Today is the day of the 2nd Leg match of Azkals vs. Kuwait. So here are some reminders I got from hellyeah-azkals:

DON’TS—-As in DO NOOOT EVERRRR! :)

_________________________________

• Do not bring any of the following:

• Do not wear anything skimpy or what we’d like to call “dangkal shorts” because the seats might be a little hot if you’re sitting at the bleachers and you’re not in the grand stand. Well you can actually wear them but beware of unwanted tanlines.
• Do not bring a big bag and those waist bags that people use when they collect money. It’s not allowed and it is a commonly-committed fashion crime.
• Don’t be late! Be sure to be there at least half an hour before. It’s a plus because the players arrive early too…if you know what I mean. :))
• Don’t be too loud. Be considerate of the people around you. But be energetic. though! :))
• Do not trust people who tell you they’re selling tickets during game day in front of Rizal Stadium. They might just overprice you and the tickets might be fake.

_________________________________

DO’S AND YES PLEASE!

• Do check if you have your tickets before you leave home and go to Rizal.
• Do expect heavy traffic because from what we know, they’re closing down some streets and it will slow down the traffic flow.
• Do make sure of where you can park your cars. You can park at Harrison Plaza, which is right in front of Rizal or find a nearer or farther place so you won’t be caught up with the activities.
• Do be early because the activities from the Kaholeros actually starts at 8AM.
• Do bring little face towels or handkerchiefs or little paper fans so you have something to battle the heat. The towels will come in handy as your cover for your seats if it becomes too hot.
• Do try to bring extra money for foods and drinks and Azkals merchandise and you never know where you’ll end up after the game :)
• Do wear comfy clothes. We got a question asking us what comfy clothes to wear that’ll make you look cute at the same time. :)) Tank tops and Azkals shirt plus shorts will do! :) Confidence is the key!
• Do cheer loud and proud!

If we missed some stuff, don’t be afraid to tell us okay? That’s what we can remember for now.

hellyeah-azkals also have some additional reminders:

1. DO bring a raincoat.
I do not believe that the typhoon is leaving the country tomorrow. :))
2. DO bring extra money. It’s for food an your Azkals souvenirs or your hellyeah-azkals shirts *winks* 
3. DO wear white. It is encouraged.
4. DO bring extra clothes and a plastic bag. If it rains, you might wanna change and you might wanna keep your things dry so put it in the big ass plastic bag.
5. DO wear comfy clothes. Dresses aren’t recommended.
6. DO wear sneakers. It’ll help. Trust us.
7. Do wear minimal make-up. Kapag umulan, magiging Niagara falls ang mascara niyo. I’ve seen it. Not pretty.

___________________________________________________________

1. DON’T bring an umbrella.
It’s prohibited.
2. DON’T forget your tickets!
3. DON’T buy tickets from scalpers.
4. DON’T buy food outside. It is prohibited. You can buy from the stores inside.
5. DON’T forget to message us your number. Let’s meet up. :))
6. DON’T even try to bring a laser point. Let’s be the bigger (wo)man here.

Again these reminders are from hellyeah-azkals Follow them! Admin J and Y are awesome! :)

Last June 29, 2011 (Wednesday) at the Sri Lanka soil (sorry I forgot the name of the Stadium) our very own Philippine Azkals faced the Sri Lanka Reds as their first step to reach the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil.

Chieffy Caligdong kikcked a long shot and was reached by James Younghusband’s header though the red’s goalie manage to dodge it. Luckily, there was someone in the left side of the goal post. That someone is Nate Burkey and yes it was his first goal on his debut in the international football.

Nate Burkey is new in the Philippine Azkals squad and I heard he quit his job when he heard that there will be try-outs in Los Angeles for the Philippine Football Team. Also he was featured in The Washington Post. That’s why I decided that he will be my Football Crush of the Week.

Here’s some details about him:

Know your Azkals: Nate Burkey is homesick

Nate has only been in the Philippines for about a month and he admits that he’s already a little homesick. Mav C. Gonzales

Tracing mom’s roots

Nate’s mom is a Manileña who moved to the United States after college. She met her husband John Burkey in Virginia where Nate and his older brother grew up. 

He actually got interested in football because of his brother. Starting when he was only four-years-old, both of them have played in various youth teams. 

Although Nate has not yet played in a professional club, he honed his skills in college, playing for Louisburg College in North Carolina and in Virginia Commonwealth University. 

“I graduated with a degree in AB Sociology. After college, I worked in DC Public Charter School as a teaching assistant. I also coach their youth soccer team,” he says. 

However, Nate was meant for more than just coaching especially since he’s only 26-years-old now. 

Back in 2007, his college coach told him about the possibility of playing for the Philippines because of his lineage. 

“I researched about the PFF (Philippine Football Federation) and sent them emails expressing my intent to play with them. My mom was here in the Philippines three months ago and she talked to Mr. Palami. I flew in, tried out, and here I am today,” he explains. 

On the pitch, Nate is a “calm but aggressive” player. Off the pitch, he says he’s just calm, and laughs. Mav C. Gonzales

One-month-old Azkal

It’s only been a short while since Nate signed up for the Azkals. But he’s already played in two important matches with the team – the United Football League All-Star Game and the World Cup Qualifiers against Sri Lanka. 

And he did not just play. He hit a header at the 49th mark in Sri Lanka, scoring the lone away goal for the Azkals. 

“It’s such a different atmosphere here,” he says referring to football in the Philippines. 

He’s talking particularly about the fans that can be “overwhelming at times.” 

“We were signing autographs in Iloilo after training so I was still sweating and all that. Then there was this girl who wiped my face with her towel,” he retells. 

“I’m sure she meant well, but that’s just not me. I think I need to get used to how things go here,” he adds. 

“Greenbelt is nice”

This is only Nate’s fourth time to visit the Philippines and he says that this is the longest he’s stayed here. 

Born and raised in the States, he can’t help but notice the stark difference between his two home countries – starting with the hot weather. 

“I haven’t really gotten around much before I was sick during my first week. After that, it’s all training,” he says. 

“But Greenbelt is nice. It’s probably my most favorite place here in Manila,” he laughs. 

He’s also found new friends in the team as most of them stay in the same hotel. If they’re not hanging out at the mall, they prefer to just relax in their rooms. 

His new teammates, and the fact that his girlfriend in the US is coming to visit Manila, keep him sane whenever he misses Washington too much. If all else fails, he’s got the internet to catch up with his loved ones back in the States. 

Despite not having professional experience, Nate has played in college and youth teams in the States prior to joining the Azkals. Mav C. Gonzales

The Philippine Azkals won in the first round of 2014 FIFA World Cup Brasil Asian Qualifiers against Sri Lanka Brave Reds earlier in their 2nd leg match!

Almost the whole team mobbing Chieffy Caligdong after scoring the first goal

I admit it’s our first time to surpass the round one of the FIFA World Cup qualifier and yes! I am so proud of our team and cannot wait for round 2 where they will face Kuwait National Team. *fingers cross* I know they can beat them! lol

Phil Younghusband going to embrace Chieffy Caligdong for scoring the first goal. As always Caligdong is celebrating Air Force style. LOL

The final scores was 5-1 (including the 1st leg match scores). Chieffy Caligdon scored first in the 19th minute, next is Phil Younghusband (FYI: Angel Locsin was watching at the Rizal Staduim too) two minutes before half-time. Though there was a confusion on Phil’s first goal. A linesman signaled him a foul thus nullifying his goal but the lead referee overruled the nullification and gave the goal to the Azkals thus making our players get a little relax before the half-time break knowing that they are on the lead.

Then on the second half the Fil-Spanish player Angel Guirado maneuvered the ball from left to right keeping it away in the goal keeper until he found the back of the net. He scored the 3rd goal in the 51st minute.

Then when I sensed that the Brave Reds finally feel the tension or should I say “defeat” LOL… Five minutes after Guirado’s goal, Fil-German Stephen Shrock was taken down in the penalty box by Brave Reds’ Chathura Gunaratne thus giving Philippines a penalty kick. Phil Younghusband stepped up to take the shot. He send the goal keeper the wrong way and kicked the ball very high but enough to get inside the net giving the Azkals another goal. The final score of the 2nd leg match was 4-0.

Meanwhile in Tennis which just ended a few minutes ago: Wimbledon Men’s Finals Novak Djokovic vs. my favorite Rafael Nadal

Though in this match, it didn’t go the way I like it unlike in the football match earlier. My favorite Tennis player lose to Novak Djokovic 5 consecutive times now!

Djokovic finally have his first Wimbledon Title with an emphatic 6-4 6-1 1-6 6-3 victory. Djokovic won the first 2 sets through great ball control making Nadal run all over the place to reach it. I never saw Nadal played like this. It was so unlike him though in the 3rd set, it seems like Nadal’s composure was back winning the set but Djokovic was really so damn good and it was already hard for Nadal to win it anyway.

Well, he already have 10 grand slam titles and everyone have their up and down moments also Nadal will still be back next year! :) Though it still breaks my heart seeing my tennis idol look so sad.

So that’s all folks! That’s what I have for my first Sunday’s Best post. Starting tomorrow I will have a weekly editorial post in my blogs. so happy 4th of July (to those who are celebrating it) and I hpe everyone had a happy weekend!

Ciao! xoxo

Maria Alyssa

Photo sources:

Azkals vs. Brave Reds: FIFA.com gallery *you could also see it all in here in my FIFA Updates

Wimbledon: Yahoo! Sports

hellyeah-azkals:

As the Philippine football team gears for its biggest match yet in the next two months, Azkals manager Dan Palami yesterday said they will be taking a tougher stand on disciplining players who may lose their focus because of their new-found popularity.

Seeking to sustain their impressive run of results that started with a semifinal appearance in the AFF Suzuki Cup last December, the Azkals began training for their first round qualifying clash for the 2014 Fifa World Cup against Sri Lanka last week at the Alabang Country Club.

The team has been thrust into the limelight because of its achievements, but Palami has been quick to remind the Azkals of their goals.

“We are entering a different level of competition and now more than ever, there is a bigger responsibility to be more focused,” said Palami, who is ready to risk dropping players just to drive home his point.

“Nobody is bigger than the team. Nobody should feel they are indispensable,” he said. “We are willing to take a step back (by dropping players), just to make significant steps forward.”

With the camp in Duren, Germany, just a month away, the battle for spots in the squad is expected to intensify in the coming weeks with several foreign-based players seeking to impress coach Hans Michael Weiss.

Among the players who are currently training with the squad are Filipino-British striker Chad Gould, a veteran of several international tournaments, and Filipino-Australian Leigh Gunn.

Also joining the workouts are Filipino-Americans Nathaniel Burkey and Neil Ignacio and Filipino-Iranian Misagh Bahadoran, who is among the leading scorers in the first division of the United Football League.

Palami said they will only bring 23 to 25 players in the two-week camp in Germany and the players’ performance in the workouts will be heavily considered in the selection process.