PH Azkals eye Japan training

Cedelf P. Tupas

MANILA---The Philippines isn�t about to sit on its two-goal cushion when they face Mongolia again in their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying duel next month.

Underscoring the importance of the match in Ulan Bator on March 15, the Azkals have considered Japan as another possible site for training camp in preparation for the clash.



The Azkals dominated the Mongolians on their way to a 2-nil victory before 20,000 fans at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City Wednesday night.


�We might train in a city in Northern Japan where conditions are closely similar to Mongolia,� team manager Dan Palami said yesterday.


Palami said holding training camp in Japan is a fallback if a practice field will be unavailable for the use of the Azkals in Ulan Bator.


�As far as we know there is only one playing field in Ulan Bator,� said Palami, who single-handedly bankrolled the squad in 2010 when the team achieved unprecedented success.


Holding training camps in Japan is not new for the Philippines since some of its national teams have undergone training at the facility of the Japan Football Association in Fukushima.


The Philippine Football Federation has recently renewed ties with the JFA for a possible assistance package for grassroots and coaches� development as well as help for the national squad.


Palami disclosed that there is a strong possibility that Filipino-Danish player Jerry Lucena will be able to play for the Azkals in Mongolia.


A central midfielder, the 30-year-old Lucena is a veteran of the Danish first division and trained with the Azkals three times while they were in Bacolod.


But Palami expressed doubts on the availability of another Fil-Danish standout, Dennis Cagara, who is still recovering from an injury.


Palami hopes he will have all the players from the team that played in Bacolod for the second leg.

�I think if we have all our players back, we will stand a good chance of beating Mongolia again,� said Palami.


The winner of the Mongolia-Philippines qualifying tie will move to the second stage of qualifying in Chittagong, where it will meet Bangladesh, Palestine and Myanmar.


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