Azkals
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals are nearly complete with the arrival of Fil-British Neil Etheridge from England Sunday as football fever continues to sweep Bacolod City, site of the Feb. 9 opener of the home-and-away AFC Challenge Cup qualifying match between the Azkals and Mongolia. Etheridge, a first team member of Fulham Football Club in the English Premiere, played an instrumental role in the Azkals' amazing semifinal finish in the Suzuki Cup last December as a goal keeper. Patrick Ace Bright, the national team coordinator, said Etheridge will immediately join training with the Azkals, alongside defender Ray Johnsson who arrived Satruday night. Fil-British Robert Gier planes in tomorrow, the same day the Mongolian team touches down. "There are a lot of support that has grown over the months in the Philippines. Obviously, basketball is the number one sport over there. But we, myself, and the other Filipinos playing for the team, want to change it. Football is the world's number one sport, and we want it to continue over there (Philippines)," Etheridge was quoted as saying in a recent interview. The Azkals have been training twice a day, hoping to win against the little-known Mongolian side and continue the sport's surge in popularity brought about by their recent success in the Suzuki Cup. Last Thursday, more than 3,000 fans watched the Azkals' tune up game against a Korean-reinforced Central Philippine University which resulted in a 4-1 Azkals' win at the Panaad Park and Stadium. Meanwhile, the preparation for the 15,500-seater Panaad Stadium, venue of the match, is almost complete as additional 300 lux capacity was installed, bringing up the level to 800, which was the standard lighting for the Suzuki Cup matches last year.
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