Young, new faces behind Azkal power

MANILA, Philippines - Coach Michel Weiss is wisely playing the hand he’s being dealt, and is quite fortunate to be making the most out of every tricky situation.

Even without the big guns, either out of the country or are facing questions about their commitment to the team, the Azkals finally won a title.

They hoisted the Philippine Football Peace Cup with a 3-1 win over Chinese-Taipei the other night for the country’s first international crown in 99 years.

And they had to do it without the likes of Neil Etheridge, Phil and James Younghusband, Jerry Lucena, Angel Guirado or Stephen Schrock, all unavailable for one reason or another.

Weiss said it could have been a blessing in disguise because those who were around, the younger ones, just pounced on the opportunity to play and win it for the country.

“That is very important and good. I learned that it is important to play as a unit. We put into reality how we work and how we train the past few months,” said the German coach.

He was so delighted to see players like OJ Porteria, Denis Wolf, Matthew Uy, Patrick Reicheltand Jeffrey Christiaens shine on the field. Wolf earned the Golden Boot award with four goals and Uy the Best Midfield award.

And Chiefy Caligdong, Demitrius Omphroy, Jason de Jong, Edward Sacapano, Carlos de Murga, Misagh Bajadoran, Lexton Moy, Andres Gonzales, Jason Sabio, Marwin Angeles, Nestor Margarse, Ref Cuaresma, David Basa and Ian Araneta provided the supporting firepower.

“The young ones are really catching up. We have a very good age group now who are pushing from behind. The best is yet to come. We have to build on this success and keep on going,” said Weiss.

“If some of the pros are here you know they have a different attitude. But because they are really good football players sometimes you swallow a little bit which you shouldn’t.

“But then they come all the way from Europe so you don’t want to spoil the party. But in this group there’s no one like that. This group you can still teach a lot,” Weiss told a group of scribes.

It’s such a pity that the Younghusbands’ commitment to the team is now in question, and Weiss would rather skip the topic.

What’s important, he said, is that for the meantime there are players willing to fill on those shoes.

“We showed that others are hungry and that others are willing to take the positions and to raise the competition in the group. I’m happy for this moment,” he said.

The Azkals have one big battle up ahead – the Suzuki Cup, and right now Weiss can’t really say who’s in and out of that team.

Etheridge is on loan from Fulham to the Bristol Rovers that compete in England’s Football League Two. Etheridge started in the Rovers’ last two matches.

“I have a very big problem with the keepers because of Neil. Now he has the chance to get the exposure that he always wanted in England so he will not think about the Philippines too much anymore. Possibly he will not be available,” said Weiss.

Guirado is now playing for a club team in India while Lucena and Schrock are of course stuck with their own clubs somewhere in Europe.

And the Younghusbands?

“There’s always been the hype (on the commitment issue) that I can’t really understand. They’ve always been a very good part of the team but for me they are not out of the team but it’s a very, very tricky situation we have to think deeply on what to do,” said the coach.

Weiss said they have to decide in time regarding the lineup.

“I really can’t say that at this moment but we have to make the decision. Do we want this or do we want this? But that remains open at this point of time,” he said.

Or could it be the same team that just made the country proud?

“That’s a difficult question. But sometimes you must take into consideration that they (the big guns) might not be able to play in the Suzuki Cup,” he said.