Azkals, PFF sign 4-year deal with ABS-CBN (Philippines)

 MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and ABS-CBN Sports has just renewed a long term relationship that aims to benefit the promotion of the sport in the country.

Since ABS-CBN Sports aired the first nationally televised matches of the Azkals in the 2010 Suzuki Cup, the relationship has gone along way. This time around both have agreed to a long-term four-year deal that will not only air the Azkals' matches but also will give equal exposure to the women's national team and the other youth men's teams as well.

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Azkals team manager Dan Palami and PFF president Nonong Araneta expressed happiness with ABS-CBN not just with the national exposure that they got so far but also internationally as he said even some international players like the Fil-foreigners have expressed willingness to join the national team because they saw the matches on The Filipino Channel.

Meanwhile, ABS-CBN Sports is very happy about joining forces with the PFF to give the exposure that the sport of football deserves. Peter Musngi of ABS-CBN Sports noted that even before the Azkals' resurgence in 2010 they have already invested in the sport such as the World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA Champions League matches.

All local matches of the Azkals will still be carried exclusively by ABS-CBN Sports for the next four years, while all the international matches will be exclusively aired by ABS-CBN Sports starting 2013.

source: ABS-CBN News

Azkals to meet S. Korea in Sendong charity game (Philippines)

The Philippine Azkals are set to play against South Korea in a Sendong charity game at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on January 21.

Said match is this month’s second football friendly intended to raise funds to support the victims of Tropical Storm Sendong in Northern Mindanao.

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 On January 7, a selection dubbed Azkals-Alyansa fought CFI Madrid of Spain. Although the Filipino team lost, the match reportedly generated almost P2 million from ticket sales and auction of some football souvenir items.

The upcoming Sendong charity game between the Azkals and Incheon Citizen Football Club (ICFC) of South Korea is expected to air live.

source: Philippine Talks

Azkals: Philippine Soccer Team have a long road ahead (Philippines)

ABS-CBN's News Report: 

MANILA, Philippines - As evident during Saturday's 1-3 loss to Spanish Tercera Division club CF Internacional de Madrid, the Philippine Azkals will have their work cut out insofar as gaining top conditioning and cohesion are concerned, as they gear up for the next major tourney – the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal in March.

"It (CFIM game) was a good gauge for us, we saw how far we have to go for the Challenge Cup. Basic problem for us is fitness and we need more training," Azkals team manager Dan Palami said after the "Dili Kamo Nag-iisa" match, a fund-raiser for victims of typhoon "Sendong."”

Coming off the holiday break, it was understandable that the national booters and their UFL teammates comprising the Azkals Alyansa side were far from their best shape yet against CFIM. The team also managed only two days of practice prior to the charity match.

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But Palami expect things to get a lot better when the Azkals take on third-tier Korean club Icheon Citizen FC, the division champions in Korea's league system, on Jan. 21. This is another match for the benefit of "Sendong" victims with the Korean community in Phl being eyed to participate, according to promoter Charlie Williams of Dragon Promotions.

"We expect a better performance, certainly. I think two weeks will give us more fitness and better cohesion," said Palami.

According to Williams, who promotes the Azkals-Korea game with ABS-CBN Sports VP Peter Musngi, Icheon Citizen will parade a mixture of "strong rookies and seasoned pro players" and should provide "a very challenging game" for the Azkals.

"It will be the first time for the Azkals to face a South Korean team and it just gives them more international experience to make them stronger. The more opportunities the Azkals get against tough opponents, the better they will be able to rise among their current rivals," Williams said.

The charity matches will help the Azkals warm up as they go full-blast in preparing for the AFC Challenge Cup final stage set March 8-19 in Kathmandu, Nepal.

"We intend to do six sessions a week training in the next months," said Palami, baring plans to hold training camp in Dubai from Feb. 6-17 and possible tuneups with Australian, Arabian and other Gulf clubs, followed by a FiFA friendly with ASEAN powerhouse Malaysia on Feb. 29 at Rizal Memorial football stadium.

"It is this kind of games that we need to have for the next months or so in order to prepare for future tournaments. I'm sure we'll learn from them and be able to follow the examples they've set," said Palami, expressing confidence the training "will give us enough match fitness and enough time to gain cohesion for the Challenge Cup."

The Azkals are also hoping Europe-based pros like Stephan Schrock, Paul Muders, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara will be allowed by their respective clubs to join the Azkals for portions of the Nepal joust.

 source: ABS-CBN News

Azkals yield to Madrid in Sendong charity game (Philippines)

MANILA, Philippines –

According to ABS-CBN's News Report, James Younghusband prevented what could have been a shut-out loss to CF Internacional de Madrid (CFIM) by scoring Azkals Alyansa’s lone goal in the “Dili Kamo Nag-iisa” charity game at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

Younghusband’s header in the 61st minute was the Azkals Alyansa’s saving grace in their 3-1 loss to the third division Spanish club.

The Azkals reinforced team, composed of members of the Philippine Azkals and the United Football League (UFL), showed tremendous effort against the Spanish team but could not off set CFIM’s passing game.
The Spaniards also put up a strong defense by clipping Azkals Alyansa’s scorers, particularly Filipino striker Chieffy Caligdong.

Rufino Sanchez struck the first goal for CFIM through a penalty kick.

The Spanish team was awarded the kick after Filipino goalkeeper Eduard Sacapano fouled Daniel Garcia Fernandez in the 15th minute.

CFIM hiked the lead to 2-0 in the 32nd minute as Garcia Fernandez scored on a counter attack against the Azkals Alyansa.

After the halftime break, the Spanish team surprised the Filipinos with a quick counter attack in the 45th minute.

CFIM’s Ignacio Buenache Feijoo scored the goal for a 3-0 advantage.

In the 61st minute, it was the Azkals Alyansa’s turn to strike back.

Younghusband scored on a header off a pass from Caligdong.

Winner of the game
Garcia Fernandez, who was chosen as the Best Player of the Game, said his team enjoyed playing against Azkals Alyansa.

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“We're very happy to have played the game, we enjoyed it very much…it was a difficult game,” he told ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo.

He added that the real winners in the charity game are the survivors of tropical storm Sendong.

“We're happy that we've won but of course the main winner here is the victims of [tropical storm] Sendong.

We're very happy to contribute,” said Garcia Fernandez.

The charity game was organized for the benefit of the victims of tropical storm Sendong, which ravaged southern Philippines last month.

At least 8,000 spectators watched the game at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

CFIM agreed to play against the Azkals Alyansa to help raise funds for the Sendong victims.

“Spain and the Philippines have a long standing relationship and a very close one... this is a great occasion for friendship renewal,” said Spanish Embassy Charge d' Affaires Maria Molina.

During the halftime break, Molina and CFIM president Stephen Newman turned over €10,000 (more than P550,000) to the Philippine Red Cross and the ABS-CBN Foundation for the benefit of the calamity victims in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City.

ABS-CBN Foundation Managing Director Gina Lopez is thankful for the Spanish Embassy’s role in bringing in CFIM.

“I want to thank the Spanish government, they paid for their fare to come here, and all the proceeds are going to the [Sendong] victims,” she said.

PFF thanks football fans

For his part, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano "Nonong" Araneta said he was grateful for the fans who trooped to Rizal Memorial Stadium just to watch the game.

“I want to thank all the fans who came today for supporting a good cause... in a way, football has contributed. We're very thankful for having given that opportunity," he said.

Araneta said the upcoming Azkals’ game against South Korea’s Icheon will also be for the benefit of Sendong victims.
"On January 21, we'll have a game against second division South Korea...the more we have games here, the more we can raise funds," he said.

source: ABS-CBN News