Phil Azkals kayang makipagsabayan

MANILA, Philippines – Hindi patatalo ang Phi­lippine Azkals sa foot­ball kung talento ang pag-uusapan laban sa Vietnam, Thailand at Indonesia.

Pero nakakaangat pa rin sa Pilipinas ang mga na­banggit na bansa.

“Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia have strong league so this is a big ad­van­tage for them. We can only develop our players a little bit. We can put something together but the main work needs to be in their clubs and I think that’s a big advantage for other South East Asian teams,” wika ni German-Ame­rican coach Thomas Dooley.

Kinalaban ng Azkals ang War Elephants ng Thai­land kagabi sa pani­mulang laro sa kanilang 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup se­mifinals sa Rizal Memorial Football pitch.

Tangka ng home team na tapusin ang 42 taon na kamalasan sa mga Thais, isang pangyayari na hindi ikinagulat ni Dooley.

“Thailand did an ex­cel­lent job in developing their players and a great league the past years and we didn’t do it over here that’s why they won against us all the time,” paliwanag ni Dooley.

“But right now, our team has developed in the last years and we played good football and you saw it against Indonesia. From the skills that they (Azkals) have, we can compete against anybody,” dagdag nito.

Kailangang manalo ng Azkals sa War Elephants para maiusad ang isang paa tungo sa pagtuntong sa kauna-unahang Suzuki Cup Finals matapos ang ikatlong sunod na taon na pag-abante sa semifinals.