No easing up for PH booters, vows Palami

MANILA—Having a stronger, experienced lineup counts for nothing as far as Philippine football team manager Dan Palami is concerned.

Palami said there will be no letup for the Azkals in their build-up even as he shrugged off reports that Sri Lanka’s preparation for the World Cup qualifying clash against the Philippines has not been ideal.

The first leg of the tie will be played at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo on June 29, while the return leg is slated July 3 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

“We are preparing diligently as we can,” Palami told the Inquirer. “While we feel we have an advantage, we don’t intend to rest on this. We’re hoping to make history.”

The Azkals were scheduled to play the third of their four tuneup matches in Germany against second division team FC Ingolstadt Wednesday night.

“We are now at 80 percent,” said Palami. “The pacing of our preparations has been great.”

Sri Lanka’s Korean coach Jang Jung thinks beating the Philippines will be a tall order for his new-look side, which will be led by defender Rohana Ruwanthilake of local club Saunders.

In a recent interview with Sri Lankan newspaper Daily Mirror, Jung also admitted that the team is behind in its preparations.

“They (the Azkals) have grown very fast and are going to be a difficult opposition for us,” Jang said in the story that can be accessed at www.dailymirror.lk.

Ruwanthilake added beating the Filipinos in Colombo will be a priority.

Cedelf Tupas, Inquirer.net