Azkals to wear Mizuno winter gear

MANILA, Philippines –  Mizuno, the official outfitter of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), yesterday turned over to PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr. high-tech winter football gear that the national men’s team will use for its second match against Mongolia in the Asian Challenge Cup qualifiers on March 15 in Ulan Bator.

“We are proud of the role that Mizuno has played in the past successes of the Azkals and we hope this special gear will continue to help them in their game against Mongolia under winter conditions in Ulan Bator,” said Master Sports general manager, Paolo Cagalingan, whose firm is the exclusive distributor of the Mizuno in the country, during simple turnover rites at the PFF office.

“The PFF would like to thank Mizuno for its continued support of the national men’s team and Philippine football,” Araneta said. “We believe that these outfits will help our boys cope with the sub-zero conditions in Mongolia.”

Wtnessing the turnover were Philippine team members led by team manager Dan Palami.

Unlike the previous Mizuno jerseys that the Azkals wore, the new ones are equipped with the Japanese outfitter’s revolutionary “Breath Thermo” and “Thermal Plus” technology that will keep the players warm even “when Mother Nature turns down the temperatures,” Cagalingan said.

“Without sounding technical, the ‘Breath Thermo’ fabric self generates heat and converts moisture that our bodies generate during physical exertion into heat. The fabric keeps the players warm under almost any weather,” he said.

Cagalingan noted that jerseys will have long sleeves but will still remain lightweight and not limit the movements of the players.

Having the thermal gear could play a key role for the Filipino booters, who are used to playing in warm climate, although they are scheduled to train next week in Japan near Mount Fuji where the wintry conditions are nearly similar to that of Mongolia.

The new Mizuno outfits could serve as the “12th man” of the Azkals when they go up against the Blue Wolves in Mongolia, Cagalingan and Araneta noted.