SINGAPORE – Hindi ito ang katapusan ng Philippine Azkals matapos ang kanilang 0-1 kabiguan sa Singapore Lions sa second leg ng semifinal tie ng 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup kamakalawa ng gabi.
Ito ang sinabi ni German head coach Michael Weiss matapos ang pagkakasibak ng Azkals para sa ikalawang finals berth ng torneo.
“Only one team has to go home and unfortunately it’s us. It would have been a fantastic achievement if we got through but that’s the way it is...We have to move on, no time to cry or mourn,” ani Weiss.
Sa 19th minute umiskor ng goal ang Lions ga-ling kay Khairul Amri.
Sa pagbibigay ng tournament format ng halaga sa ‘away goals’ kung may mga tie sa goal aggregate, kailangan lamang ng Azkals na makatabla sa 1-0 iskor ng Lions para makapasok sa finals ng AFF Suzuki Cup.
“It’s one of those occasions when you have to be strong, to show eve-rybody that it’s not the end,” sabi ni team mana-ger Dan Palami sa Azkals na pumuwersa ng isang scoreless draw sa first leg ng kanilang semifinal tie ng Lions noong nakaraang Sabado sa Rizal Memorial Stadium sa Manila.
“But I think we went down fighting so it’s something the boys can be proud of. I will continue to support the team and make sure we get to move on. Maybe 2014 (the next Suzuki Cup) beckons for us. We have to prepare for that again,” dagdag pa nito.
Lumakas ang Azkals nang kumuha ng ilang high-caliber pros na naka-base sa Europe.
Nagtayo din ang Azkals ng mga training camps at nagsagawa ng mga friendly games sa buong taon.
“Any loss for me is tough but this one hurts a lot because this is what we’ve been preparing for. But to fold up now will be to even let the team down,” ani Palami.