Azkals: Weiss torn between team, family in Japan

by Peter Atencio | http://www.manilastandardtoday.com

EVEN as Philippine Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss buckles down to serious work in prepping up the nationals for the Group Stage of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in Myanmar, he also worries about his family he left in earthquake-stricken Japan.

Weiss’ wife is a Japanese, who lives in Osaka with their two children and Weiss’ mother, and while he worries about them, he also understands that he has a job to do as Azkals coach.

The German coach, who steered the nationals to a 2-0 blanking of Mongolia last Feb. 9, which proved to be enough of a cushion after they suffered a 1-2 setback in the second of their two-game, home-and-away series against the Blue Wolves in Ulan Bator, is faced with the difficult task of refocusing the Azkals for the tough grind ahead.

“The boys had a one-day off and will train intensively today. Tomorrow (today) is travel day and the main training is on Sunday, with all players together on the day before the match,” said Weiss.

The Azkals were back in training yesterday at the University of Makati grounds, a day before leaving for Myanmar today.

Weiss last saw his family when the team practiced in Gotemban. He tried to get them out of Japan in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake, but his responsibility as coach prevented him from doing so.

The German coach has been multi-tasking since arriving here from Mongolia, training the Azkals while trying to coordinate the evacuation of his family from Osaka via e-mail, phone calls and other means through the help of friends and relatives.

“Japan...it’s a a very hard and sad story. My family is still there, but the kids will fly out on Monday with my mother ,who was there for a vacation. My wife, later,” Wess said.

Weiss hopes to be reunited with his family after the weeklong Group Stage tournament in Myanmar. His two kids will be the first to fly in to Germany on Monday, the same day that the Azkals clash with the Myanmar White Angels.

Weiss implemented some changes in the team, dropping veterans Joebel Bermejo, Reymark Palmes, Jerry Barbaso and Kim Relucio and midfielder Peter Jaugan from the roster.

Phil Younghusband, who is injured, has to be sidelined at least for the game against Myanmar or until doctors give him the go-signal to play.

In their place, Weiss has put in University of Santo Tomas Tigers, David Basa and Yannick Tuason, Fil-Germans William Espinosa and Patrick Hinrichsen, and Fil-Spanish Angel Aldeguer Guirado.

With Fil-Briton goalkeeper Neil Etheridge back in the team as its main goalie, Weiss is confident the Azkals can compete against their groupmates in Myanmar.

The nationals are currently ranked 150th in the world, while host Myanmar’s is ranked 161st.

Bangladesh, he Azkals’ next opponent, is ranked 174th while Palestine, which the nationals play last, is at no. 177.

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