MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals will be flying to Nepal in April next year for the 2012 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup tournament proper.
This is after Nepal won the bid to host the Challenge Cup. According to My Republica.com, the AFC has already advised All-Nepal Football Association (ANFA) to meet all the criteria for hosting the Asian event.
Nepal won the hosting rights over Maldives and Palestine.
The tournament is likely to take place at the Dasharath Stadium, the biggest stadium in Nepal.
Built in 1956, the 55-year-old stadium has a seating capacity of 5,000, but can hold up to 25,000 spectators.
Joining the Philippines and Nepal are finalists Palestine, India, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Tajikistan and defending champion North Korea.
The Philippine Azkals qualified for the Final 8 of the Challenge Cup by beating the Bangladesh Bengal Tigers last March.
DAN Palami is planning a series of friendly matches for the Philippine national team for its buildup for the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup.
“One of the many key elements for the team is to play as many international friendly matches as possible,” Palami told Sun.Star Cebu.
The country is looking at hosting the Formations Cup this November where they have invited Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.
It will be the senior team who will be seeing action as the under-23 squad will be playing in the Southeast Asian Games during that month.
Aside from that, Palami has already gotten in touch with other international football associations, with the help of the Philippine Football Federation, for some home and away friendly matches.
“It will still depend upon the schedule of the international calendar and the availability of players,” said Palami.
Fifa sets aside certain dates in a year for international matches and clubs are required to release their players to play for their national teams.
Palami said there are some countries who have confirmed interest to play with the national squad, like those from the Middle East—where the team had their training camp—and from Southeast Asia.
Aside from scheduling friendlies, Palami said he will leave for a scouting trip in Europe to look for potential members of the senior and U23 squad, while the rest of the players are now back with their clubs.
