Phl booters open bid vs Viets today

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Under-23 men’s football team runs into a big test right away as it launches its bid for a breakthrough medal in the 26th Southeast Asian Games today against Vietnam in Jakarta.

The Filipinos battle the Vietnamese, runner-up to Malaysia in the previous SEAG, at 4 p.m. at the 88,083-capacity Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, hoping for a win or a draw to jumpstart their quest for semifinal stint in Group B.

“We studied the opponent (Vietnam) and it seems to be quite a good team. But we have ideas how to play this team,” Phl U-23 coach Michael Weiss said.

“We are 11 against 11 and we also have a strong team so we are not scared. We are very positive,” added the German mentor.

The team got a big boost recently as Fil-German midfielder Manny Ott, who initially withdrew from the tourney to seek a new club in Germany, had a change of heart and decided to join the squad at the last minute.

The match brings with it a sentimental aspect, too, as this will be the first time for the two nations to meet on the pitch after the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup.

The Pinoys shocked the fancied Vietnamese in the group stage of that duel, 2-0, a feat that practically touched off the Azkals rise to prominence. Vietnam is apparently raring to get back at the Filipinos.

Fresh from a weeklong training camp in Gotemba and Tokyo, Japan, the U-23 Azkals are seeking to secure 10 points (three wins and a draw) in Group B action, which should be enough to propel them to the crossover semis.

After its opening-day matchup with Vietnam, which is expected to top Group B, the U-23 Azkals will tangle with Timor-Leste (Nov. 7 at 4 p.m.), Laos (Nov. 11 at 4 p.m.), Myanmar (Nov. 13 at 4 p.m.) and Brunei (Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.).

Expected to spearhead the campaign of Phl XI are Jason de Jong, Matthew and Mark Hartmann, Jinggoy Valmayor, Roland Mueller, and Jeffrey Christiaens.