Latest news with #AsianCup
GMA Network
7 hours ago
- Sport
- GMA Network
Albert Capellas parts ways with PMNFT, Carles Caudrat takes over
Philippine Men's National Football Team head coach Albert Capellas has parted ways with the squad and will be replaced by recently appointed assistant coach Carles Caudrat. The Philippine Football Federation announced the development late Saturday, just less than two weeks before the Philippines' match against Tajikistain in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers on June 10. "My wonderful journey as head coach of the Philippine National Football Federation has come to an end and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all those who have been part of it, especially the players and all the staff involved, the Director of National Teams Freddy Gonzalez, and the President John Gutierrez," Capellas, who was appointed as head coach in September 2024, said in a statement. 'Together, we have enjoyed an inspiring journey and have proven that Filipino football has a promising generation of young players with the potential to bring great pride and success to the country. I am sincerely grateful for the time we have shared and for the support and kindness I've received from the entire Filipino football community. I will always carry these memories with me and wish the Federation and the team continued growth and success in the years to come. With gratitude, Albert Capellas.' According to Gonzalez, Capellas stepped down due to personal reasons. 'Personal reasons have led to Albert's departure. Out of great respect for him, we will not elaborate. We are grateful for his service, and wish him well. I continue to consider him a friend,' Gonzalez said. 'As with all things in life, change happens and one must always be prepared to handle unexpected turns. We move on, and keep pushing forward. Albert left us with a blueprint to follow and we thank him for bringing Carles on board, enabling him to be the interim head coach and provide continuity for what Albert has started. Now is the time to focus on the match with Tajikistan and push to be top of the group and focus on qualifying for the Asian Cup.' With Capellas at the helm, the Philippine men's team reached the semis of the ASEAN Championships last December, which along the way included a historic win against Thailand in five decades. Cuadrat, meanwhile, has worked with the national teams of Saudi Arabia and El Salvador, and top European clubs Barcelona Youth, Galatasaray and Midtjylland. Recently, he steered East Bengal FC to their first trophy in over a decade. —JKC, GMA Integrated News
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rayan Mohammed wins historic Pakistan call-up as Scottish-born Dundee starlet looks to break new ground
Rayan Mohammed, 19, joined the Dens Park club from Alloa Athletic in 2023 and has spent time out on loan with Berwick Rangers and Forfar Athletic Dundee youngster Rayan Mohammed has won his first senior call-up for Pakistan, with the Scottish-born striker continuing to be a beacon for the country's Asian community in football. Mohammed burst onto the scene back in February 2023 when he made his first team debut for Alloa Athletic at the age of 17 after scoring goals for fun in the Wasps' youth set up. The 19-year-old has yet to make his senior bow for Dundee following his arrival on Tayside in the following summer but has spent time out on loan with Forfar Athletic and Berwick Rangers - scoring two goals in League Two for the former in the 2023/24 season. And the Edinburgh forward's displays have obviously caught the eye of Pakistan's English-born head coach Stephen Constantine. who has included the teen in his squad for the Asian Cup qualifying double header against Myanmar and Afghanistan next month. Taking to Instagram to share news of the landmark moment, Mohammed - a product of the famed Hutchinson Vale academy - said: "Buzzing to be called up to the Pakistan international team", followed by a green heart emoji. Record Sport interviewed the Dens Park attacker back in March 2023 after he had made the breakthrough with Alloa. And Mohammed outlined his huge ambitions to try and make a name for himself in Scotland by emulating his idol Cristiano Ronaldo. He said: "I just want to be the best I can be. "Obviously my dream is to make it to the Premier League and to play for Scotland and score lots of goals. "I've always loved Ronaldo – you can tell he's such a hard worker and I'm all for that. "It's the example I try to follow." Mohammed - who scored for Berwick last season in a Challenge Cup win over Formartine - also told us about what was going through his head when Brian Rice handed him his Alloa debut for the last seven minutes of a 1-1 draw against Falkirk. "Making my debut was a dream", he stated. "It was only when the gaffer told me to warm up that the nerves started kicking in. "You make a lot of sacrifices to get to a stage like that and making my debut felt like a reward for all the hard work I've put in. "My heart was beating fast when I ran onto the pitch but I felt like I did well. "I won us a penalty so I was happy with my first appearance." You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Tactician who toppled Man United now targets Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR: It won't just be Malaysia and Vietnam battling it out at the National Stadium on June 10 — a tactical showdown is also brewing on the sidelines. National coach Peter Cklamovski is expected to face his stiffest test yet in Vietnam boss Kim Sang Sik, a man whose strategic nous was on full display when he masterminded the Asean All-Stars' stunning 1-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday. Despite assembling the team just two days before the friendly and missing key players due to World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, Sang Sik's side looked anything but disorganised. Against a Red Devils squad boasting captain Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, the Asean XI pulled off a defensive and attacking masterclass to snatch a famous win in Bukit Jalil. That result has raised eyebrows — and expectations — ahead of Vietnam's visit, with critics predicting a fiercely organised and compact Vietnamese unit arriving in Kuala Lumpur. Football pundit Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim believes Asean XI's triumph over United was no fluke. "Sang Sik didn't have the best players, but still got them playing as a unit. That speaks volumes about his tactical awareness," said Zulakbal. "It also suggests he's working with a vast scouting network and strong data analysis behind the scenes." "In modern football, analytics dictate a lot, and Sang Sik clearly knows how to use that to his advantage." Malaysia will need to be sharp. The Golden Star Warriors have dominated the rivalry in recent years, winning seven of the last eight meetings since 2016. The last time Harimau Malaya beat Vietnam was 11 years ago at the AFF Cup But Cklamovski's side have shown signs of promise. On Thursday, they held world No. 72 Cape Verde to a 1-1 draw at the KLFA Stadium. With the possible inclusion of newly naturalised stars like Rodrigo Holgado, hopes are high for a turnaround. Still, Vietnam remain an enigma. There's been little information on their squad, a move that hasn't gone unnoticed. "We've seen very few updates on their preparations. It's clear Sang Sik is keeping his cards close to his chest," said Zulakbal. "Vietnam are always well-drilled and difficult to break down. But Malaysia have also been doing their homework." Several Malaysian officials were spotted in the stands during the Asean XI's win over United. Not to be outdone, Vietnam's coaches also kept tabs on Harimau Malaya during their clash with Cape Verde.
Malaysiakini
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Malaysiakini
Harimau Malaya's draw against Cape Verde boosts team confidence
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has described Harimau Malaya's 1-1 draw against Cape Verde in a Tier 1 international friendly on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur as a positive development for the national team. She said the result, achieved against a team ranked 72nd in the world, will help build the team's confidence ahead of their crucial 2027 Asian Cup qualifying match against Vietnam on June 10. 'I hope every match will provide...
Malaysiakini
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Malaysiakini
Harimau Malaya's draw against Cape Verde boosts team confidence
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has described Harimau Malaya's 1-1 draw against Cape Verde in a Tier 1 international friendly on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur as a positive development for the national team. She said the result, achieved against a team ranked 72nd in the world, will help build the team's confidence ahead of their crucial 2027 Asian Cup qualifying match against Vietnam on June 10. 'I hope every match will provide...
