link to alleged cellphone video

Azkals Rape Scandal

It all started on a fashion blog’s blind item. It mentioned that three athletes invited a girl (model) from a bar where they had a drinking spree. While the three were busy with the girl, one of them filmed the act using a cell phone. The girl found out about the video and asked them to destroy it but they declined. The girl already filed charges against the athletes.

link to alleged cellphone video

Paul Weiler strikes Again... Azkals Rape Allegation

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals find themselves in the midst of controversy as 4 members of the team are being accused of rape.

A tabloid report from a certain Paul Weiler is making its rounds in the Internet. Weiler is accusing 4 Azkals of raping a woman in the house of team manager Dan Palami.

The 4 Azkals being accused by Weiler are Neil Etheridge, Anton del Rosario, Simon Greatwich and Jason Sabio.

But the Azkals are denying the allegations.

"I've heard a lot of rumors and speculations, that this person (Weiler) is trying to get back at the team because we had a fallout while we were in Germany," said Jason Sabio. "I don't know the full story, they’re all just rumors."

Anton del Rosario added that the Azkals management is investigating the issue. "We're all trying to figure out where (the rumor) came from," he said. Simon Greatwich said he was disappointed that people were trying to bring down the team. "We have a big game ahead of us and these distractions are not helping," Greatwich said. All 3 players said that they will remain focused on their upcoming game against Kuwait. "We're trying to focus on the game ahead of us and that’s what’s more important than anything else," del Rosario said.

Source: ABSCBN

KFA ready for Philippine-Kuwait crunch match

Tickets at KD 5, 3, 2 to be released soon

KUWAIT CITY, July 12: “All preparations have been done. Everything is in place and we are ready to welcome the Philippine Azkals to Kuwait as they face the Kuwait National Football Team in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on July 23 at the Mohammad Al-Hammad (Qadsia Club) Stadium in Hawally, “ disclosed Talal Al-Mehteb, the Media Officer of the Kuwait Football Association (KFA) during a press briefing at the KFA Headquarters in Adailiya on Monday evening.

Al-Mehteb outlined the preparations being made by KFA from obtaining the final list of the line-up of players of the Philippine National Football Team, their visas, hotel accommodation to their itinerary during their stay here in Kuwait. “We already got the list of their players and we’re surprised that most of them have non-Filipino surnames and most of them don’t need a visa to Kuwait. We have already arranged their hotel and all that they may need to make their stay in Kuwait comfortable,” he explained.

Al-Mehteb also clarified that the tickets to the match are still to be printed and will be sold at prices KD 5, KD 3, and KD 2. “We will make the announcement on the availability of the tickets within this week and where the public can buy them,” he pointed out as a number of Filipinos have been going to the KFA Headquarters since last week inquiring about the tickets. He assured that they will make an official announcement on this. “As soon as the tickets are available, we will also contact the Philippine Embassy and ask them if they want to get some of the tickets and help in the distribution of tickets to the Filipinos, just like what we did during the recent match between Kuwait and Japan wherein the Embassy of Japan took some of the tickets,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy expressed its willingness to help the Kuwait Football Association to ensure the success of the football match between the two countries. “We are willing to cooperate with the Kuwait Football Association and extend all the assistance that they may need from our side. Once the tickets are ready and if they want us to help in the distribution of the tickets then we will be glad to help them out on this,” disclosed Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera to the Arab Times. He added that he has tasked embassy staff Abdulhalim Langco to coordinate closely with the KFA on this matter.

Al-Mehteb cited that the Kuwait National Team has been undergoing a rigorous training in preparation for the upcoming match with the Azkals. The team just had its training camp in Lebanon from June 27 to July 7 where it played two friendly matches against Lebanon on July 2 and Oman on July 6. He added that the team is now in Amman, Jordan, where they will take part in a friendly tournament with the national teams of Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan in preparation for the match against the Philippine team. “They are expected to be back in Kuwait on July 18,” he informed.

Ranked No. 102 in the FIFA rankings and 11th in Asia, the Kuwait National Team, a 10-time Gulf Cup of Nations Champion made it to the World Cup in 1982 and achieved its highest ranking in December 1998 at No. 24.

On the other hand, the Philippine Azkals has been making waves with its impressive display of action-packed football during its recent 4-0 victory over Sri Lanka and a 5-1 aggregate win at the jam-packed Rizal Stadium in Manila to reach the second round for the first time in the Philippine football history. The team is flying to Bahrain on July 14 for a training camp and will play two friendly matches there to acclimatize to the scorching heat in the Gulf region before its match with Kuwait on July 23.

When asked about security preparation during the match, citing the game in Lebanon on July 2 where Kuwait dumped Lebanon 6-0 that ended in a brawl prompting the military to fire warning shots, Al-Mehteb assured that the Ministry of Interior will be on top of the security. Moreover, he stressed that this will be a friendly game between two friendly countries. “We love the Filipino people. We are expecting a fun game between the Philippine Azkals and the Kuwait Team. We will be there to enjoy a good game, “he reiterated.

Al Mehteb disclosed that the Kuwait National Team will be flying to Manila right after its game on July 23 for the second leg between the two teams at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on July 28.

“Kuwait is a strong team to contend but the Azkals also plays very good and very professional but we all hope that Kuwait will win this game. Good luck to the two teams,” enthused Al-Mehteb.

Tough road ahead for Azkals

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano (Nonong) Araneta Jr. said yesterday several tournaments are being lined up for the Azkals regardless of the outcome of their second round World Cup Asia qualifying series against Kuwait on July 23 and 28.

There will be no respite for the Azkals as the PFF makes sure the national team is kept in razor-sharp form after thrashing Sir Lanka, 5-1, on aggregate, to advance to the second round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time ever since 1934. Before the victory over Sri Lanka, the Philippines was winless in nine World Cup qualifying contests.

Araneta said plans are underway for the Azkals to compete in the four-team Long Teng Cup in Taiwan in September against Hong Kong, Macau and the host nation. In October, the PFF will host a four-team pocket invitational tournament with Malaysia and Singapore confirming participation and the last slot going to either Thailand or Vietnam. Then, coach Michael Weiss will pilot the Philippines under-23 team in the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia on Nov. 11-22.

The Philippines is one of eight countries that survived the first round of the World Cup Asia qualifiers. The others are Nepal (over East Timor, 2-1 aggregate), Myanmar (over Mongolia, 2-1 aggregate), Vietnam (over Macau, 13-0 aggregate), Palestine (over Afghanistan, 3-1 aggregate), Bangladesh (over Pakistan, 3-0 aggregate), Malaysia (over Chinese-Taipei, 3-2 aggregate) and Laos (over Cambodia, 8-6 aggregate).  The second round pairings are Philippines vs Kuwait, Nepal vs Jordan, Myanmar vs Oman, Vietnam vs Qatar, Palestine vs Thailand, Bangladesh vs Lebanon, Malaysia vs Singapore and Laos vs China.  Additionally, the second round will feature seven duels involving seeded teams – Iraq vs Yemen, Saudi Arabia vs Hong Kong, Iran vs Maldives, Indonesia vs Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates vs India, Uzbekistan vs Kyrgyzstan and Syria vs Tajikistan.

The 15 winners of the second round move on to join five seeded teams – No. 1 Japan, No. 2 South Korea, No. 3 Australia, No. 4 North Korea, No. 5 Bahrain – in the third round where the contenders are split into five groups of four. The winners and second placers of each group then play in the 10-team finals where the top two teams in both groups earn outright tickets to the 2014 World Cup and the third placers clash in a home-and-away series for the last slot.

Araneta said the Azkals who are signed to live contracts with clubs abroad will be allowed by their mother teams to compete in the World Cup qualifiers because the event is sanctioned by FIFA. He said goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will be given a leave of absence by Fulham to play in the Kuwait series and ruled out defender Stephan Shrock being recalled by his German club.

Araneta said last Friday, the PFF formally made an appeal to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) disciplinary committee headed by Lim Kia Tong of Singapore to lift the suspension of Shrock and skipper Aly Borromeo who accumulated two yellow cards in the Sri Lanka series, resulting in a carryover sit-out in the opener of the Kuwait tie. AFC secretary-general Alex Soosay of Malaysia replied yesterday, referring Araneta to the FIFA disciplinary committee.

“It’s a simple appeal,” said Araneta. “We don’t lose anything by trying. We based our appeal on the fact that Kuwait didn’t play in the first round unlike us so the penalty isn’t on even grounds. It would be different if Kuwait played in the first round and subjected to the same circumstances. Personally, I don’t think it’s fair that we are being penalized for playing in the first round and advancing. We’re asking to play with a full lineup to even the competition.”Araneta said the fact that the AFC advised him to appeal directly to FIFA means there is a chance the suspension may be withdrawn. “At least, the AFC didn’t turn down our appeal,” he said. “Instead, we were advised to bring up the matter to FIFA. We understand that FIFA makes a special ruling on cases like this. We’re expecting to receive a response from FIFA before the end of the week. We’re hoping for the best.”

Among the 45 countries ranked in the World Cup Asia qualifiers, the Philippines and Laos are the lowest seeds, occupying joint No. 44-45. Sri Lanka is ranked joint No. 33-34 with Vietnam. Kuwait is ranked No. 17.Araneta said in case the PFF appeal is turned down, Weiss will bring in defensive specialist Jason de Jong and Patrick Hinrichsen of the German club Eintracht Oberursel to fill the gaps. “It’s coach Weiss’ call, not the PFF’s,” said Araneta. “Coach Weiss knows best how to adjust the lineup if Stephan and Aly won’t play. I was informed that Jerry Lucena, who played for us against Bangladesh in the Challenge Cup qualifiers, may also be tapped.”

Araneta said defense will be the Azkals’ priority in the first match in Kuwait. “We expect a hard and physical match against Kuwait and our defense will be severely challenged,” said Araneta. “Our defense must hold up. Kuwait just beat Lebanon, 6-0, in a friendly and the match ended in a free-for-all with security forces firing gunshots into the air to stop the brawl.”

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Greatwich, Jason to join Azkals

SIMON Greatwich, the younger brother of Chris who also plays for the Philippine Azkals, will be recalled to join the nationals when they see action against the Kuwaitis in their two-game 2014 World Cup Qualifying Match series.

The Azkals play the Kuwaitis on July 23 in Kuwait City and will host the Middle East football power on July 29 in Manila

Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss said Greatwich, along with Fil-Dutch booter Jason de Jong, will be included in the Kuwait-bound team to replace suspended players Aly Borromeo and Fi-German Stephan Schrock.

“We want to put the best group together, at the same time, put together a game plan against Kuwait. The plan must be compact and very aggressive,” said Weiss.

De Jong and Greatwich had earlier been tasked to lead the national 23-under team and were not included in the roster that fought and won against the Sri Lanka Brave Reds.

Weiss said the two replacements will join the Azkals in Bahrain for a series of tuneup games starting on Friday.

The soft-spoken German coach added that the coaching staff will try to address some weaknesses that have been exposed during their game against Sri Lanka.

“Our transition from offense to defense was slow. We don’t put enough pressure on the forward position. That’s what we have to work on,” said Weiss during a break in scrimmages yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex football grounds.

Strikers Phil Younghusband and Angel Guirado did not join the scrimmages because of injuries. Younghusband, though, did some light workouts, while Guirado wasn’t even at the complex.

Meanwhile, team manager Dan Palami said the allegations that four members of the Azkals were involved in rape will not be tolerated.

“These are serious allegations that are being plastered on the Internet. As manager of the team, this will not be tolerated. On the other hand, I cannot impose sanctions on the players based on Internet blogs, because, actually, even I could write anything on the Internet. These stories are not verified. So I cannot rely on this alone,” Palami said.

Palami added that the team has not been approached by the police with regards the allegations, nor has a case been filed against any member of the team.

The allegations appeared on a blog claiming that four members of the Azkals raped a girl during a night out.

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