Azkals coach Dooley awaits renewal of contract
Philippine Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley’s contract renewal still hangs in the balance despite steering the national men’s football team to its first-ever Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup appearance.
Dooley’s contract is set to expire today, four days after the national squad clinched a berth in the Asian Cup 2019 with a 2-1 win over Tajikistan.
Team manager Dan Palami said the decision would be based not only on that historic Tuesday night triumph at the Rizal Memorial Stadium but also on the overall performance of the American mentor since 2014.
“As I’ve said, it would be unfair to just base it on this game. This is a big result for us but we’ll take a holistic approach. It’s difficult to make commitments when you’re really happy. We have to approach that objectively and see where we want to go,” said Palami.
“We could be with him (Dooley) of course. He contributed a lot. But I’d rather not say for now,” he added.
Dooley began coaching the Azkals in 2014. The former US football team skipper led the PH team to the finals of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014, wherein an Asian Cup berth was at stake. The Philippines missed the big dance after losing to Palestine, 0-1.
Following their failed campaign in the Challenge Cup, midfielder Stephan Shrock and defender Dennis Cagara resigned from the national team, stating that they left because of Dooley.
“As long as Coach Dooley will lead the team, I won’t wear the jersey of Azkals again,” said Shrock through Twitter and Facebook.
“Dooley is also the reason why I won’t play for the Azkals for the moment,” said Cagara via Twitter as well.
The World Cup veteran got his contract extended for another two years in 2016, the same year that the country co-hosted the AFF Suzuki Cup with Myanmar. The Azkals bowed out early during the group stage after a 0-1 home defeat to Thailand.
Now that he guided the national team to an unbeaten run in the Asian Cup qualifier en route to a qualification to the main tournament, Dooley is hopeful that he will be given another chance to mentor the Azkals.
“Next is, I hope I get a new contract,” he said. “We’ve planned already. I’ve been looking ahead about what we’re going to do,” added Dooley, who holds a 21-12-17 overall win-draw-loss record as Azkals coach.
Meanwhile, Palami is contemplating on taking another role in the country’s football program.
After getting the team to the Asian Cup, I’ll have to look up for maybe another role for me in Philippine football. It’s been a long journey. My children are complaining that I might not have inheritance left for them,” he said in jest. “But it’s a happy culmination of all the heartaches.”
Since 2010, Palami has been the Azkals’ primary backer. He gained the Filipino football fans’ admiration after the Philippines pulled off a 2-0 upset against host Vietnam and advanced to the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 knockout phase. It eventually became known as the “Miracle of Hanoi”.
Palami’s undying support continued even after the national squad struggled to sustain the momentum from then on. The Azkals patron’s hard work paid off following their remarkable entry into the Asian Cup next year in United Arab Emirates.
“It makes everything worth it. Sometimes you look at your bank account and then you just think at night if it’s all worth it. These are the kinds of moments that make everything worth it.”
Palami though wants to veer his focus away from the national team in the future.
“After being with this team from 2010 to 2018 and now to the 2019 Asian Cup, I’ll have to evaluate as well my role in Philippine football. Maybe in grassroots, I don’t know. I have to think about that,” he said.
But before leaving the seniors team, Palami has a one dream left for the Azkals.
“I want (the Philippines) to be the Iceland in Asian Cup. We’re not going there just to participate. We’re going there to compete and with us fully prepared. We want to make sure that we make an impact in the Asian stage.”
SEA Games Aug 17, 2017
After wins in their first games mens and Womens Football both had losses. The Philippines
mens team went down to Indonesia 3-0, whereas the women where beaten 3-0 by Vietnam.
After no medals on Day 4 and ye to win a gold the Philippines drops to 7th place.
2017 SEA Games Day 2 - Men’s and Women’s Philippines Football win opening Games.
Aug 15, 2017
The Philippines had a 2-0 first game win over Cambodia in their first match of the 2017 SEA
Games. The Competition is restricted for athletes under 22 years of age. Strong second half
goals from Reymart Cubon and Fil-Japanese Kouichi Belgira. The goals came in the 52nd
and 81st Minute. Giving the Philippines a handy 3 points in the bank. The Cambodians had
been promised $1000 USD each by their Prime Minister for a win.
Women’s Football made a return to the 2015 SEA Games after not being include in the
program. Meanwhile the Philippines Maldita’s also took a handy win over hosts Malaysia 2-
1.
Meanwhile the Philippines was pummelled in the Women’s Netball. Going down 86 to 16
against the Thai’s.
source: http://sports.inquirer.net/260784/sea-games-ph-blanks-cambodia-mens-football
2015 SEA Games
The Philippines pummeled in Football
The Philippines were crushed 3-1 by unheralded Cambodia in their second match for the
SEA Games. The more aggressive Khmers took advantage of the Filipino’s who were leaving
them unmarked for large periods of the game. The only goal for the Philippines came from
striker Paolo Salenga from Global FC at 53 minutes. Cambodia’s goals came from Mony
Udom Prak, Sokpheng KEO, and Vathanaka CHAN at 30′ 41′ and 81′ minutes into the game.
The Philippines cannot lose another one of his three games if it wants to remain in the
competition.
The Philippines lost 1-0 against Singapore in its first round match. Singapore’s only goal
came from defender Sheikh Abdul Hadi Othman. The 23 year old plays for Young Lions FC
in the Singapore League.
RESULTS
2014 Milo Finals Football Elem
Malditas to SEA Games and 2013 World Rankings in Women’s Football SEA Nations
The Philippine Malditas, bannered by seasoned international campaigners and highly-touted new recruits, expressed confidence of a strong showing in the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar in December.
One of the few teams to make the criteria set by the SEAG Task Force, the Malditas are expected to field the “strongest team ever” for the biennial tournament.
“We’re hoping we can do our best during the SEA Games and prove to everybody that Philippine football belongs in the SEA Games,” said Malditas coach Ernie Nierras at the launching of telecommunications giant Globe’s sponsorship of the team.
The Malditas are left to carry the cudgels for PH football, after the Under-23 Azkals failed to make the grade.
Apart from the core of the team that impressed in the AFC Asian Women’s Cup Qualifying early this year, Nierras said the Malditas will also have a 5-foot-10 striker in Natalia Anderson.
http://sports.inquirer.net/124963/malditas-confident-of-strong-seag-showing
http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/future-is-bright-for-malditas-despite-falling-short-of-womens-asian-cup
South East Nations Women’s Football Rankings
.
#28 Vietnam 1654pts
#31 Thailand 1635pts
#43 Myanmar 1550pts
#75 Philippines 1297pts
#77 Laos 1293pts
#79 Malaysia 1269pts
#86 Singapore 1180pts
#120 Indonesia 1346pts (inactive for 18 months and not ranked)
http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/women/afc-womens-asian-cup-2014.html
Related articles
Myanmar to build new sports university in NaypyidawSEA Games 2013 - FOOTBALL Malditas even lucky to win a Bronze
Earlier on I had already provided evidence in an article and research that the Women’s Football Team the Malditas would be lucky to win a bronze medal. So how to justify sending a team of 20 which had hardly played together as a team. They came from different teams from overseas a lot of them.
I noted here the Malditas were ranked 5th in South East Asia. Not surprisingly the Malditas recorded a 2-0 lost to host Myanmar and a 7-0 loss to Vietnam the SEA#3 and #1 ranked teams for 2013.
What does it take to win a World Cup?
By Gabrille Marcotti
There are 209 nations affiliated to FIFA and yet, in the past 50 years, 20 of the 24 teams that have reached the World Cup final have come from only five nations: Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. Together with Spain, France and England, they are the only nations to have reached a final since Ringo Starr replaced Pete Best in a band called The Beatles.
Is there a common thread? Is there a recipe to success? And, if so, what are the ingredients?
Of the factors that contribute, none is, necessarily, a prerequisite. But the more of the seven ingredients below you have in your shopping cart, the more likely you are to win a World Cup.
