JFA plays host to Azkals� AFC Challenge Cup training

Cedelf P. Tupas

MANILA---The Japan Football Association has agreed to host a week-long training camp for the Philippine national team, which is preparing for the second leg of the AFC Challenge Cup qualifier against Mongolia next month.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano �Nonong� Araneta said yesterday in an overseas call to the
Inquirer from Jakarta that the Azkals will be allowed to train at the JFA facility in Fukushima from March 6 to 12.

The Azkals will play the Mongolians on March 15 in expected sub-zero temperatures in Ulan Bator. The team is actually starting its buildup for the second leg today in Baguio City, where it will be undergoing a week-long camp.

For the second leg, the Azkals only need to protect their two-goal cushion they earned during the first match at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod last week.

Mongolia can bundle out the Azkals with at least a 3-nil victory.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami welcomed the JFA�s response, saying the camp will help the team adjust to the conditions in Mongolia.

But Palami also expressed concern that if the Filipinos make it to the group stage�which has been moved from Bangladesh to Myanmar from March 20 to 31�the weather might also take its toll on the players.

�This will be very difficult since the players might play in extreme weather conditions in a week, that�s why we really need to prepare,� said Palami, who was the recipient of the Presidential Award during the Sportswriters Association of Cebu annual awards gala yesterday.

But more than the extreme weather, Palami said �complacency will be their biggest enemy in Mongolia.�

�That�s why I have coach (Hans Michael) Weiss to ensure that we train as if we�re 2-nil down rather than 2-nil up,� Palami said.

The PFF actually requested its Mongolia counterpart to hold a training camp in Ulan Bator, but Araneta said their request was turned down, leaving the federation with no recourse but to look for another venue.

Meanwhile, the Azkals have been seeded straight to the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2012 for the first time, owing to their semifinal finish in last year�s tournament, Araneta said.

The Philippines and Myanmar were actually tied with 12 points each based on the records the past two stagings of the region�s most prestigious football tournament.

But the Azkals earned their ticket because of their semifinal appearance, which sparked renewed interest in the sport in the country.

Araneta said Thailand and Malaysia will host the tournament next year.

He said the Philippines will bid to host the tournament in 2014 and he has asked the tournament�s marketing arm, World Sport Group, to provide the logistical needs to host the biennial event.

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