Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Hithadhoo: Coach Thomas Dooley has played down the absences of striker Phil Younghusband and defender Rob Gier ahead of the Philippines’ highly-anticipated AFC Challenge Cup Group B opener against SAFF champions Afghanistan on Tuesday.
Younghusband was the tournament’s top scorer at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal as the Philippines finished third, while the 26-year-old also topped the scoring charts with five goals in two games as the Azkals qualified for the 2014 edition.
But after scoring the only goal of the game against Turkmenistan, Younghusband was sent-off after picking up second yellow card, while Gier was also cautioned for a second consecutive game meaning the pair will miss the meeting with Afghanistan at Hithadhoo Stadium.
“It is a great chance for the next in line to show they can play. Players get injured before the tournament so I am not thinking about the negatives, I am looking at the players who can come in and do a job,” said Dooley, who was appointed coach of the two-time AFF championship semi-finalists in February.
“We are happy to be playing at the last AFC Challenge Cup. We would like to make our fans happy and play nice football. We hope to be successful and have a great tournament. We will take every game seriously as every team is dangerous.”
The final edition of the AFC Challenge Cup also offers the winners the chance to join defending champions Japan, Jordan and Iraq in Group D at the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015.
And despite Afghanistan having yet to win a game in two previous appearances at the AFC Challenge Cup in 2006 and 2008, the 2013 SAFF Championship winners are also one of the favourites to emerge victorious this month in the Maldives.
But coach Mohammad Kargar, who masterminded Afghanistan’s 2013 SAFF Championship success, will not be in charge for the first three games of the AFC Challenge Cup due to a suspension meaning German Erich Rutemoller has been drafted in on an interim basis.
“Our target is to improve our record. I have seen how the players have worked on the field and in practice matches,” said Rutemoller.
“In our last match against Kuwait we were 3-0 down, but came back to 3-2 and it was fantastic to see. That is what it is all about, if you have the right attitude you will improve and reach your targets.”
Also on Tuesday, two-time runners-up Turkmenistan face Laos at Hithadhoo Stadium.
Turkmenistan, who qualified for the 2014 edition as one of the best second placed sides despite that defeat by the Philippines, have lost the previous two AFC Challenge Cup finals to DPR Korea.
“We started to prepare in January and had three training camps,” said coach Rahim Kurbanmamedov.
“All the teams have a chance to qualify. In Group A, all the teams also have chance. This is the last chance to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup in Australia.”
Laos, who lost their last warm-up game 7-1 to the Maldives, also qualified for their first-ever continental tournament as one of the best second placed sides.
“Our players are very short and I am worried as the Turkmenistan players are very tall. Every team has a chance to qualify for the semi-finals and I hope we get a chance to do our best,” said Japanese coach Norio Tsukitate, who has been in charge of the team for three months.
“This is the first international tournament for Laos. We have a lot of young players with not a lot of experience. They don’t understand what is an international game, but maybe they know now.
“They are scared of anything and they only look to the future. I hope our young team can do well in this competition.”