The Philippine National Football team shared their expertise with selected kids in a football clinic yesterday at the Aboitiz Field.
The Azkals trained the members of the Under-13 national team who dubbed themselves the Little Azkals. The young players are set to leave for Malaysia this Monday to face nine countries in the Asean Football Confederation Festival of Football.

"It's an inspiration for the kids who are looking forward to be one with the Azkals someday," said Richard Montayre of the Cebu Football Association.
Five Cebuanos made it to the lineup of the Little Azkals, who will be sent on the first international Under-13 competition of the AFC. The country was able to send a national team for the Under-14 tournament last year.

"This is a stronger team this year," said Montayre.
Coach Elying Toledo revealed that the kids were excited to meet their idols but he constantly reminds his players to stay focused as they are down to the final days of training. "Masaya kasi dito rin kami nagsimula. Magandang way ito para mapromote yung football grassroots," said striker Ian Araneta.

Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who is visiting Cebu for second time, said he hopes for more kids to be involved in football clinics.
"Helping children learn football is a great experience for me," Etheridge said.
Injuries
Meanwhile, Azkal forward William Espinosa dislocated his elbow in a non-football related accident when he fell off-balance from a jetski while frolicking with the team.
He was brought directly to Mactan Doctors' Hospital but no fracture was reflected in the X-ray results. Espinosa is in half cast right now.
"He will be ready in one to two weeks. There is no problem on fitness," said conditioning coach Josef Malinay.

On the other hand, Anton Del Rosario caught a viral infection that was very similar with what derailed Chad Gould.
He was hospitalized but is expected to recover in the next few days.
LAPU-LAPU, Cebu – Filipino-British goalkeeper Neil Etheridge is confident that he has a bright future with his English Premier League team Fulham Football Club (FC).
Etheridge, who plays an important role in the Philippine Azkals, said Fulham has big plans for him.

"They think I have a lot of push toward the future," Etheridge, who plays as reserve goalkeeper for Fulham, told abs-cbnNEWS.com.
Fulham recently extended Etheridge's contract until 2013.
At 21 years old, Etheridge has been considered as one of the Philippines' football gems, being one of the first Filipino-British players in the English Premier League.
He, however, said he still has a lot to prove.

"I'm still young for goalkeeper. A lot of goalkeeper playing in the mainstream are 25, 26 or older than that so you can imagine that I have a long time to wait," he said.
"I don't wanna push myself too much to start causing arguments... There's always a time for things. So far I'm taking the right steps at the right time," Etheridge added.
Etheridge returned to the Philippines to rejoin the Philippine Azkals in their quest to reach the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The Azkals are scheduled to face Sri Lanka in the first round of the World Cup qualifiers.
Their home-and-away series with Sri Lanka will take place on June 29 and July 3.

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