Phil offers Azkals win over Nepal to departed mom

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

A RESOLUTE and beaming Phil Younghusband faced the media on Tuesday night as he offered the national football team's victory over visiting Nepal Gorkhalis to his mother who succumbed to heart attack last month.

Alongside elder brother James, Phil said the Azkals' emphatic 4-0 victory at the refurbished Rizal Memorial Stadium was a fitting tribute to the woman who encouraged them to pursue football back in England.

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“Every game we play is for mom and dad and I know they are looking down on us and are very proud. We want to work hard 110 percent but from now on, it will be more special as we’re dedicating it to my mom and dad,” Phil, who scored two goals and set up a third for the Azkals, said.

Susan Placer-Younghusband died last September 10 just as her sons were preparing for the four-nation Long Teng Cup in Taiwan, where the Philippines finished second. She was 49.

Phil's father, meanwhile, passed away in 2003 due to cancer. The family moved to the Philippines only last year.

Before 8,000 fans, the national team failed to disappoint fans and critics alike after its masterful demolition of the Gorkhalis, who are 31 places higher than the Philippines in the International Association of Football Federation (Fifa) rankings.

The Philippines is currently at 166th while Nepal placed 135th.

But the energetic crowd plus the Azkals' determination to win at home pushed them to give it all as Phil broke the ice in the 17th minute and made a follow-up in the 55th minute.

His brother also complemented the effort, pulling off a long strike in the 30th minute.

It was the Azkals last game for the year, where Fil-foreigners such as goalkeeper Niel Etheridge, Paul Mulders and Jerry Lucena rejoined the squad after attending to personal and club commitments overseas.

“I think this game’s important. Everyone remembers the last game,” Phil said. (Sunnex)