EXCLUSIVE: Azkals' Phil hoping to play vs Sri Lanka

Binisita ng coach at manager ng Philippine Azkals at ng Philippine Football Federation ang Rizal Memorial Football Stadium noong Huwebes. Ito ay para malaman kung puwede sa stadium gawin ang laban ng Pilipinas kontra Sri Lanka sa July 3.

Sa pag-iikot ay nakita ng grupo na hindi gaanong pantay ang ilang bahagi ng field kaya kailangan ayusin.

Ani Hans Michael Weiss, coach ng koponan: "The grass is okay, the grass is not bad.... As I said, I think there's still enough time to take care of it. They should find a ringkeeper maybe from golf who's experienced from golf grass, pitches. They should have no problems to fix these small problems here."

Ang mga locker room ay masyado ring mababa para sa mga matatangkad na players, kaya nagdesisyon din ang grupo na magtayo ng temporary locker room.

Alas-4 ng hapon gagawin ang game.

Ani Dan Palami, team manager ng Azkals: "Our match here will be on July 3, so even the lights are not fixed, puwede namang mag-afternoon game because the people will be at their homes and could watch it live."

Hanggang 20,000 fans ang capacity ng Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Kailangan namang tiyaking matibay ang mga upuan para siguradong ligtas ang mga manonood.

"We're just happy to play in the Philippines, and not the two games in Sri Lanka," sabi naman ni James Younghusband.

Gumagaling na rin ang hamstring injury ni Phil Younghusband at inaasahan niyang makakapaglaro siya sa game kontra Sri Lanka.

"I started my rehab therapy kanina... I will be able to play," aniya.

Mas mataas ang ranking ng Pilipinas sa Sri Lanka pero kailangan pa rin nilang paghandaan ang laban.

"(The Azkals) are a very competitive team and they have been playing football for a long time," komento naman ng sports analyst na si Ronnie Nathanielz.

Plano ng team na mag-ensayo muna sa Middle East bago ang unang game sa Sri Lanka sa June 29. Dyan Castillejo, Patrol ng Pilipino