Azkals, Nepal side face off

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals battle Nepal tonight at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, seeking to put a better showing than their previous international friendly against Singapore that ended in a 0-2 loss.

“I hope and pray for a good match, for a very good outcome against this team,” Azkals coach Michael Weiss said of the visiting Gorkhalis (135th in the world) during yesteday’s press-conference for the Fifa-sanctioned friendly.

Although it is called a friendly, the Azkals-Nepal match is an official match, according to local organizing committee coordinator Kathy Rivilla.

“A lot of people think it’s a no-bearing game, an exhibition game but actually it’s not. It’s an international “A” match whose results will have a bearing on the countries’ standing,” said Rivilla.

The Azkals (166th) enter the 7 p.m. match smarting from that setback to the Lions, which Weiss actually considered a good result considering Europe-based players joined the team only a day before the game plus the talent of Singapore XI (136th).

“Despite the loss and negative outcome of the game, I think we should be patient here and take these matches seriously. Of course, considering the result but more in keeping with our team trying to develop, give them time to play together to be stronger,” Weiss said.

The Azkals will miss Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado, who injured his right foot against Singapore. But they will welcome back Fil-British defender Rob Gier, who was absent against the Lions, while Ian Araneta is likely to play despite a calf injury from the Singapore setto.

Weiss expects a tough stand from the visiting Gorkhalis, who earlier held their own in a 0-1 loss to North Korea in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers, and fought Jordan to a 1-1 draw in the second leg of their World Cup Asian Qualifiers second round after a 0-9 blowout in the first leg.

“I think it will be a very tight match,” Weiss said. “It will not just be a passers-by match as Nepal has had a very good preparation. If you have the team together everyday for two or three months, that’s different than our team. So we have to be very careful about against counterattack and we have prepared for a tough match.”

Phl XI and Nepal last played in the King’s Cup in Thailand in 1982, with the Nepalese prevailing, 1-0. They hope to repeat this 29 years later.

According to Nepal’s British coach Graham Roberts, Nepal is a youthful side, with an average age of 22, but is working hard bidding to win the South Asia Football Federation crown. The Gorkhalis have had rigorous training for the last two months.

“We will play for the win,”said Roberts.

Nepal’s game against Jordan, a possible World Cup entrant, shows the Nepalese’s potential, said Weiss.

“Despite the loss to Jordan, you see glimpse of good football,” he said. “I expect Nepal to be very stubborn and resistent and we have to be prepared, very careful against their counterattack.”

Notes: Rob Gier and the rest of the Fil-foreigners in the Azkals are getting annoyed by questions about their Filipino roots. “We’re not naturalized players. One of our parents is Filipino. We have the same blood as every Filipino and for people to not to recognize us as Filipinos is highly-disrespectful,” he said when asked about the Azkals’ “naturalized” players.