UP football coach, other experts to analyze Azkals

Among the 13,000 people at the refurbished Rizal stadium on Sunday for the World Cup Qualifiers football match will be a committee of experts who will scrutinize every move of the players and every moment of the game. The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) tasked a technical study group to analyze the game, the national team's performance in particular. University of the Philippines (UP) men's football team coach Andres Gonzales is part of that study group. "We will be analyzing the Azkals' strengths and weaknesses on all facets of the game (technical, tactical, mental, physical). We will then give our analysis and recommendations to the PFF, and hopefully these will be used in coming up with the right training program for the Azkals and the grassroots (program)," Gonzales said. The grassroots program has funding assistance from the International Federation of Association Football (Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA). PFF treasurer Bonnie Ladrido earlier said the PFF "expects to receive about $300,000 to $500,000 this year from FIFA but $150,000 of that is earmarked for the grassroots program, coach development and training of referees." All set for Sunday The Azkals planed in from Sri Lanka Thursday evening. They have some practice time this Saturday at the Rizal stadium. In a report on GMA News' 24 Oras, Mark Zambrano said the stadium is ready for Sunday's football World Cup Qualifiers match.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Meanwhile, four UP football players are in the PFF's Under-23 men's football training pool preparing for the Southeast Asian Games later this year. They are midfielder Stephen Permanes, striker Gerardo Valmayor, defender Deo Segunial, and defender Raymark Fernandez. In the UAAP 73 men's football, Permanes was most valuable player, Valmayor was rookie of the year and best striker, and Segunial was best defender. The four Maroon booters are training with, among others, the U-23 Azkals Simon Greatwich, Christopher Camcam, Yannick Tuason, Paolo Pascual and Jerry Barbaso. Men's national team manager Dan Palami is also the U-23 team manager. — VS, GMA News