MANILA, Philippines -- Simon McMenemy, the British football coach who used to handle the Philippine team, lauded the Azkals’ performance against the Mongolian Blue Wolves in the recent Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifier.
McMenemy, who is currently in the United Kingdom, followed the Azkals’ game against the Mongolians.
He said he could not explain his feelings while watching his former team perform versus the Blue Wolves.
"Mixed emotions watching the team. Sadness at not being involved but pride in the part I did play. Boys look good. Will go through easy," McMenemy said via his Twitter account.
Although sad for no longer being part of the team, McMenemy believes that there are more victories to come for the Azkals.
"To be honest it is personally kind of sad, but have to watch, want the boys to go on to greater achievements," he tweeted.
McMenemy even commended Emilio “Chieffy” Caligdong for scoring the first goal for the Philippines.
"Chieffy is capable of things like that. Glad it was him that scored first," he said.
It was McMenemy who steered the Azkals up to the semifinals of the 2010 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup.
The Azkals scored successful matches against Southeast Asian football powerhouses Vietnam and Singapore, before bowing to Indonesia in the semifinals.
The Azkals management did not extend McMenemy’s contract after December 2010 because the British coach has yet to get his Union of European Football Associations coaching permit.
He was then replaced by German coach Hans Michael Weiss.
The Azkals recently scored a 2-0 victory over the Mongolian Blue Wolves in the Challenge Cup qualifying tie at the Panaad Stadium.
The Filipino booters will need to win again against the Mongolians on March 15 to advance to the next round of the Challenge Cup.
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