WHILE it remains a huge challenge, veteran player James Younghusband will be eyeing revenge when the Philippine Azkals compete in the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup beginning with Singapore on Saturday at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.
“These teams have knocked us out in the last (three semifinals) of the Suzuki Cup. This is great motivation for us now. We are looking out for revenge,” said Younghusband during the Suzuki Cup Trophy tour held at the SM North EDSA mall in Quezon City.
Under shrewd Serbian coach Rady Avramovic, the Singapore Lions booted out the Azkals in the semifinals of the 2012 Suzuki Cup edition before eventually annexing the championship at the expense of neighboring rival Malaysia in the finals.
On Nov. 22, the Filipino booters take on the Indonesians, who ousted them in their semifinal debut six year years, sweeping both matches at the Bung Karno National Stadium after the Philippines was unable to put up a suitable venue for the home-and-away series.
The Azkals’ latest tormentor were the Thai War Elephants, who eliminated them in the Final Four in 2014 en route to capturing their fourth championship under coach Tiatisuk Senamuang, the Thai Zico.
Younghusband, who together with younger brother Phil, has been in all of the last semis outings of the PH squad, believes that the team now has quality players who can help the Azkals reach the finals for the first time.
“The team management has done a great job in putting up a strong team together so we believe that we have a good chance (in making the finals),” he said, adding that playing in front of hometown fans was extra motivation to perform well.
“One of the main reasons you play (for your national team) in any sport is to perform in front of your fans. This is great motivation for us to go out there, be inspired, play well for them and for our country,” Younghusband noted. “They (the hometown fans) are our 12th man.”
Winger Misagh Bahadoran, who has blossomed under Dooley’s tutelage and was also at the event echoed his teammate’s sentiments, saying: “ We will our play our hearts out for our funds. Our opponents can expect a good performance from us and we can expect a good result in this Suzuki Cup.”
Bahadoran stressed, however, that “it is not all about who scores but that we win the game.”
Younghusband said he does not foresee any chemistry problems among the team members, noting that “we have a quality players with us so I don’t foresee any problems about us jelling. We have a few more days to prepare for the Suzuki Cup.”
Expected to arrive yesterday was young midfielder Mike Ott, who will be quartered with the rest of the Azkals inside dormitories within the sports complex where the Philippines Sports Stadium is located.
Dooley is also banking on the arrival of Fil-Spanish striker Javier Patino, whose release papers with Chinese Club Henan Jianye is still being worked out.