Tom Saintfiet has been named the new head coach for the Philippine national football team, the Azkals.
The Philippine Football Federation enacted the coaching change, which will only affect the senior men’s team. Saintfiet is the former coach of Gambia, a country in West Africa. The change comes less than a month before the Azkals will face Iraq’s national team in the second round of the Asian Qualifiers.
Saintfiet has been around the league and is a well-respected coach, having previous tenures with Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Yemen, Malawi, Togo, Bangladesh, Trinidad and Tobago, Malta, and, most recently, Gambia. Tom Saintfiet has also managed professional clubs in the Netherlands, Germany, Jordan, and Tanzania.
When asked about his new job with the Azkals, Saintfiet said, “I was in need of an ambitious task—a project.” The coach said the Azkals are not in a favorable position, only scoring 1 point in the last window and trailing Vietnam by two points. This means the team is currently in a challenging position in the Asian Qualifiers, with a significant gap to close in the upcoming matches.
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) director for national teams, Freddy Gonzales, added that the Azkals are looking for a new moniker. While no timeline exists for renaming the team, Gonzales said the name has served its purpose.
Betting On The National Football (Soccer) In The Philippines
Betting on soccer is one of the most popular wagering options online, with game lines, futures, and props. While most sites focus on league play, international soccer also produces numerous betting options.
The Azkals often appear on the odds boards when playing in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers or the Asean Cup. Betting on the national team (Azkals) is legal under current gambling laws, as there are no restrictions on gambling online. Philippine bettors also have multiple options, including domestic and online sportsbooks that often carry odds for the sport.
Have The Azkals Ever Won The World Cup?
While the Azkals have never won or qualified for the FIFA World Cup, they have made significant strides in their journey. In 2022, they fought hard but lost to China 0-2 in the final stage of group competition to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.
The Azkals have also only qualified for the AFC Asian Cup once in 2019. This was a significant achievement for the team, marking their first appearance in the tournament. With plenty of room to grow, a new name could signal a new beginning, and the new coach, Tom Saintfiet, could be the guy to take them to the next level.
