THE PHILIPPINE Under-13 national team tagged the Little Azkals got some needed lessons from German football expert Eckhard Krautzun.
The team went under the scrutiny of Krautzun at the Aboitiz Sportsfield in Subangdaku, Mandaue City and he described the team to have good spirit and lots of enthusiasm.
He said that he sees potential in some of them to become really good in the sport.
During the team’s training with head coach Oliver “BingBing” Colina, Krautzun said he sees the same problem he’s seen since he came here to the Philippines—the team lacked in individual and group tactics.
“They have to keep the ball on the ground, improve their passing and learn to play various positions,” Krautzun said.
He said that these kids should learn that football is played in the head, so they have to learn to think fast while they are playing.
“Right now they think slow, make the wrong decisions but even the best players do that. A good player on the field is the one who make the right decisions,” Krautzun added.
Krautzun emphasized that the team must also have good guidance and coaching.
The German coach told Colina to come up with a program for each player outlining their weakness so they could improve on this and continue training on their own at home.
The Little Azkals who made it for the workshop were Moiselle Angelo Alforque, Jeremiah Borlongan, Lawrence Colina, Darius Joseph Diamante, JHenry Omar Hamdan, Dimitri Lionel Limbo, Vincent Erik Lovitos, Josh Albert Miller, Kintaro Miyagi, Javier Romero-Salas, Sebastian Rafael Patangan, Mason Trent Vergara, Jose Anton Yared, Harel Dayan, Marco Alessandro Casambre, Mario Lorenzo Ceniza, Palmero Ivan, Caraballe, Kristoper Malaga, Johne Michael ,Ploteña, Keith Wenceslao, Jed Delariarte, Sherwin Merindad, James Cyrus Sambalod, Kent Stuart Gastador, Joven Marfiga, Lemark Unabia, Rexon Cyruz Capellan, and Ray Sanciangco.
Those who missed the workshop were Ian Danielle Eumague, Major Dean Ebarle, Khairyll Parao and Lorenzo Genco.
In an exhibition match, the boys from the Mandaue Technical Institute (MTI) were able to draw the Little Azkals, 1-1.
The Little Azkals will have an early practice today at the San Roque football field then after they will proceed to Sarrosa International Hotel and Residential Suites for a lecture with Krautzun.
“They have a lot of space for improvement. They must also watch good games like international matches such as in the Southeast Asian Games ,” said Krautzun.