Baguio is a little like England – Phil
source: Francis Santiago | mb.com.ph
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — When the Philippine Azkals leave for Ulan Bator, Mongolia next month for their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying rematch against the Blue Wolves, the weather conditions there may not be as freezing as earlier reported.
Azkals head coach Hans Michael Weiss told the Bulletin Wednesday that when they play on March 15, the weather could just be a little colder than this City, site of their high-altitude training, where temperature dips to as low as 13 degrees Celsius.
The 43-year-old German said he got the information from a Japanese friend, who is a reporter based in Mongolia.
“I’m not a meteorologist, but he (Japanese) told me the weather there may just be zero degrees celcius (or freezing point) by the time we play there next month because the condition there is a lot warmer than the previous years,” Weiss said. “But of course, it constantly changes, so we should follow that up.”
Still, Weiss said they are preparing for the worst. Team manager Dan Palami earlier said the match is set at 1 p.m., the warmest temperature in Mongolia at -10 degrees.
Comparing their training in Bacolod City for their first match with Mongolia last month and their stay here, Weiss said the team finds more “peace” in the country’s summer capital.
“I like also in Bacolod, but it’s different here. We have more privacy and we don’t have to take more photos and autographs unlike in Bacolod where hundreds of female fans jump into our elevator in the hotel,” Weiss said during the Kapihan Sa Baguio earlier in the day at the Baguio Country Club.
But right after the press conference, the team was mobbed by hotel employees and fans on their way to the personally-designed Azkals Bus, which brought them to the Baguio City Hall for courtesy call with Mayor Mauricio Domogan.
Time seemed to have stopped when they arrived at the capitol as traffic stopped and government employees got out of their offices and welcomed the Azkals like rock stars, greeting them with flashes of cameras on their way to the Mayor’s Office, where Domogan handed the team the traditional City key as part of the welcome rites.
“It (Baguio) reminds me of England in some ways,” said Fil-British striker Phil Younghusband, appearing alongside his brother, James, skippers Aly Borromeo and Chieffy Caligdong and striker Ian Araneta and the rest of the team in the same press briefing.
Against the Blue Wolves, Younghusband said they plan to attack more than in their first meeting, which the Filipinos won, 2-0. The Azkals need only a draw in the Mongolia match to advance to the group stage.
"Chances are very good. With two goals up, we'll press more on our offense because they will open up on their defense since they will try to score," Younghusband said.
The Azkals were playing the Baguio-Benguet Football Association team in an exhibition match at press time at the Benguet State University.
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — When the Philippine Azkals leave for Ulan Bator, Mongolia next month for their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying rematch against the Blue Wolves, the weather conditions there may not be as freezing as earlier reported.
Azkals head coach Hans Michael Weiss told the Bulletin Wednesday that when they play on March 15, the weather could just be a little colder than this City, site of their high-altitude training, where temperature dips to as low as 13 degrees Celsius.
The 43-year-old German said he got the information from a Japanese friend, who is a reporter based in Mongolia.
“I’m not a meteorologist, but he (Japanese) told me the weather there may just be zero degrees celcius (or freezing point) by the time we play there next month because the condition there is a lot warmer than the previous years,” Weiss said. “But of course, it constantly changes, so we should follow that up.”
Still, Weiss said they are preparing for the worst. Team manager Dan Palami earlier said the match is set at 1 p.m., the warmest temperature in Mongolia at -10 degrees.
Comparing their training in Bacolod City for their first match with Mongolia last month and their stay here, Weiss said the team finds more “peace” in the country’s summer capital.
“I like also in Bacolod, but it’s different here. We have more privacy and we don’t have to take more photos and autographs unlike in Bacolod where hundreds of female fans jump into our elevator in the hotel,” Weiss said during the Kapihan Sa Baguio earlier in the day at the Baguio Country Club.
But right after the press conference, the team was mobbed by hotel employees and fans on their way to the personally-designed Azkals Bus, which brought them to the Baguio City Hall for courtesy call with Mayor Mauricio Domogan.
Time seemed to have stopped when they arrived at the capitol as traffic stopped and government employees got out of their offices and welcomed the Azkals like rock stars, greeting them with flashes of cameras on their way to the Mayor’s Office, where Domogan handed the team the traditional City key as part of the welcome rites.
“It (Baguio) reminds me of England in some ways,” said Fil-British striker Phil Younghusband, appearing alongside his brother, James, skippers Aly Borromeo and Chieffy Caligdong and striker Ian Araneta and the rest of the team in the same press briefing.
Against the Blue Wolves, Younghusband said they plan to attack more than in their first meeting, which the Filipinos won, 2-0. The Azkals need only a draw in the Mongolia match to advance to the group stage.
"Chances are very good. With two goals up, we'll press more on our offense because they will open up on their defense since they will try to score," Younghusband said.
The Azkals were playing the Baguio-Benguet Football Association team in an exhibition match at press time at the Benguet State University.
Read more »
Download my toolbar and get updates faster
Bookmark my site, thanks
Download my toolbar and get updates faster
Bookmark my site, thanks
.jpg)
.png)
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment