Green Archers United are enjoying their best season so far. After shocking Kaya, they stringed back-to-back wins over Dolphins and Diliman and they are poised to go top of Group B when they locked horns with Forza tomorrow. The acquisition of Ayi Nii Aryee from Global was the biggest transfer news for the Lasallian outfit since getting JJ Melliza and Patrick Deyto midway through the last year’s league play.

For their final group game at UMak tomorrow, the Green and White club just needed a win by two goals to go top of the group due to goals scored, as of today, last year’s league runner-up Kaya are hoping that Forza upsets them by a draw or maybe a win by eight goals to advance into the knockout stage.

Meanwhile in the Sea of Orange, the Loyola Meralco Sparks are in a do or die situation in Group C. Battle weary after their Singapore Cup debacle, they were given a shock lesson when the muffed a one goal lead and lost to Div1 newcomers Pachanga last Saturday. 

Faithful supporters of LMS, known as the SparkSquad, were hoping that the Sparks would bounce back against Nomads later in Rizal at 730PM (live on AKTV). Anything less than a win will prematurely switch off Loyola’s campaign in a tournament where they finished as bridesmaids last year. The Sparks need the Younghusbands as well as Chad Gould to step up to escape elimination against the Merville outfit that wins the first two fixtures albeit with an incomplete line-up.

post-script: 

Loyola will go back to Singapore with hopes of getting third place in the Singapore Cup when they face Gombak United in five days. 

Also, the AFP derby of old enemies Army and Air Force will collide for Group D supremacy in another televised match. It will be live on AKTV at 5PM

The win by the Azkals over Singapore 2-0 last Friday night have gave us three significant firsts.

• The win was the first since 1972 in Jakarta.
• That was also the first win on the road since Vietnam in 2010. In the past eight matches on the road, we drew five of them (Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Malaysia and Cambodia) and lost thrice (Mongolia, Kuwait and Singapore).
• This was Michael Weiss first win over a fellow AFF side, another first since 2010. That was nine matches vs SEA (home, away and neutral) without a win (six draws and three losses), when you combine Simon McMenemy’s last three matches and coach Weiss six matches against fellow ASEAN side

It’s hard for a Southeast Asian team to beat the Lions on its own den. The last time an SEA team win a match was Vietnam way back in 08 Suzuki Cup Semis. So how the Azkals pulled that off? There were FOUR things to learn about that historic moment.

1. Stephan Schrock. The Hoffenheim bad boy was a man playing against the boys. He glides past defenders with ease and gives them headaches with those pinpoint passes and some threatening attacks. The Malaysia friendly was his best match (after Kuwait) before this. The two assists that lead to those two dagger goals were worthy of a Man of The Match award. Indonesia was very lucky not to face him last July 5 at home, because he will never back down on any opponent.
2. If you can’t be good, be lucky - Bob Guerrero. Chieffy’s goal was part luck, part skill. His strike with the weaker right was not deflected by the defender’s boots, but by the mound at Jurong West that beats the keeper and hits the far post and into the goal. If the grass was in a good shape, Hyrulnizam can easily saved that. The video can be watched here.
3. The Jurong West grass was better than Phnom Penh’s NOS by a mile. Save for some patches and mounds, this playing field cannot be at it’s best by it’s still okay for passing play. It was the complete opposite from the Cambodian grass last Wednesday that was bad which was made worse by the heavy rainfall, which forced the Azkals to go long balls.
4. Patrick Reichelt and Denis Wolf deserves the start for the last friendly. Clearly, they are Coach Weiss’s best picks off the bench in these stretch. The two Global players made instant impact once they were in the field, with Reichelt came closest, hitting the post in the Cambodia friendly. The two German-bred Azkals have made Ian Araneta warm the bench for the longest time.

Pasargad had mauled Navy, 6-0 in the only Div1 match for this week (hey, we are in the week of friendlies). And here are some interesting facts.

• Mohammed Ohedi had scored the brace on both halves with Hamed Hajimahdi, Charles Ujiam, Milan Behgandom and Sajjid Khodarahmi had been registered in the scoresheet despite playing the next 48 minutes with ten men (Mark Anthony Fernanded has been sent off)
• A completely different Pasargad was what we were seeing in the second round. The Persians have picked up 16 points with a record of 5W-1D-1L, therefore improving their first round record (five points on a 1-2-6 card) by a whopping 320%!! Clearly a great turnaround for a team who is just promoted last season.
• After this win, Esmail Sedigh’s outfit have beaten 4 out of 6 teams who defeated them the previous round (they’ve beaten Nomads, Loyola and Air Force before). Only Global can have the distinction of sweeping them this season, unless Kaya can do it as well.
• With that loss, that equals their second worst defeat for the Sailors (Stallions also hit six on them on the opening week). With relegation to Div2 seems closer to them, Marlon Maro will have to do some magic and some favors from other clubs just to save themselves from the drop. But with their next assignment (Loyola on the 16th No less!), looks like it will be an Everest climb for them to get a positive result.

In the other news, former Global gaffer Frank Muescan has joined Green Archers United as an assistant to Rodolfo Alicante. Muescan who have co-managed the UP Men’s Football Team with Loyola midfielder Anto Gonzales to a UAAP title in 2011, had a stellar managerial career. In his a year and a half tenure with Global, the club won the UFL Cup and almost do a Kaiserslautern (winning the league title in their first season after they are promoted) in the league season, coming up short against a resilient Air Force side on the final day. He capped off his stint with a Smart Championship, besting the Younghusbands and San Beda in a two-legged final. Since being replaced by Graeme McKinnon, he has managed Div2 (and Global’s reserves) Laos from the start of the season, until he was replaced by Ronald Patulin midway through. Another big steal for the La Sallians, since grabbing that record deal with Globe Telecom. Can his experience help them to safety this season? The results will be next week.

Note: Div1 Action resumes next Saturday, June 16 @UMak with Green Archers United battling Army and Loyola taking on dead-last Navy. Both matches will be shown live on AKTV.

The League Table As of May 7 (credits to Kaya FC Facebook page. Screenshot from Soccer Central Philippines)

Tighter than a belt. That’s how the title race in Division 1 looks like. The Favorites: Kaya, Global and Loyola, are engaging in dogfight for the title and the bragging rights to be the Philippines’ no. 1 club with six weeks remaining in the season. All of them have the same points (and the same number of matches played), but the Sparks’ edge in goal difference puts them on top of the table, with the men in Yellow second and the Redshirts third. A draw at least by either of these clubs will formally end the title hopes of Nomads and dethrones the defending champions Air Force, despite playing one game more, and will join Pasargad as the also-rans.

Fourth-placed Stallion looked to solidify their place after losing the pole position, a place that they were in the first weeks of the season. For Navy, Green Archers United and Army, the battle for survival begins now, as picking the points would be crucial or else, they are now staring to play Div2 football next season.

MATCH TO WATCH: Loyola v Kaya (May 12, 4PM @ UMak, live broadcast on AKTV)Photo: Jojo Lirio, Jr. from the UFL Facebook Page
Previous Meeting:
Feb. 4 @ Rizal Memorial
Loyola 2 (JYH 12’, PYH 37’)-0 Kaya
Man of the Match: Mark Hartmann (assisted in both of those goals)

The league’s Superclasico headlines the week of exciting football action. Both teams came from contrasting wins in week 13: the Sparks showed it’s masterclass in their vengeance against Stallion, while Eric Dagroh scored the only goal in a tight affair with a struggling Navy side. This match will be Kale Alvarez’s one of the biggest tests in his young coaching career, as Kaya tries to break Loyola’s streak against them since the 2010 season (in that streak, the Sparks have won four and drew once vs Kaya, including the 2011 Cup Semifinal thriller last Dec.5). The only time Kaya have defeated the men in Orange was when they first met in the 2010 League season, a 5-0 drubbing in Nomads. Master Kim’s Sparks will begin the most hectic schedule in their season, as they will also fly to the Lion City to play against S. League’s Geylang United in the Singapore Cup on 6 days later.

Both teams expressed excitement in this so-called Battle Royale. And rightfully so, because this match offers the highest stakes and the bragging rights who is the better between them after 90 minutes of intense football.

Interesting Fact: Kurt Alvarez, Anto Gonzales and Alex Camara are the only players who played for both clubs. Kurt was one of Loyola’s stalwarts in the league’s inaugural season, while Anto previously played for Kaya in the 2011 season. The younger Alvarez has yet to suit up for Kaya after being acquired in the March transfer window, while the UP Fighting Maroons coach has appeared for the Sparks on loan from Diliman, starting in seven matches since his debut as a substitute against Stallion three months ago. The Liberian forward even scored a goal against his future club last season, which ended in a draw.

So here’s the rest of the weekend schedule. Hope to see you there at the matches!

(all matches will be played at UMak, unless stated)
May 12
2PM-Pasargad v Stallions (live telecast on AKTV)

May 13 (No television coverage)
4PM-Army v Nomads
6PM-Global vs Green Archers United
8PM-Air Force vs Navy

I wonder what’s the purpose of Cristy Ramos’s visit in the locker room of the team before the match against the Malaysians, where she was allegedly “offended” by Lexton and Angel. If that was intentional or what. And I don’t think that that was sexual harassment either.

Yesterday, I just read Mr. Ding Marcelo’s reaction on that incident and found out that there are many loopholes for that complaint. She was in the higher place, the players were the subordinates, yet she was offended? A BIG SLAP to her. The only thing those two are only guilty of juvenile exuberance. 

And the worst part of it, she gone on going to media doing all the brouhaha. What she does now is a smear campaign designed to demoralize and even ruin the team. Great timing huh. The team is in Nepal for the Challenge Cup, and she drops the nuke. And talking about “paawa effect”, she will tell the dumb viewers (not us) that they were guilty without their explanation. Sheesh. I will conclude that trial by publicity is still more fun in our country. And with her intentions she should be charged with electioneering (hello, elections are next year!)

The issue had gone out of hand, before this goes to court, the EPALs are going at it again. Pia Cayetano wanted to have an investigation. GABRIELA is supporting their “kumare”. Sen. Miriam, please extend the scope of the ANTI-EPAL BILL!

I’ll conclude that Cristy Ramos, with all of this happened in a great timing, has to be ashamed of herself. She just ruined the image of his great dad who happens to be the first, and so far only Protestant president of the country. 

I hope the team gets over on this. It happened last year. They must win this so critics, haters and crabs should shut their freaking mouth up!

NOTE: This article is written in the banging minds of the writer. He introduces us the world of those sticks that sound like thunder.

As I surf the clapper things on the internet, I just stumbled on one of Team Socceroo’s fan videos on YouTube. Should I Ask, are those inflated sticks the NEW THING in football fandom in the Philippines? Let’s find out.

Call it cheersticks, bangers and thundersticks. These inflated sticks were first used by South Korean fans in their football matches. It’s innovative designs and its created noised earned the name of thundersticks. Imagine 5,000 fans inside the arena are distracting a visiting player who was taking free throws. And in every point in badminton the fans continue to kept roaring those sticks.

Thunder fans from OKC in their sticks.

In United States, it started with Anaheim Angels fans clapping those in their run in the World Series, in which they claimed baseball’s biggest prize in seven grueling games. It clicked among other teams, with basketball’s Denver Nuggets and baseball’s New York Yankees are major exceptions.

(watch the video of Anaheim’s fans here. The sound of thundersticks is at the background.) 

In the Philippines, it was unheard in most parts of the country, in which elongated, hotdog-shaped balloons and pom-sticks are much preferred. But if you’re from either Taft, Benilde, Greenhils or Zobel, thundersticks makes you an extraordinary sports fan. This banging stick, originated in Ateneo (which did not click), was was popularized by La Salle just in time for their return in UAAP in it’s 70th season, had become an identity for a normal Lasalista. And it just not made wonders to the Gang of Green, it even brought a championship after a year of (unjust and unfair, to them) suspension. Sometimes that was just preety sweet.

Just spot how many pairs of bangers are their in the Green Gallery in the Big Dome.
(watch how these Gangs of Green demonstrate the proper way of clapping it here. Pardon the slightly low quality of the video so that you can here the sound.)

Aside from South Koreans, Singapore’s fans have made it a habit to brandish those sticks to make a different atmosphere in the famous National Stadium in Kallang.

Back here, Meralco’s fans are making these bangers as a norm when either the Bolts (in the PBA) or the Sparks (UFL) are playing.

Now back to that Socceroo thing. They also have one.

The Socceroo clapper (not the Aussies.)

Despite the team being mauled 15-1 by the Sparks in their UFL debut, it’s fans still having lungs out on cheering in one fan video here.

Analysis: With the steady growth of football in the consciousness of every Pinoy sports fan, we can also consider the change of fan equipment such as these sticks. Sometimes I’m sick and tired of those long hotdog balloons (pasenya sa mga taga UST.) that we always used. It’s sometimes called as obsolete and not perfect in our time. With time changes, so does fan equipment.

NOTE: The writer is in hibernation mode since July. This is his first scouting report of the opponent of the Azkals. The friendly will be the first at home since 1997, when Estonia defeated them 1-0.

Our match with Nepal will be the last for October as a preview of the AFC Challenge Cup next year. They are the third South Asian team the Azkals has faced this year, after beating Bangladesh (3-0, AFC Challenge Cup Qualification) and Sri Lanka (1-1 in Colombo and 4-0 in Rizal Memorial, World Cup Qualifiers Asian First Round). This year, the Azkals are unbeaten against South Asia with two wins and a draw to show for. Would this be win number three for us? Or the visitors from the highest points of the world steal one from us like Kuwait did to us?

OVERVIEW: The Nepal national football team is controlled by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) and is nicknamed The Gorkha Warriors. Their Home matches are played at the 25,000-seated Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu. Their are the hosts of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, therefore this match is a preview of two of the qualified squads.

The team is ranked 135th in the FIFA rankings, 31 spots behind us. They are higher than Singapore (136), Indonesia (139) and even the defending Suzuki Cup Champions Malaysia (147).

Graham Roberts is the man at the helm for the Himalayan side since January. The former defender has a successful career as a player, being a member of one of the greatest Tottenham side in the early 80’s, alongside Osvaldo Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle, Steve Archibald, Garth Crooks, Ricardo Villa and manager Keith Burkinshaw.

RECENT MATCHES: The match will be only the second time they’ve met. Their last meeting was in 1982 for the King’s Cup in Thailand, with Nepal emerging as winners, 1-0. Current ANFA president Ganesh Thapa scored the winning goal in a match which also featured current PFF president Mariano Araneta.

KEY PLAYER: Ju Manu Rai

Ju Manu Rai (#11 in the picture) is a forward who plays for the highly-successful Nepal Police Club. He has nine goals for Nepal, the fourth-highest scorer. He is paired with Anil Gurung up-front, with both forwards scored in a 5-0 trashing of East Timor in the World Cup Qualifier.

However, we can’t find enough references about his style of play, because of limited sources on the internet.

MAN TO MATCH: Aly Borromeo

I picked the Captain to stop Rai from his tracks with his wide frame, extreme physicality, leadership abilities and tenacity on the field. With Stephan Schrock’s absence, the backs will work double time in order to stymie any Nepali attack.

GAME PLAN: Nepal will play a fast-paced passing game like  as their manager Graham Roberts told to the media in a press conference. They will also play fearless football and they don’t care about the Azkals’ European-based players.

In order to stop the attacks, they must disable the wing play and keep good communication. And a little luck is also needed, something that we lacked against Singapore last Friday.

OUR ADVANTAGE: The Altitude and Nepal’s Bad Away Record

The biggest advantages the Azkals have aside from the home crowd is the sea-level altitude and the opponents’ bad away record. Nepal would lose to games held in a low-lying venues and when they are the visiting side. Their worst loss came at the hands of South Korea, 0-16 at Incheon eight years back.

MY FEARLESS FORECAST: It would be a close one but I picked the Azkals for a 2-1 win.

WELL, THAT’S IT FOR NOW.

WATCH THE FRIENDLY BETWEEN PHILIPPINES AND NEPAL LIVE FROM RIZAL MEMORIAL ON STUDIO 23. TELECAST STARTS AT 6PM WITH A PRE-GAME PRESENTATION. KICK-OFF STARTS AT 7:30PM.

Oh yeah…we lost to Kuwait, and with that the long unbeaten streak at home…

and the CRABS and HATERS are throwing a party..

BUT IT’S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD FOR US.  IT WAS STILL THE BEGINNING.

Time may pass as some players would retire, but the passion remain for GOD and the FLAG.

At the end of the day, they will never be alone.

WIN OR LOSE, GOD BLESS THE AZKALS!

AZKALERO TILL I DIE!