| Coach Norman wants victory |
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| Friday, 25 April 2008 | |||||||||||||||
 By Jack Biantan LONDON - WHEN coach Norman Fegidero go with the Azkals to Cebu on Friday night, he has only three things in his mind, win, win, win. According him in an interview with Pinoysoccer.com, they have to win in Cebu and eventually secure the three much needed victories over Brunei, Bhutan and Tajikistan in the Asian Challenge Cup Group 2 elimination tournament in Iloilo city in mid-May. “I like to win. My attitude is always like that. Every time I play football or if my team plays, victory is always in my mind, nothing less,’’ he said. Coach Norman is also positive right now and he considers his players are 80 per cent ready as of the moment. “I have seen them improved. I think they will be 100 per cent ready when the tournament starts,’’ he said. He is also happy with the performances of his players during the Visayas tour so far where they won against Foundation University 6-1 and a Dumageute selection in Dumaguete 6-1. They also won against a San Carlos city selection team 2-0 with goals from Chippy Caligdong and Giovanni Villagracia. Although he is still worried if the Filipino-Foreign players would jell with his local talents he is very glad that they have already started arriving at the training camp. Filipino-British Chad Gould of Wimbledon FC has already arrived so as US based brothers Anton del Rosario and Armand del Rosario. Central defender Ali Borromeo is also back in training after under going rehab in Manila for his injured knee. Everton midfielder James Hall is scheduled to leave for the Philippines on April 26 while Chelsea reserve Phil Younghusband on the 27th. Neil Etheridge of Fulham and Chris Greatwich of Bugnor Regis FC are still set to arrive in RP on the first week of May as their seasons in England will end during this time yet. “I hope they are fit when they arrive so that they will only need jell with the local players. Otherwise they will have a problem making the team,’’ Fegidero said. In spite of his reservations, coach Norman is still positive as they still have several days left for the Fil-Foreign players to practice with the team. “Hopefully by then they need only to learn our tactics,’’ he added. The entire RP training squad will leave for Cebu on Friday (April 25) night and will immediately conduct a football clinic with some 300 kids at the University of San Carlos Technology Centre grounds in Talamban on Saturday morning (April 26). They will then play against a selected Cebu team on Saturday afternoon. The next day April 27, the Azkals will then grace the opening of the 8th Cebu National Inter-Club championships also at the USC Talamban campus grounds and will play another friendly match against a selected Cebu team. On Monday, the Azkals will have a mall tour with football playing children from local schools to promote the ACC. They will then go back to their training camp in Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo in the evening to resume their training.
MikeH
said:
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| brainsalad, 3pm today and tomorrow. |
brainsalad
said:
| I'm confident that they'll be able to overpower the Cebu Selection. Surely it would be a great game to watch. Btw, anyone here knows what time will the match on start April 26 and 27th? |
footballer
said:
| they should win, win, win! it will a shame losing to a local team. they must be confident of themself and be determine. if they lose their fucos, the will surely not win. |
Reddevil
said:
| Correct Mike, anything less than big victories will be considered a failure. With all due respect to the Cebu All Stars. This is statement making time and there must be a belief with Filipino fans all over that the team will be favorites in May. I do hope the Fil brits play but I am also in the same mind that they have to earn the right to don the Blue shirt. Some people are giving them too much leeway even without seeing them play yet. If its going to disrupt the team chemistry and possibly cost us the game, then they should sit. Over the years, Ive seen Coach Norman play and I dont think there is a more fierce competitor out there. He just brings this positive attitude on the team whenever he plays. I just hope it rubs off on the players. |
Dominique
said:
| this is great! I hope everything goes well... as fro the players gelling with the team... i think its not really a thing to worry... We, Filipinos are a bit regionalistic but then when it comes to national goal and cause... we become solid... so God bless the Azkals! |
MikeH
said:
| They SHOULD win in Cebu, nothing less is expected i think. Some of the fil-foreigners have arrived and i hope they will play in Cebu. |
