Weiss stays as football coach

COACH Hans Michael Weiss will stay on as coach of the Philippine Azkals and the national under-23 team.

Football officials are not keen on letting Weiss go despite the Junior Azkals� disappointing performance in the recent 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

Weiss, who tried to quit in June because there was little time to prepare the Junior Azkals for the biennial meet, will now be responsible keeping the team intact and prepared for the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar.

�I tried to quit. But I gave my word to the Philippine Football Federation. I tried my best. But, it was not good enough. Nevertheless, we should leave this behind and work on the future. We, the PFF and (team manager) Mr. Dan Palami, have a good relationship,� said Weiss.

Weiss, who took full responsibility for the team�s performance, said they are now on the right track, adding that the Junior Azkals will be a good team if they remain intact for the next two years.

�It was too early the last time. The preparations were too short compared to the other teams, which have been playing their under-15, under 17 and under-20 teams for around five to six years together, with regular competition,� added Weiss.

Weiss, who was in constant communication with his former mentor, German football expert Eckhard Krautzun when the latter toured several provinces over the last two months, said bringing in players to the SEA Games just one day before competitions and expecting a gold medal was too presumptuous.

Krautzun has recommended to the PFF that Weiss should keep on handling the Philippine Azkals and the Junior Azkals simultaneously so that there will be continuity in the development program of the national team. Peter Atencio


Manila Standard Today