SEA GAMES 2011: PHILIPPINES TO KEEP TEAM INTACT FOR 2013

JAKARTA (15 Nov 2011) – Whatever happens later today in their match against Brunei, one thing which is certain is that the current Philippines team will be kept intact for the next edition of the SEA Games in 2013.

“We will keep the team and make it ready for 2013,” said Dan Palami, the team manager of the Philippines. “It’s a promise I am making, one that I also did in 2009 with the original Azkals.”

The Philippines had earlier brimming with confidence with the hope that the younger squad of players will emulate the success of the Azkals, who progressed all the way to the AFF Suzuki Cup last year.

But after their 3-1 loss to Vietnam in the first game, their hope of being at the podium at this year’s meet took further beating following their 2-1 loss to Timor Leste in their second tie.

Philippines recovered well enough to win their first three points of the competition with a late 3-2 victory over Laos but they were again off colour in their fourth game in the group when they fell 5-0 to Myanmar.

“Players, management and even the PFF (Philippine Football Federation) should learn from this,” Palami said. “We should put resources into this and act on this.”

Palami said that the mistake lies in the belief that the team can combine well together even though they had some players coming from abroad. He said that while there are definite quality in the squad, the players will also need to spend time together.

“Our errors, defensive lapses really emphasized how young the team is,” he explained.

SEA GAMES 2011 RESULTS and FIXTURES
GROUP B

CURRENT STANDINGS