Guirado, Cagara still not cleared
The Philippines faces an agonizing wait on the status of its key players four days before the first leg AFF Suzuki Cup semifinal clash against Singapore at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Striker Angel Guirado and leftback Dennis Cagara are still awaiting clearance from their clubs to rejoin the national side, which made the semifinals for the second straight time and will be playing its first home game in the 16-year history of the tournament.
But the Azkals remain upbeat as they resumed preparations yesterday at the Ateneo pitch.
Azkals manager Dan Palami believes the squad has players ready to step up in the event that the two won’t be released by their clubs as the tournament does not fall of the FIFA international calendar.
Guirado returned to India to link up with Salgaocar FC last Saturday after scoring in the 2-0 win over Myanmar, while Cagara was also recalled by his third division club in Germany, Karlsruher.
Jerry Lucena is also in Denmark, still with Esbjerg and could rejoin the Azkals in the second leg of the semifinals at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Dec. 12.
Article continues after this advertisement“I think we still have options and good depth in the team,” Palami said yesterday at the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.
Article continues after this advertisementAmong the players mentioned by Palami who are capable of making an impact are Chris Greatwich, one of the heroes of the 2010 semifinal run, who has yet to see action this time, Demit Omphroy who recovered from a flu only recently forcing him to miss the first two matches in Bangkok and Marwin Angeles.
Palami expects nothing less than a physical and intense affair against the three-time champion Lions.
“It’s going to be different on Saturday,” said Palami. “They are a well-prepared team and they will come here to take away a point from us.”
BIG IMPACT
The two-leg semifinals will be decided by aggregate scores with the away goals rule as the first tie breaker.
Meanwhile, the country’s first-time hosting of the Suzuki Cup will have a big impact on Philippine football, according to Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.
“This shows that we can compete with the top teams of Asia,” Araneta said.
He added that by barging into the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup again, football in the country has indeed improved in terms of quality of play and the level of the game’s competitiveness.
“By repeating the achievement that we accomplished in 2010, it shows that we can do better and hopefully this will continue,” Araneta said.
The PFF president said that the Philippine Azkals management is doing their very best to obtain releases for Cagara and Guirado.
Araneta said that as early as Saturday, the PFF has already sent out the letters to the players’ respective clubs seeking their release.
For Azkal fans in Cebu, tickets can be purchased via ticketworld.com.ph. Tickets are priced at P3,000, P2,000, P1,000 and P500 and P300. /inquirer with a report from CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON
