Junior Azkals to train in Japan before SEA Games

The Philippine Under-23 men's football team will hold a training camp in Japan for the final stage of their preparation for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia. National coach Michael Weiss said they will leave for Japan on October 24, Monday, and will head straight to Indonesia on November 2 one day before the opening of the SEA Games football competitions at the Gelora Sriwijaya Stadium on November 3 in Jakarta. "It will be shorter because originally, we will be in Japan until November 4. So I hope the players from overseas will take notice of the schedule change and leave as soon as possible," Weiss said. The SEA Games football tournament was supposed to start on November 7, four days earlier than the official opening of the Games on the 11th but organizers were forced to move the opening kick-off on November 3 because of the unavailability of the football stadium in Palembang. All football games were also moved in Jakarta with the Senayan Sports Complex as one of the venues. The U-23 team trained with the senior members of the Philippine Azkals during their build-up for their recent tournament which included the Long Teng Cup. "We have prepared the team for a longer period with the seniors team and we have given them exposure in the Long Teng Cup," said Weiss. The senior Azkals are currently taking a break so Weiss' focus is now on the U-23 team which he will also be coaching. Jason De Jong, Manny Ott, brothers Matthew and Mark Hartmann and Iloilo-based Neckson Leonora are among the top players included in the U-23 national pool. The Philippines will compete in the football competitions of the SEA Games for the first time since 2005. — JVP, GMA News