Etheridge mentor to boost Phl bid

BANGKOK – Neil Etheridge couldn’t join the Azkals for this AFF Suzuki Cup campaign but his Swiss goalkeeping coach, Pascal Zuberbühler, is on hand to help Azkals custodians Ed Sacapaño and Ref Cuaresma do the job while pinch-hitting for him.

“I was coach of Neil for three years in Fulham and I met him there. Unfortunately, he’s not here,” said Zuberbühler, who arrived Thursday afternoon and immediately sat down with Sacapaño and Cuaresma for chats and some video sessions. 

He joined the team in their afternoon training yesterday, a day before the Azkals kick off their campaign against the hosts.

“The situation is like this. The tournament is now and they play tomorrow (today). I’m not coming here to say move here, or dive like this. I can’t change that and I won’t. For the goalkeeper, it’s very important he has confidence in himself,” Zuberbühler said.

“I will help the (local) goalkeeping coach (assistant coach) Edsel Bracamonte) train the goalkeepers. He’s right foot, I’m left foot, and we can help them see things from both sides,” he added.

Zuberbühler, a World Cupper who had 51 caps for the Swiss national team, will be with the Azkals, initially for the Suzuki Cup group stages.

“After this, I’ll go to Fulham for training with Neil for one or two weeks. If Phl is still in the finals, of course, I’d like to be back. This is a new experience for me, I’ve heard and read a lot about Phl football’s unbelievable growth,” he said.

In events like these when Etheridge is unavailable and homegrown players need to step in, Zuberbühler batted for developing goalkeepers and giving them special focus.

“They (Phl) should do more for goalkeeper, not just concentrate on training the group. The goalkeeper is like a coach, you’re the last person in the field. I also heard that in the Phl, No. 1 sport is basketball and tall people are playing it there. It would help if you have keeper that’s a little bit taller, too,” he said.