Azkals Prepare For Hectic Schedule

MANILA, Philippines — In an effort to improve the Philippine football team’s world ranking, team manager Dan Palami said they plan to play four superior teams in friendly matches beginning next month.

The International Football Federation (FIFA) has set aside dates from Sept. 27 to Oct. 11 for international friendly matches, and Palami said they will take advantage of it by playing three senior national teams from the Gulf region before hosting a game against either India or Pakistan at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The Manila game is tentatively set Oct. 11.

“Our intention right now is to play as many friendlies as possible so our rankings can go up,” said Palami who hosted a dinner for the newly-formed Azkals Press Corps on Thursday.

The Azkals are ranked 162nd while India is at 153rd and Pakistan 171st.

Palami said a selection from the Under-23 pool preparing for the Southeast Asian Games in the Indonesia in November will join the Azkals during the friendly matches “so that they will have more international exposures.”

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta Jr. had earlier said the Azkals will be at full strength during these international exhibition matches since Filipino-foreign players will be released by their professional clubs in Europe.

Before the friendly matches, the Azkals, alongside a selection from the SEA Games pool, are set to compete in the Long Teng Cup, a four-nation competition set Sept. 28 to Oct. 4 in Taiwan.

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO