Azkals clash with Cambodians

The Azkals dominated the Cambodians in their 2017 encounter, 2-0, and national team head coach Goran Milosevic hopes for a repeat Monday. #Azkals #SEAGames

The Philippine men’s football team starts its 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games campaign against Cambodia Monday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff starts at 8 p.m. with the Azkals trying to surpass their sixth-place finish in the last edition of the biennial competition two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Prior to the Group A match, Malaysia and Myanmar square off in the tournament opener at 4 p.m.

The Azkals dominated the Cambodians in their 2017 encounter, 2-0, and national team head coach Goran Milosevic hopes for a repeat Monday.

“After our draw against China in Bacolod, we are now in the kind of rise. With the help of Mr. Dan Palami and the Philippine Football Federation, we want to make the Filipino football rise and make the fans proud,” Milojevic said during the pre-competition press conference held Sunday at Century Park Hotel in Manila.

“The first game is always very important and if they follow our instructions and give their best, our boys can win,” the former Serbian booter-turned-mentor added.

Azkals assistant coach Ernie Nierras emphasized the importance of Stephan Schrock beefing up the under-22 squad as it will boost the morale of the young Azkals to get that crucial win.

“Schrock is the team captain, and that alone is already a big help. His leadership impact was really felt when he himself volunteered to be with the u-22. He really guides his teammates during training, meetings, and even with the foods that they take,” said Nierras, who is also the head coach of Stallion Laguna FC in the Philippine Football League.

In Group B, Brunei battles Vietnam at 4 p.m. at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.

Meanwhile, the Philippine women’s national football team will begin their quest for a podium finish Tuesday against last edition’s bronze medalist Myanmar also at the Laguna venue.

Malditas’ head coach Marnelli Dimzon bared that facing Myanmar will be a huge opportunity to turn the tables after suffering a 0-3 defeat against the Burmese team in the Asian Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship last August.

“We were able to keep pace with Myanmar in the first half but we broke down in the second half because we lacked the stamina,” Dimzon said.

“There was a marked improvement with every match we played,” she added, pertaining to the team’s latest training camp in Japan for this tournament.

The return of Fil-Ams Sarina Bolden and Eva Madarang, who missed the AFF tourney, was expected to add teeth to the Malditas’ attack and make it an even competitive match against Myanmar.