Lankans out to frustrate Azkals

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine football team should expect a hostile crowd and a strong challenge in Colombo when it battles Sri Lanka on June 29 for their much-awaited first leg match in the qualifying tournament for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Sri Lanka football team skipper Rohana Ruwanthilake vowed to give the Philippine Azkals a “torrid time” right on their first meeting in the home-and-away series as the South Asian footballers hope to do well in front of their home crowd.

The return match will be held four days later at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.

“Our main target is to perform well in the first leg which will be played on home soil,” Ruwanthilake said in a story posted yesterday on the Daily Mirror. “All of them (teammates) have gained experience playing in international matches and are determined to give a torrid time for the visiting Philippine side.”

The Football Federation of Sri Lanka has revealed its 25-man line up for the qualifier yesterday and Ruwanthilake, who has led the team to its past four international stints, including the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Nepal, said the squad is oozing with talents.

While Ruwanthilake sounded too confident, Jang Jung, Sri Lanka’s Korean coach appeared wary of the Azkals, who are entering the final stretch their preparation in Duren, Germany.

“They have grown very fast and are going to be a difficult opposition for us,” he said in the same story. The have prepared well for this tournament and had undergone training in UAE (it should be Germany).”

The Sri Lankan coach admitted they started training a little late, saying “We commenced training late due to a delayed selection process. However, we are in a positive frame of mind to counter the challenge before us.”

The last time Sri Lanka played a competitive international tournament was two months ago in the AFC Challenge Cup, where it failed to qualify.

Meanwhile, the Azkals were playing at presstime their third friendly match against Ingolstadt I, a Bundesliga second division team, in Germany.

Meanwhile, PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said it will spend around P8 million for the preparation of the Under-23 squad for the 26th Southeast Asian Games set in Indonesia in November.

Francis Santiago, Manila Bulletin