After losing to Indonesia, 2-0, in our last group match in the World Cup qualifiers, the Philippine National Men’s Football Team, formerly known as the Azkals, is expected to focus its attention on the forthcoming AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup set to start in November and the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers in March next year.
Ever the optimist, I would always dwell on the positives of our last two games. Like the coming of new Azkals, who played well in the games against Vietnam and Indonesia. The negatives can wait and for sure coach Tom Saintfiet would be in the best position to address them. That’s why he is the coach and I’m just a fan.
The arrival of Zico Bailey, Alex Monis, Dylan Demunyck, Scott Woods and Adrian Ugelvik – playing with Santi Rublico, Jesper Nyholm, Michael Baldissimo – brought a fresh air to the team and hope to fans. We have a great team for the future.
While we marvel at the flashes of brilliance of the youth brigade and their potential, it was the group of elder statesmen of the team who made the biggest impact against Vietnam. Patrick Reichelt defied Father Time to score the opening goal for the Philippines. His post-goal celebration was perfect. Kevin Ingreso did his share, too, in the dying minutes of regulation, tying the game 2-2 against a shocked Vietnamese side.
It was just too bad that the host managed to salvage the win in stoppage time.
The team fought so hard in the game against Vietnam, but eventually lost because of a few seconds of lapse in judgment that the other side converted into goals.
Our lads, however, gave them a good fight. Unlike in thei r meeting in Manila that we lost, 2-0. Does this mean that the gap between Vietnam and the Philippines is closing when it comes to the beautiful game? I hope so.
The game against Indonesia was a different matter. The hosts came prepared, using six defenders that proved to be very difficult for the team to break. Our midfield also was checked throughout the game. May kasama pang “batok,” for lack of a better term, against Ugelvik by the Indonesian keeper that could have been a foul, but was not called. Ugelvik was carried off the pitch after his “unfortunate” collision with Ernando Ari.
This is aside from cutting down the power while the team was practicing a few nights before the actual game. Simpleng barubal lang.
During their away game here, the Philippine Football Federation graciously allowed Indonesia to actually practice at Rizal Memorial Stadium. Walang brownout.
But I’m digressing.
Despite the defeat, Saintfiet maintained the team can only grow. “I see a lot of young players who are eager to play with the right spirit,” he said after the loss at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
“The result will push us to work double time in strengthening our national men’s team coming to the ASEAN Championships in November and Asian Cup qualifiers in March 2025,” added John Gutierrez, PFF president.
On the positive side, the team has a promising core, and the PFF has the time to add more. We had several chances against Indonesia and even more against Vietnam, but Señor Reichelt can only do so much and the much hyped local player that we have tends to disappear during crucial international matches. The coaching staff also needs to address our midfield and backline. We can’t expect the youth brigade to instantly jell with a few practice sessions before big games.
But again on the more positive vibe, there are three FIFA windows before the Mitsubishi Electric Cup and I heard that friendlies are being arranged before the regional soccer event. If they do materialize, the friendly or tuneup games would greatly help the team get better.
There were calls to fire Saintfiet after the consecutive losses against Iraq, Vietnam and Indonesia. Give the guy a break. Give him the opportunity to assemble a really strong team by November. As it is, he has brought many changes in the team, many of which are positive. He has a young core that can only get better with time. Saintfiet has a longterm plan that goes beyond World and Asian Cup qualifiers. He is not going anywhere, too.
More importantly, give him time to score his first victory as the national coach of a very different national team.
A win streak in December will surely silence the doubters and the bandwagon fans.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
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