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Coach Norman demands full commitment |
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Tuesday, 18 March 2008 |
 By Jack Biantan
LONDON - RP national team manager Norman Fegidero is demanding full commitment of his players to the team so that success can be achieved in the coming Asian Challenge Cup elimination tournament in Iloilo city and Barotac Nuevo Iloilo.
`Without commitment, ability and talent are nothing. That is the only thing I ask for my players and that is the only way we can produce good results’, he said.
Coach Norman also announced that they will officially start the training camp in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo on Monday right after the holidays.
He describes his team as strong, made up of experienced veterans and spiced up with young but very talented skillful players.
`We have a good chance. This is not yet the final line-up. This is just the training pool. Some 26 made it to the pool from the more than 40 players who showed up for the tryouts. Only 23 will make it in the end’, he said.
Coach Norman included in the pool the two Filipino-British players Chris Greatwich and Phil Younghusband. Two other Fil-Foreign players are coming but he has still to see them play.
They are 19-year-old Everton reserve and another Fil-British James Hall and Fil-American Henry Brauner.
He wanted to include more Manila based veteran players but they begged off due to their jobs.
Coach Norman wanted to take on many time RP team regular Michael Casas as his no. 1 goalkeeper but the Cebuano keeper politely turned him down as he wants to earn his college degree from University of St. La Salle Bacolod.
Casas is now busy with his studies in USLS as he is fulfilling his residency so that he can start playing for the school this coming school year.
So instead, coach Norman named 34-year-old veteran Edmundo Mercado of the Philippine Air Force and another veteran the 29-year-old Edward Sacapano of the Philippine Army as his goalkeepers. He is still looking for another goalie.
He has also picked nine defenders for the pool led by veteran and many time national team member, the 26-year-old central defender Ali Borromeo of Kaya FC in Manila.
He said most of his defenders are big and strongmen specially the central defenders. The list includes US based 24-year-old Anton del Rosario, 26-year-old Alejandro Montelibano of Philippine Air Force, 19-year-old Jason Cordova of Far Eastern University, 22-year-old Antonio Albor of the Air Force, 24-year-old Jovel Bermejo also of the Air Force, 22-year-old Eduardo Gempisaw of Amlang Cotabato, and 25-year-old Joel Ballo-allo of West Negros College.
He said that Lemuel Unabia, a 19-year-old rookie from San Carlos city is a man to watch in the defense. He is solid, tall at 6ft2, and quick.
For midfielders, coach Norman has picked 23-year-old Fil-American Eddie Mallari from California, 26-year-old Armand del Rosario of Kaya FC, 19-year-old Ricardo Becete of the University of Sto. Thomas, 22-year-old Arnie Pasinabo of University of St. La Salle, 26-year-old Emilio Caligdong, 19-year-old Sobremesana of Far Eastern University, 23-year-old Peter Jaugan of Amlang Cotabato, and 24-year-old Robert Canedo of West Negros College.
For his strikers, Fil-Brits 22-year-old Phil Younghusband and 26-year-old Chris Greatwich lead the pack. They also have 28-year-old Ian Araneta of the Philippine Air Force, 24-year-old Ruben Doctora of Barotac Nuevo, and 21-year-old Meliton Pelayo of University of St. Thomas.
Coach Norman is also impressed by a young sensational striker from Barotac Nuevo, 17-year-old Joven Bedic. `He has been very impressive during the tryouts and might make it to the team if he continues his form during the training camp’, he said.
Training camp will start Monday in Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo. The Azkals might the play tune-up games against different local teams from the different cities in Visayas and Mindanao.
Organizers of the Cebu National Inter-Club championships, the Cebu Amatuer Football Club (CAFC) , are thinking of inviting the Azkals for their week long tournament set on April 27-May 4 which is two weeks before the tournament in Iloilo.
According to coach Norman, the tune-up games are also good to try the players and then find more talents for the future.
He added that he is preparing the players this long because he wants the players to be fit and he wants them to develop team work so that they can win against their opponents in the AFC tournament.
Coach Norman is also getting support from his assistants. Helping him out during the training camp are Philippine Air Force coach Edwin Cabalida, Lyod Lim of the University of the East, and Rolando Pinero of Philippine Air Force.
Veteran RP team campaigner Melo Sabacan of the Philippine Navy is the goalkeeping coach.
After the ACC, regardless of the results, coach Norman will implement a program that will help improve the national team. He said that he will follow-up and continue the training of the Visayas and Mindanao based nationals while his assistants who are all based in Manila will take care of the Manila based players.
`This program will benefit players who are studying and working. They should not leave their studies and their jobs. We will help them stay in school and keep their jobs’, he said.
Coach Norman is considered a hero in Philippine Football after his exploits with the past national teams as a player. Now as a coach, it seems that the Azkals are in good hands.
Training Camp Roster
GOALKEEPERS
Edmundo Mercado, Edward Sacapano.
DEFENDERS
Ali Borromeo, Anton del Rosario, Alejandro Montelibano, Jason Cordova, Antonio Albor, Jovel Bermejo, Eduardo Gempisaw, Joel Ballo-allo, Lemuel Unabia.
MIDFIELDERS
Eddie Mallari, Armand del Rosario, Ricardo Becete, Arnie Pasinabo, Emilio Caligdong, Sobremesana, Peter Jaugan, Robert Canedo, Pasilan.
FORWARDS
Chris Greatwich, Phil Younghusband, Ian Araneta, Ruben Doctora, Meliton Pelayo, Joven Bedic.
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