Weiss: Azkals now a fresh and hungry team without 'prima donnas'

Coach Michael Weiss said Saturday night that the men’s national football team – the Azkals – who emerged as champions of the Peace Cup are a “fresh and hungry team” very different from the contingent that shone in the Suzuki Cup in December 2010.   The national team's coach said in the post-match press conference that the Azkals are in the process of evolving. The Peace Cup trophy is the country's first football championship laurel in 99 years, according to officials of the local organizing committee.   “We cannot pine for the December 2010 success anymore. That’s past. Most of the players will not play anymore,” Weiss said.   In an apparent reference to the Younghusband brothers, who were dropped from  the Azkals roster for the Peace Cup, Weiss added that the Azkals of today are “without prima donnas... people who think they already have achieved something in football.”   But in the same press conference, current Azkals captain Emelio “Chieffy” Caligdong said he still hopes that the ongoing conflict could still be resolved.   “Ang gusot sa team, maayos at maayos din iyan,” Caligdong said. Philippine Football Federation (PFF) technical director Aris Caslib, clarified in an earlier interview with GMA News Online that Phil and James Youngshusband remain in the pool of players from which the PFF will draw for the next major international football competition.   “Pero young pinaka-pool ng players ng Suzuki Cup, nandiyan pa silang dalawa," Caslib said.   The PFF had released a statement explaining why the Younghusbands were not on the roster of the Peace Cup, a tournament meant to prepare the Azkals for the Suzuki Cup and next year's Challenge Cup.   "We have asked the players to give their unequivocal commitment to participate fully in the preparations. Unfortunately, not everyone in the team could assure of us this; a few have already signified their unavailability for some crucial activities leading up to the tournament. While this is admittedly a setback in our plans, we understand that family obligations and club/work commitments sometimes take precedence," the PFF said in the statement.   Reacting to the PFF decision in recent days, the Younghusband brothers held out some hope for their return to the national team.   "They said we're not involved in the Peace Cup, so we're hoping in the next games we can get the call-up again. If we get the call-up, we'll be there," said Phil.

"If we're called upon, we'd be there in a heartbeat," James said. — LBG, GMA News