Mongolians arrive in Bacolod monday for match vs. Azkals

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — Team Mongolia is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup 2012 qualifying match against the Philippines' Azkals on February 9 at the Panaad Stadium, according to the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

PFF local organizing committee chairman Red Avelino said the Mongolian delegation consists of at least 20, including players and five coaching staff.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said his team would be complete with the arrival of the other players, among them, goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and midfielder Jason de Jong, who are set to arrive today to join their teammates.

While expressing confidence that the Azkals have a good chance of beating Mongolia, Palami said the players are expected to play their best regardless of who their opponents are.

German coach Michael Weiss also said better team preparation is needed now as they neither have any idea nor have seen any video footage of how the team Mongolia plays. "What is important is that the Azkals will play a high-level game to beat Mongolia on February 9," he said.

 The Azkals, yet with its incomplete lineup, on Thursday played its second friendly game against Iloilo-based South Korean booters playing for Central Philippine University after being held to a 4-4 draw in its Monday game with the Negros Selection "Azukals." 

The Azkals, in its tuneup matches in preparations for its game against Mongolia, later routed the Korean players of CPU of Iloilo with a 4-1 score despite the absence of its powerful forward Phil Younghusband.  

The national team's Simon Greatwich and Ian Araneta shut out the Koreans with two goals within 44 minutes of the first half. Minutes after the start of the second half however CPU's Gyung Sik Choi scored to threaten the Azkals at 2-1.

Weiss admitted that his players at times feel complacent on its strength and he wanted them "to wake up." He added that the team's new players are James and Ryan Alonte Garrucho Hall, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Caraga.

“At their young age, they are ready to be deployed. They can also be a strong backbone for our team in the SEA Games,” Weiss said. (FREEMAN)