Azkals get confidence boost from 1st win in Germany training

After winning 4 – 1 in a test match in Germany against the Aachen-Duren select team Thursday, the men’s national football team, popularly known as Azkals, now rides a wave of confidence. Team manager Dan Palami said in a tweet to Azkals supporters the team is “slowly getting their act together." Palami added that the match was a “good win" against the Duren selection. On June 18, Saturday, at 1 a.m. Manila time, the Azkals’ second test match will be against the Bonner Junioren Bundesliga under-19 squad also from the Cologne region. “Things are starting to fall into place," team captain Aly Borromeo said via Twitter after the match against Duren's booters. “Things are starting to look positive," Anton del Rosario echoed, also in a tweet. Some Filipinos residing and working in Germany have met the Azkals players and coaching staff to give them moral support, according to assistant coach Edwin Cabalida. In the crowd for the match against Duren were some members of the local Filipino community. On June 20, Monday, the Azkals will go south to Gerolfingen, Bavaria where, at 10 p.m. Manila time, the team will test its mettle against Ingolstadt I, a Bundesliga 2nd division team. Finally, on June 24, the Azkals meet Darmstadt 98, a 3rd division squad at the Bollenfalltor stadium in the Hesse region’s Darmstadt City. Darmstad 98 were the regional champions in 2010-11. The national team faces the Sri Lanka Brave Reds on June 29 and July 3 in Round 1 of the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers. If the Azkals are victorious over Sri Lanka, they go up against Kuwait in Round 2. The Philippine Football Federation has lined up two friendly matches when the Azkals visit Bahrain in mid-July. — VS, GMA News