Cold or not, Azkals ready vs Mongolians

Living in a tropical country like the Philippines, the closest Emilio “Chieffy” Caligdong could get or feel a snow is when he opens a refrigerator.

But for his Fil-foreign teammates who grew up in Europe, winter season is part of life.

With players living half a globe apart, it’s no big surprise that the Philippine Azkals have contrasting opinions about playing under a freezing condition.

The Azkals will battle Mongolia on March 15 at Ulan Bator for their rematch in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifier, and whether or not the cold temperature there – which drops to negative 20 degrees – will work in the Filipinos’ favor remains to be seen.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said the match is set at 1 p.m., reportedly the warmest time of the day at minus 10 degrees.

Caligdong, who scored the first goal in the Azkals’ 2-0 triumph over Mongolia in the first leg of their home-and-away series in Bacolod City, admitted the weather condition may affect their performance in Mongolia.

“Of course, it will be a little difficult for us to play under that condition because we’re not accustomed to it,” the 28-year-old product of Barotac Nuevo, said in Filipino yesterday. “But hopefully, through our training in Baguio City and maybe in Japan, we can get used to it.”

In his six-year international campaign with the national team, the ace striker from the Philippine Airforce said he has never played in a country as cold as Mongolia. He ranks his stint in the Suzuki Cup in Hanoi, Vietnam last year, where temperature is similar to Baguio City (about six and 8 degrees) as the coldest condition he’s ever been with.

While playing in Mongolia seemed a disadvantage for Caligdong, Fil-British Phil Younghusband, a former Chelsea reserve in England who has vast experience playing in cold condition, sees it otherwise.

“We have played many matches in Europe, in the cold. And I think it’s a lot easier playing under that condition. In the heat you sweat a lot… I’d rather play in the cold,” Younghusband, 23, said in a recent interview.

“With the Fil-Foreigners that we have in the team, the weather might be on our side after all,” Younghusband, who scored the other goal in the Azkals’ latest win, said.