The Azkals, Philippines’ national soccer team, have made an official announcement to play against Guam’s national footballers in a media-hyped Philippine Independence Day exhibition match in Bacolod City, Philippines.
The official announcement is featured on the Azkals’ official Web site, www.azkalsfootballteam.com and was posted yesterday afternoon. The match will be played in the Panaad Stadium, where many Filipinos remember it as the site the Philippine national team defeated Mongolia 2-0 in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifier in Februrary of last year. The Azkals eventually secured third place in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup.
“The confirmation of this exhibition match comes at perfect timing, as the Guam men’s national team has been preparing since February this year for the upcoming East Asian Football Championship preliminary round here in Guam in July,” said head coach Gary J. White, a UEFA “A” License coach originally from England. “It will be the perfect stage for us to look at potential starting players, formations and strategies going into the EAFF tournament.
“We are grateful for Richard Lai, the Guam Football Association executives, and the Philippines Football Federation for putting together this match and assisting us in our preparation for the July tournament. I feel that we can learn so much from the Philippine team. We look forward to the challenge in the Philippines,” White added.
The Azkals moved up almost 20 places in FIFA World rankings in six months following its success in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup and the 2011 Long Teng Cup in Taiwan. Among those named to the squad to compete on June 12 include national team vice-captain Emelio Caligdong, the 2011 Long Teng Cup Golden Boot winner. Ian Araneta, the 2010 Long Teng Cup Golden Boot winner, has also been named to the squad. Other notable names include half-English Phil Younghusband and his brother James, half-Spanish Angel Guirado and half-German Denis Wolf. Jason De Jong who currently plays for FC Dordrecht in the Netherlands and was once called to play on Netherlands’ U19 national team, also is on the team.
The list, however, does not include captain Aly Borromeo. The Azkals are coached by Michael Weiss of Germany, according to the FIFA Web site.
Guam’s squad will feature U.S. collegiate soccer players, including Micah Paulino, who plays for the NCAA Division I Niagara University team and Jonahan Romero, a professional soccer player in the Philippines. Others, such as Joshua Borja and Ian Adamos, have returned to Guam to represent the island among Guam standouts like Jason Cunliffe and Ian Mariano.
White was most recently with Washington Youth Soccer as its technical director and oversaw the state’s elite player development program, selecting the best talent from over 130,000 registered players. White worked closely with the Seattle Sounders FC, a professional MLS team, while in Washington. White’s soccer career also includes head coach of the Bahamas, a team that shot up 55 FIFA World ranking places during his tenure.
White was most recently with Washington Youth Soccer as its technical director and oversaw the state’s elite player development program, selecting the best talent from over 130,000 registered players. White worked closely with the Seattle Sounders FC, a professional MLS team, while in Washington. White’s soccer career also includes head coach of the Bahamas, a team that shot up 55 FIFA World ranking places during his tenure.
While in the Philippines, the Guam national team also will train by playing matches against two professional club teams. To assist in realizing the trip to the Philippines, the men’s national team is currently seeking company sponsors. To make a contribution to help the men’s national team, please call Guam Football Association’s media and marketing officer, Jill Espiritu at 687-5530 or E-mail her atJill.Espiritu@gmail.com.
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