The Azkals Experience: Day 1 - Press con with coaches & managers

Miakka Lim, one of our FTW hosts, is now in Bacolod for the Azkals-Blue Wolves (Mongolia) game. She will be writing first-person accounts of her Azkals experience. Day 1 (Feb 8): Press Conference with Coaches and Managers Kind of excited for this little journey of mine. Before flying in, I was speaking with one of the Azkals, Simon Greatwich, and he told me that the fans in Bacolod embraced their presence so quickly. They actually crowded and waited for them at the lobby of their hotel for photo ops, and some of them were even bearing gifts. The Keeper, Neil Etheridge, got the most presents, since it was his birthday. I also came across some videos in Tumblr, and saw one where fans screamed and one of them even cried (I guess because of excitement) just because Phil Younghusband ran to the pitch. I couldn’t believe it. I felt I needed to see it for myself, and that’s basically why I am now here in Bacolod. Arrived in the City of Smiles at around 11a.m. I focused on getting to know the sport of football and the city that will host the biggest and most important football match ever held in the country. I was informed by my friend, sportswriter Cedelf Tupas, that there would be a Managers and Coaches press Conference in the afternoon. I thought, well, that’s the perfect start to my trip — not to mention witnessing first-hand how excited the fans were just seeing Simon Greatwich walk through the lobby. They were outside the hotel just looking at him, all giddy and “chuckling." Seriously. At the press conference were the team manager and coach of Mongolia, accompanied by their interpreter, as well as PFF president Mariano "Nonong" Araneta, team manager Dan Palami and coach Hans Michael Weiss for the Azkals. There were a lot of questions about the status of the Mongolian national team (called the Blue Wolves). They said that the team trained in Guangzhou to adjust to a warmer climate. However, they did not have any tune-up games to help them prepare. What I found interesting was the fact that the average age of their players is 23 years old, and their most seasoned player and best striker is only 24. They also shared that only half of their team have had international competition experience, and that the other and half have only played domestically but are quite outstanding. Well, after they said that, my faith in the Azkals just rose even higher, because obviously our team has more experience in international play, and we have more seasoned players. Owing to my basketball background, I think we have the advantage when it comes to “veteran moves." Meanwhile, despite the growing media and crowd interest due to their recent success, the Azkals stay grounded, as Coach Weiss reminds them every day to not let the frenzy get in the way of their focus on winning this match. Dan Palami also added that they have huge respect for Mongolia and that they do not take anything for granted. As a matter of fact, this match is such a big deal, said Mr. Araneta, that they are dedicating this game to PNoy for his birthday. Oh, did I forget to state the fact that the "away"game on March 15 will be held in Mongolia at zero degrees? Yup, you read it right… zero. More tomorrow! About Miakka Lim Miakka Lim is one of the hosts of FTW, GMANews' web-only sports talk show. Miakka is no stranger to basketball and the sporting world being the daughter of former PBA standout and champion coach Frankie Lim. The athletic genes from her father passed on to her, as she was once a volleyball player herself. This eventually led to her first ever courtside reporting duties for the WNCAA and soon after for the PBA, V-League, Philippine Basketball League and Asean Basketball League.