Phl Azkals mull WC buildup in Germany

MANILA, Philippines - With a training camp in Qatar and Australia no longer feasible, the Philippine Azkals are eyeing a stint in Germany as part of their preparations for their 2014 Fifa World Cup Asian Qualifiers matchup with Sri Lanka.

Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta said team manager Dan Palami and the Azkals’ German coach Michael Weiss are working out a possible session in Germany for their planned foreign training on June 7-17. This after Qatar and Australia could not guarantee available teams for tune-up matches.

“I’ve instructed Dan and coach Michael to check if we can get teams to play for tune-up games if we go to Germany,” Araneta told The STAR.

The Azkals were originally looking at Qatar for their buildup for June 29 away game and July 3 home match with Sri Lanka. Australia was another possible training site.

“Mukhang malabo na yung sa Qatar because according to their football federation, there are no teams available that time. It will be useless if we go without playing practice games there,” Araneta said. “As for Australia, it’s winter in June and off-season so there will be no teams, too. So we have to find another place,” he added.

Meanwhile, the PFF and Philippine Sports Commission will ask the Department of Public Works and Highway for an evaluation on the “structural integrity” of the Rizal Memorial stadium, one of the possible sites for the Azkals’ home game.

“If it’s structurally feasible, then there’s a chance that we’ll hold the game here,” Palami said after a meeting with PSC officials yesterday.

Cracks in same areas of the bleachers section have been noted in the decades-old facility and officials want to know if it can host an expected 20,000 fans. “We have to be sure about their safety,” Araneta said.