They say that a win won’t right things in an instant. This may be true in most things, but for one night in Thailand, a win is everything for a national football team desperate to break a 10-game winless streak.
Playing just its second game under new coach Albert Capellas, the Philippine Men’s National Football Team ended a 13-month win drought after beating Tajikistan, 3-0, in the 50th King’s Cup at the Tinsulanon Stadium in Songkhla Province, Thailand. The win gave the team the bronze medal in the tournament and a payback against Tajikistan, which beat them in the Merdeka Cup a few weeks back.
The team, formerly known as the original Azkals, last won a game against Afghanistan, a 2-1 victory last September 2023. After which the nightmare began. A string of seven losses against Iraq (twice), Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tajikistan and Thailand. The team drew with Indonesia, 1-1, last November 21, 2023.
They lost their opening game against Thailand, 3-1, in the King’s Cup. The Pinoy squad held its own against the vaunted War Elephants for the first 20 minutes of the game until the deluge, literally happened. Even the best coach in the world would find it difficult to do something against a floating pitch after the heavy rains. The team’s almost perfect start, literally, was drowned in the drains. But then again, as someone commented after the match, we should end finding reasons why our team lost again. Point taken, so we will not go there anymore.
Despite the big loss, Bjorn Kristensen provided a glimpse at the future for netting the country’s lone goal. The team also showed that it has the promise of winning big games in the future.
Then came the game against Tajikistan. With no flooded pitch to worry about, it was the Philippines’ turn to make it rain, with goals, of course.
Gerrit Holtmann scored the first goal with a screamer at the 47th minute to open the scoring parade in the final period after a scoreless 0-0 score in the opening half. Jeff Tabinas followed it up with a header in the 58th minute, before Zico Bailey opened his account with the national team with a strike, completing the scoring barrage for the Philippines in the 62nd minute.
It was the first win of the national team under the PFF administration. It was also the first win for new coach Albert Capellas in just two games. A feat that his two previous predecessors failed to achieve, that is to win a game for the country.
But more than ending a string of losses and bad runs, on a good night with the current crop of players that are on the squad right now, the Philippines can go toe-to-toe with anyone. It is expected to boost team manager Freddy Gonzalez’s recruitment of other Filipino standouts playing overseas to come home for flag and country.
Holtmann was worth the hype and wait. He brings world-class quality to the squad. Just imagine if he could have played more games for us after his stint in Mongolia. Kirstensen gives the team the extra offense that we lacked in the past. Jeff and Paul Tabinas are both amazing workhorses on the pitch. We can’t also question their passion to play for the national team. The other members of the team also made their contributions. Nick and Anthony Markanich are not yet on the team.
If the team could play more tuneup games before the Mitsubishi Electric Cup in late November, then the problems of unfamiliarity with each other could be addressed ahead of the tournament that really matters.
We have a good team and with many more prospects being invited to don the national colors, the team could only improve further. We indeed have so much to hope for. The win against Tajikistan could be the start of a win streak that our team is really capable of and much deserving to do so.
In another good turn of events, the Philippine Azkals finished second in the Asia 7s Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Azkals suffered their only loss in the tournament, a 2-1 defeat to defending champion Japan in the finals at the EV Arena Elmina in Shah Alam.
The Azkals practically annihilated their opponents on their route to the finals. Except for a close and heated 4-3 win against host Malaysia, the Azkals, bannered by former national team mainstays and local football icons Misagh Bahadoran, Stephan Schrock, Mark Hartmann and Daisue Sato with Hamed Hajimahdi calling the shots, posted lopsided wins against Hong Kong (twice) and India.
Here is hoping that the Azkals’ good run in the Asia 7s Championship will spark and renew interest in the 7 a-side version of the sport in the country.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at erel_cabatbat@yahoo.com or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat
