Barring flight delays, the Philippines Azkals were set to leave disaster-struck Japan last night for Beijing, China where they will take another flight to Ulan Bator, Mongolia.
The Azkals left their training camp in Gotemba City early yesterday to catch the flight at Narita airport where Jason Sabio was waiting for them.
Sabio was stranded at the airport for nearly 24 hours in the aftermath of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan Friday. He had just planed in from Chicago and was hoping to join the team.
“Another small quake. So many queues. So many people. Main highways are closed,” Sabio posted on his Twitter account.
Through the help of the Japanese Football Association, the Azkals were able to take the bullet train for the airport.
Another player Simon Greatwich was stranded at the Osaka airport. He was expected to fly to Incheon, South Korea at noon yesterday before taking a connecting flight that would reunite him with his teammates.
“Third earthquake in less than 24 hours? What the hell is going on? Are you feeling it all?” Greatwich posted on his Twitter account.
Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said the Azkals should keep their focus against Mongolia which they will meet March 15.
“They need to focus. It’s an important match,” Araneta said.
The strongest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years and the 30-foot tsunami left hundreds dead and thousands injured or missing.
The Azkals lost to Kanto Gakuin University, 8-1, for the second straight time just hours before the earthquake rocked the northeastern coast of the country. Kanto also won their first meeting, 4-0, last Wednesday.
Despite the lopsided setbacks, German coach Hans Michael remains upbeat.
“(Yes) we had big problems adapting to the weather and had a match versus a good university side… but the result really doesn’t matter too much and it shows you that we still have to learn a lot,” Weiss said in an e-mail interview.
"The team (Japanese) trains under professional conditions since young age, (and) they are affiliated to Yokohama Marinos, a big club in Japan. Some of these players might be pros in the future.”
source: mb.com.ph
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