MikeLigalig.com

The Philippine football team will see action in three major tournaments in 2011, including the qualifying tournament for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil which the country is joining for the first time in more than a decade.

The Azkals resume their campaign in February when they clash with Mongolia in a home-and-away tie in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifier.

The home game will most likely be held at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod on Feb. 9, but the Philippine Football Federation is also pushing to have the away game at Panaad because of the cold weather in Mongolia.

Also lined up is the qualifying event for the 2014 World Cup and the Southeast Asian Games in December in Indonesia.

The SEA Games is an Under-23 event and only six players from the senior team, including goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and Jason de Jong, will be eligible for the tournament.

Given little chance because of their poor results in the past, the Azkals emerged as the surprise package of the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup, reaching the semifinals where they bowed to Indonesia.

A stunning 2-0 victory over Vietnam and draws with fancied squads Singapore and Myanmar propelled the Filipinos to the semifinals for the first time in the tournament’s 14-year history.

“It was a culmination of a very nice run for us,” said team manager Dan Palami at the PSA Forum, sponsored by Pagcor, Shakey’s and Outlast Battery, at Shakey’s UN Avenue in Manila, on Tuesday.

“We never expected to reach the semifinals and credit goes to the players for playing their hearts out. Our campaign was a reflection of the Filipino spirit of never backing down.”

The Azkals also paid a courtesy call on Smart Communications chair and CEO Manny V. Pangilinan, on Tuesday, at the Smart Tower in Makati, where they received a warm welcome.

Pangilinan pledged P1 million for the Azkals’ future campaigns. - pna

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=35667.0