HANOI, Vietnam – The performance of the Philippine Azkals under coach Thomas Dooley has impressed team manager Dan Palami that he is not keen on making a big change.
That is why Palami is recommending the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) to extend Dooley’s contract after the Azkals produced breakthrough achievements since the former United States team captain took over earlier this year.
“This team had a lot of firsts under coach Thomas so we are quite happy. So I’m recommending that the Philippine Football Federation extend his contract,” Palami told reporters after the Azkals clinched a semifinals berth in the ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup here.
Dooley signed a one-year deal after replacing German Michael Weiss in February. Since taking charge, the Azkals have been winning games and establishing new records.
They made the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup final in Maldives last May, losing 1-0 to Palestine while becoming the first team to make the Suzuki Cup semis following big wins over Laos and Indonesia.
Along the way, the Philippines beat Laos, Turkmenistan and Maldives for the first time, while Tuesday’s win over Indonesia was the country’s first since the 1934 Far Eastern Games.
Dooley also shrugged off the controversial departure of several players, namely Stephan Schrock, by emphasizing fitness, team play and attractive football.
Dooley’s impending extension is the first of several plans by Palami ahead of next year’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers where the Azkals are assured of playing eight matches against Asian teams.
One of his plans is a program called “Small Change for a Big Change” in which fans can donate money through piggy banks that will be placed at SM malls in order to raise more funds for the team.
At presstime, the Azkals were playing host Vietnam at the My Dinh National Stadium here to wrap up their group stage campaign.
The Azkals need at least at tie to secure the top spot in Group A but Dooley and company are keen on beating Vietnam for the third straight time since the “Miracle of Hanoi” in 2010.
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