BALIK sa national team ang arkitekto ng breakthrough appearance ng Philippine Azkals sa AFC Asian Cup.
Kinumpirma ni American coach Thomas Dooley na tinanggap na niya ang alok ng Philippine Football Federation’s (PFF) na bumalik sa Azkals.
“Yes, I’m back and can’t wait to get started,” sabi ni Dooley. “I am honored to coach our beloved team again.”
Si Dooley ang responsable sa matagumpay na kampanya ng Azkals sa AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers noong 2018 kung saan nakopo nila ang kanilang unang appearance sa naturang continental event sa 2019 edition.
Isang come-from-behind 2-1 win kontra Tajikistan, tampook ang go-ahead penalty ni Phil Younghusband, ang kanyang ika-50 international goal, ang nagselyo sa matagumpay na run ng Azkals.
Gayunman, matapos ang kanilang Asian Cup run, ang Azkals ay hindi masyadong nagtamasa ng tagumpay at nangako si Dooley na ibabalik ang dating kinang ng koponan.
“We will change the direction we have been going for the last four years,” aniya. “We will take the success back to where we left off together four years ago. I know it’s easier said than done. It will be difficult, but we will make it. We will fight, we will play football and we will win again.”
Sa kanyang pagbabalik, target ni Dooley na bigyan ang Azkals ng kaparehong ‘resurgence’ na naranasan ng kanilang female counterparts, ang Filipinas.
Ang women’s team, sa ilalim ni Australian mentor Alen Stajcic, ay nakakuha ng puwesto sa FIFA Women’s World Cup at nagwagi ng bronze medal sa katatapos na Vietnam Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
“What a year 2022 started with our Women National Team Filipinas qualifying [for the] first time for the World Cup and getting [the] bronze medal in the SEA Games. Now let’s work hard to complete and top the 2022 success with the Azkals,” ani Dooley.
Sa pormal na pagtanggap ng PFF sa kanyang pagbabalik, nagpahayag si president Nonong Araneta ng kumpiyansa na maibabalik ni Dooley ang Azkals sa Asian Cup sa susunod na taon.
“We would like to welcome Coach Thomas Dooley back with the Men’s National Team. We trust that he can take the team to greater heights in his second stint as head coach. We wish him and the team well as they prepare for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers next month,” sabi ni Araneta.
Bilang tugon, sinabi ni Dooley na, “Thank you PFF for the trust. You will not regret it.”
Ang Azkals ay tutungo sa Mongolia para sa ACQ mula June 6-14. PNA
