KUALA LUMPUR – The Philippines national football head coach Norman Fegidero Jr is concerned about his ability to form a formidable team for this year’s Merdeka Tournament, citing that half of his players have yet to arrive due to flight delays.
Known as the Azkals by their fans, the Philippines will be making their first appearance in the prestigious tournament, facing home side Malaysia in their opening match at the Bukit Jalil National Football Stadium tomorrow.
Ranked 147th in the world, the Philippines are expected to field a team of experienced players, including eight who currently play in Europe.
Among them is Neil Etheridge, who has played in the English Premier League for teams such as Fulham and Cardiff City.
Fegidero, who took over the role from Tom Saintfiet in August, expressed concerns about his team’s lack of match fitness, as they have yet to undergo a proper training session together.
“We’ve encountered several problems, and the main issue right now is that some of our players haven’t arrived in Kuala Lumpur due to flight delays.
“A few arrived yesterday, and others will arrive this evening. This makes it challenging for me to form a strong team for the tournament.
“But I don’t blame the players for their delayed arrival, as I understand they have commitments with their respective clubs and could only come after fulfilling those duties.
“Fortunately, we have a few players with experience in the Super League, and I will work on something by starting our official training for the tournament today, incorporating their input,” Fegidero said at today’s pre-match conference at the National Stadium.
At the same time, Fegidero identified Harimau Malaya’s Safawi Rashid as the biggest threat to his side in tomorrow’s match, stressing that his defence must stay vigilant while facing the winger.
“I’ve been following the Malaysian football team for a long time, and I can say that Safawi is one of the most intelligent players I’ve seen in the Asean region.
“He’s quick, smart, and will definitely punish us if we give him too much space. My defence will need to work hard to stop him.
“All our players are excited to be part of this tournament. We know the Malaysian team is going to be a tough opponent, especially since they’re playing at home.
“We’re not sure how far we can go in this tournament, but we will give our 100%,” Fegidero added.
As of today, it has been reported that the Football Association of Malaysia has sold fewer than 1,000 tickets for the 43rd edition of the Merdeka Cup, which will kick off tomorrow and run until Sunday.
Aside from Malaysia and the Philippines, Lebanon and defending champions Tajikistan will also be vying for the coveted trophy. – September 3, 2024
