COACH WEISS HOPES TO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR NORTH KOREA TO SCORE AGAINST THE PHILIPPINE AZKALS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 Mar 2012
Michael Weiss.
Well aware that defending AFC Challenge Cup champions North Korea is the team to beat having World Cup experience, coach Michael Weiss?s tactic when the Philippine Azkals face them in their first match on Friday is ?to make it very tight for them and very difficult to score.?
Weiss told the Manila Standard from Kathmandu that the arrival of Paul Mulders late Tuesday night and No.1 goalkeeper Neil Etheridge on Wednesday had lifted the spirits of the team and they had what Weiss described as ?a very good practice? even as a very tired Mulders responded well by training like it was normal.
Weiss said the encounter with North Korea ?is a very tough match. We watched their workout against Tajikistan but two of their players will not be here and are committed to play in the German league and the Japanese league but they have other good players with mastery and its high-paced football. They are running and when you see them they look like machines.?
The German coach noted that in football terms ?we are a small country which is growing and getting better and better and this is one step in the whole process.?
Weiss said the Azkals team spirit ?Is super. We have no problems and have a very good well-balanced group now. Before it was a little bit of American and English influence but now we have Spanish, German and everything together with everybody mingling and having good communication with each other. I really like it. Hope they can transform it on to the pitch.?
He revealed that sparkplug Chieffy Calidong who has recovered from an injury ?will not be in the starting eleven against North Korea because I want the others to run and bring him in later in the second half.?
Weiss admitted that the goal of the Philippines is to win against Tajikistan and India, two previous ?Challenge Cup? winners and qualify for the semi finals.
Defending champions North Korea are firm favorites to win but they are expected to face a tough challenge from Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Palestine who have had some strong performances in the build-up to the Challenge Cup which included a 3-0 win over Azerbaijan in Dubai.
India returns to competitive action in Nepal for the first time in 13 years following their gold medal victory in the 1999 South Asian Federation Games but reports from Nepal indicate their confidence has been slightly shaken by the retirement of 2008 Challenge Cup Most Valuable Player Baichung Bhutia, injuries to some key players and a series of disappointing results in friendly matches.
Host nation Nepal is expecting a capacity crowd at the Dashrath Stadium for the opening match of the young side led by coach Graham Roberts while the Philippines and Maldives are considered outsiders looking to upset the form book and claim a berth in the semi finals.
The match between the Philippine Azkals and North Korea will be telecast "live'' on ABS-CBN Studio 23 beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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