Philippines head coach Albert Capellas calls on fans to watch the team’s home game on December 27, right smack in the middle of the Holiday season.
Philippine head coach Albert Capellas has a single Christmas wish this Holiday season, and that is to see the support of Filipino fans as the Philippine men’s national football team heads home to play the first leg of the semifinals of the Mitsubishi Electric Cup.
On Friday, December 27, the Philippines will be facing defending champions Thailand for the first of two semifinal matches at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, where they played their first semis match in the tournament since 2018.
[RELATED:
Philippine Men’s National Football Team trumps Indonesia to book Mitsubishi Cup semis]
Faced against tall odds with the defending champions in their way, Capellas said that it would be a great boost for the team to see the stands filled to the brim. After seeing only around 3,000 fans during their last home game, Capellas wants to have more.
“We play first at home. That means I would love to have the support of our fans in our stadium. I would love to see a full stadium. I think the players deserve to feel the support of the Filipinos” said Capellas.
“I always say that first we have to make our first step, and now we are here. The players did the job and now we have to continue doing the job together — not for the next game of the Philippines, but also for the next years.” he added.
After a string of three tough draws in the group stage of the Mitsubishi Electric Cup, the Philippines pulled out a gritty 1-nil win over Indonesia to seal their place in the knockout rounds.
Marking an optimistic moment for Philippine football, Capellas understands the need for the players to see their supporters in the stands.
In an attempt to give the players an additional boost against a more favored Thai side, Capellas called on the supporters to flock to the Stadium, even if it is smack in the middle of the Holidays.
“We need the fans behind us, we need the country behind to make the country proud of their national team,” he said.
The Philippines will be facing Thailand without three key cogs — Amani Aguinaldo, who will be out due to suspension, injury hit Patrick Deyto, and Patrick Reichelt who has since retired from national team duty.
[RELATED:
PMNFT captain Amani Aguinaldo faces suspension ahead of Mitsubishi Electric Cup semis]
Still, with the likes of Sandro Reyes, Bjorn Kristensen, and Quincy Kammeraad, the Philippines will try to continue their optimistic run in the ASEAN tournament.
The Philippines kick off against Thailand on Friday at 9 p.m.