Prepare for SEAG, POC chief tells PFF

MANILA, Philippines - While the Azkals are looking forward to the second round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, the Philippine Football Federation should start preparing for the 26th SEA Games slated in Indonesia in November.

“They should look for players 23 years and below because the coming SEA Games is for below-23 players,” said Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco.

“But they should continue with what they’re doing for the Azkals. They are working a lot better as a team now,” he said.

The POC chief said he was impressed with the Azkals performance last Sunday when they clobbered the Sri Lankans, 4-0, before a wet and wild crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The victory sent the Azkals to the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the next World Cup, and up next is the tougher assignment against Kuwait on July 23 and 28.

It marked the first time that the country advanced to the second round of the World Cup qualifiers, and the Azkals are being toasted as the biggest thing that happened to Philippine football.

“I like the way they defended. They really made it very difficult for the Sri Lankans. And they all looked tough,” said Cojuangco.

“But what’s important now is we keep the same caliber and at the same time look for below-23 players for the coming SEA Games,” he added.

Of the present team, only a couple of players are eligible for the SEA Games, including Simon Greatwich and Jason de Jong. But based on the previous SEA Games rules, teams are allowed two players older than 23.

“First, they should continue what they’re doing. You can feel the team spirit in them. It shows in the field,” said Cojuangco of the Azkals.

But he hoped that the Azkals can perform at such a high level even on foreign soil because when they played the Sri Lankans in Colomboa last week, the match ended in a draw.

The same thing happened during the AFC Challenge Cup when the Azkals went to Mongolia and lost their away match, 2-1, before scoring a 2-0 home win in Bacolod.

“The hometown support last Sunday was unbelievable. Even when it started raining hard, not one fan left the stadium,” said Cojuangco.

Now he can only wish that the other NSAs (national sports associations) will deliver like the Azkals.

“I hope the other can do the same. Because if you present the sport well, the people will really come,” said Cojuangco.