Azkals make holiday sacrifice
The national men’s football team is ready to make a huge sacrifice as it treks a month-long journey for the AFF Suzuki Cup title in Singapore starting next week.
Naturalized Azkals striker Bienvenido Marañon, veteran Martin Steuble and head coach Scott Cooper said they don’t mind spending the Yuletide season away from their families as they got a rare opportunity to don the national jersey in the prestigious regional tournament.
Marañon, the Azkals’ first ever naturalized player, said there’s nothing that excites him more than finally having a chance to spend time with his new teammates while playing a crucial role in their quest for the prestigious title.
The biennial football showpiece will be held in a centralized setup with all games set to run from 5 December to 1 January 2022.
“For me, I feel so happy to be here. My family is also happy that I’ll stay here,” Marañon, whose squad is bunched in Group A with Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Myanmar, said.
“Christmas is every year. But a game with Azkals? It’s not every year.”
It was a long wait for Marañon to be included in the Azkals roster.
A four-time Philippine Football League champion with
United City FC, the Cadiz-born talent was originally expected to join the team’s initial pool in the FIFA World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates back in July
His naturalization process, however, faced a serious delay that made him ineligible to see action in the qualifiers.
But with everything already in place, Marañon is ready to go all out in the international stage. Steuble also shares the same sentiment. Already in his fourth Suzuki Cup campaign, the Filipino-Swiss left-back said there is no greater sacrifice than to play for the country in a very momentous month.
“There will be Christmas next year and the following year as well. I think it’s not too bad to spend some time playing football for the Azkals,” Steuble said.
“Besides, I was lucky enough to spend a few days with my family. The focus is now on football and the Azkals.”
Cooper, on his part, said the greatest gift that they can get this month is to win the elusive title that has been eluding the squad for decades.
After four disappointing semifinal exits since 2010, Cooper said this Suzuki Cup edition is the perfect time for them to break the spell and barge into the championship round.
“I’m a big Christmas fan and in the New Year I like to be with my family. If you’re going to be away with them at that time, then make it count,”
Cooper said.
“Let’s try to give everybody an extra Christmas present and enjoy ourselves. (We) just have to give ourselves a chance to play.”
Christmas is every year. But a game with Azkals? It’s not every year.