To find out how preparations for the 2018 AFF Cup are going in the Philippines, Football Tribe’s SEA Editor Gian Chansrichawla interviewed Filipino football writer Ced Seredrica. Below are his comments on how the Azkals are shaping up ahead of this regional tournament.
Firstly, what is the mood like in the Philippines ahead of this major tournament?
To be honest football here is still in its infancy. Most of the population aren’t aware of what the AFF Cup is. But us long-time football fans are excited and optimistic for this year.
This year, goalkeeper Neil Etheridge has established himself as a key player for Premier League side Cardiff City. What impact has seeing a player from the Philippines star in the world’s biggest league had on the country?
I think it helped raised the profile of the sport here. Whenever a Filipino does well abroad, it tends to be big news here. So Neil being the first Southeast Asian player to play in the Premier League is a big deal and all of the fans here are extremely proud of his achievements.
There has been a major turnover of managers recently in the Philippines, first with Terry Butcher, then Scott Cooper, then finally Sven Goran Eriksson. Can you please explain that situation and why the national team has gone through so many managers suddenly?
The situation with Terry Butcher was a weird one. He just decided that he wasn’t sold on the project here. Scott Cooper was really (initially) hired to help guide the head coach through the nuances of ASEAN Football and what to expect at this level. I don’t think Cooper expected to be at the helm in the short term but I’m guessing the PFF has a long term plan with him.
Eriksson is of course a very well known coach internationally, but he has sometimes been divisive in the past. What is your personal opinion on him? Are you happy that he is the Azkal’s manager?
I’ve got mixed feelings about it. But one thing you can’t deny is that this is a massive coup for a country at our level. Word is that Sven was impressed that most of our players have European upbringing and are familiar with the style of play of European coaches. I think Sven was a good manager in his day but he is in the twilight of his career. It does help in having a big name taking the helm of our team as now more foreign based players of Filipino heritage has expressed interest in suiting up for our country, which can only bring good things on the field.
Do you think Philippines are in the easier or tougher group at the 2018 AFF Cup?
I don’t think there’s an easy group to be honest. Most pundits discounted our team in the 2010 edition and look how that turned out for us. Any team can beat any another on any given day, and the levels of the teams are not as far apart as others may think.
What is your opinion on the Thailand national team ahead of this tournament?
Thailand is what other ASEAN nations should aspire to be. They are always the team to beat and are arguably the best nation in the region. But like what I said a while ago, the gap is not as big as other people tend to think and nations like Vietnam and the Philippines are closing the gap on Thailand recently.
What is your opinion on the Indonesia national team ahead of this tournament?
Indonesia has some of the most passionate supporters in the entire world, not just ASEAN. They love their football but their national team tends to disappoint their fans often. They have all the skill necessary to succeed in the tournament, they just need to have the right mentality to get over the hump and finally win the AFF Cup.
How well do you think the Philippines will do during this tournament?
With the hiring of Sven and the expectations that came with it, nothing short of a Finals appearance would be a disappointment for us. I’d call this current squad our golden generation and there is no better window of opportunity for our team than now. With our youth teams struggling, the Philippines has to win the Cup sooner rather than later and I believe we have the quality necessary to achieve just that this year.