The Davao football community will all be eyes and ears while monitoring and cheering on the Azkals via web when they play the national team of Mongolia on Tuesday, March 15, in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.
Davao Football Association general secretary Erwin E. Protacio expects the Azkals to score another win to advance to the group stage of the Asian Football Federation Challenge Cup scheduled on March 20 to 31 against group A qualifiers Myanmar, Palestine and Bangladesh.
Former M’lang Football Association member and University of Mindanao standout Peter Jaugan is part of the team.
The Azkals, the national football team’s monicker, defeated Mongolia 2-0 in Bacolod City last February 9 to spark renewed interest in football in the country and trigger pledges of financial support from telecom giant Smart and cargo company, Air 21.
After the training in Baguio City and Fukushima, Japan the past several days, the Azkals have adjusted somewhat to the cold weather they will be exposed to in Mongolia.
The Japan Football Association generously hosted the Filipinos during the eight-day training schedule at the J-Village.
Phil and James Younghusband, who became instant celebrities and even commercial models, will be leading the team again under new coach German Hans Michael Weiss.
Aly Borromeo, Anton del Rosario, Emilio Caligdong, Roel Gener, Edward Sacapano, Ian Araneta, Yanti Bersales, Joebel Bermejo, Mark Ferrer, Rey Palmes, Jerry Barbaso, Kristofer Relucio, Jason Sabio, Ray Jonsson and Jason de Jong are the other members of the squad.
The Azkals barged in to the semifinal round of the AFF-Suzuki Cup for the first time and news of their achievements spread like wildfire that finally caught the attention of television giants which eventually covered their games. [Moses P. Billacura]
