Azkals open bid vs mighty N Koreans

KATHMANDU – The Azkals hope to make the most of their first-ever stint in the AFC Challenge Cup’s final round beginning today here, gunning for no less than a semifinal berth against the very team that reigned the last time out – North Korea.

But anything is quite possible for this Azkals crew that has come a long way the past 16 months – from the time it was shooed away like a pesky stray dog in the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup until it bit back hard, handing holders Vietnam a monumental upset en route to a milestone Last 4 appearance there.

Picking up from there, the Azkals hurdled the pre-qualifying playoff and the qualifying group stages to book their spot here.

“This is the first time that we’ve actually entered the final stage of the Challenge Cup and our target is to go to the semis. If we make it to the finals, that’s already a dream come true,” said team manager Dan Palami, whose team also made the second round of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Asian Qualifiers, another history for Phl.

The challenge gets tougher and tougher for the Azkals in this tourney for “emerging” nations being hosted by the Himalayan nation, where a ticket to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup finals in Australia is up for grabs.

First, the Azkals are taking on holders and 2010 World Cup finalist North Korea to start off their campaign in Group B at 3 p.m. at the Halchowk Stadium (5 p.m. in Manila) with previous champions India (2008) and Tajikistan (2006) up next.

“North Korea is a very strong team and we have to play defensively; well organized and play fast defense to offense football,” Azkals coach Michael Weiss said.

The Azkals, however, will be without Fil-German Stephan Schröck and Fil-Danish Dennis Cagara, who are tied up with duties for SpVgg Greuther Fürth and FSV Frankfurt, respectively.

Still, Weiss feels good about his crop of players led by Neil Etheridge, Phil and James Younghusband, Rob Gier, Chieffy Caligdong and Paul Mulders.

“The mood is very good. We have a top group of players that will show what their capable of,” he said.

The top favorites, the Chollima are seeking to rebound from their recent ouster from the 2014 Fifa World Cup Asian Qualifiers by bringing the trophy back to Pyongyang.

“We’ve never faced North Korea before because we’ve never got past the elims stages before in tourneys. Good to know that we have leveled up,” said Palami.

Secondly, the Azkals made a crammed preparation, having difficulty pooling the nationals together due to club commitments, both foreign and local, and even national duties.

“Training in Kathmandu (prior to the tournament proper) is well, but due to the U21 tournament we couldn’t have all players together that we wanted,” Weiss lamented, referring to Marwin Angeles who played in the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy in Brunei first before joining their Nepal camp.

Thirdly, controversy hounded two of the mainstays – Angel Guirado and Lexton Moy – over in Manila, something to do with their pre-game actions in the Azkals-Malaysia that match commissioner Cristy Ramos had found offensive. The PFF disciplinary committee is now tackling Ramos’  “sexual harassment” complaint against the two.

Both Moy and Guirado had expressed sadness over what’s happening in Manila and are trying their best to stay focused on the job at hand.

“Just got back from training... Team is in high spirits and we’re all getting ramped up for the upcoming competition,” twitted Moy, who had earlier promised to “address the sensitive situation professionally and respectfully.”

Notes: PFF president Nonong Araneta wonders why North Korea is still competing in the biennial event for “developing” nations. “Why is there a World Cup finalist in the Challenge Cup? I think it’s unfair to call North Korea a “developing” nation like Phl and India.”...The AFC Challenge Cup that opened yesterday, International Women’s Day, is promoting the campaign “Our goal: Stop Violence Against Women.” A joint endeavor of the AFC, All Nepal Football Association and NGO Saathi, the campaign aims to highlight women’s empowerment through football throughout the Mar 8-19 meet, with participating teams pledging their support to efforts to stop violence against women and children from Saathi’s sheltered homes escorting the players before the start of every match.