun... and frost bite is a possibility. So we really have to be prepared for that,� said Palami on Thursday when the Azkals visited one of their sponsors, Inasal at Iba pa restaurant, at SM City Sta. Mesa in Manila.

�I�ve been to - 4, but not to play football but as a tourist. When I went to Germany (the coldest place he�s been into), it�s already -2, and in London, -4.�

�But I�m not looking forward to being in a colder place. But here we are, we have to go to Mongolia... The fear is always there, siyempre. Hindi ko alam baka mag-freeze nalang yung mga players natin,� Palami, who has been the team�s godfather since last year, said.

Team captain Aly Borromeo agreed.

�Cold weather is a factor. Mahirap dun... not anything close to that pero we�ll be prepared,� said Borromeo, adding that the coldest match he�s been into was eight degrees in the United States.

To quash any of his fears from happening, Palami said they are looking at two options to help the players get acclimatized with the freezing weather: First is to train in an artificial pitch in Mongolia a week before the March 15 match if the Mongolia Federation permits it, or if rejected, make a side trip to winter weather in Fukushima, Japan for a week.

Team doctor Randy Molo said the minimum acclimatization requirement is three days. In his forwarded e-mail to Philippine Football Federation president Mariano �Nonong� Araneta on Thursday, Molo recommended the players to wear base layer or compression garments � sleeved/sleeveless pro-compression t-shirts, gloves and warm up gear (bonnet and ear covers) on game day.

�We�ll have to wear appropriate clothing. That�s why the key is to acclimatize,� Palami said.

Dr. Molo, though, said the wearing of sleeves will have to be lobbied by Palami during a manager�s meeting days before the match.

Molo said the cold weather is more of a concern than the high altitude adjustment since Ulan Bator lies at an elevation of about 1,310 metres (4,300 ft) in a valley on the Tuul River.

Starting Sunday, when German coach Michael Weiss gets back from a Japan vacation, the Azkals will train in Baguio City, which sits at 1,500 meters (5,100ft).

Manila Bulletin