Philippines keen on Challenge Cup hosting

Kathmandu: The Philippines are expressing a serious interest in hosting the qualifiers and finals of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Dan Palami, Head of the National Teams' Committee at the Philippines Football Federation (PFF) has said.

Palami explained that he will make the proposal when he returns to the Philippines from Nepal following the conclusion of the Azkals' impressive 2012 AFC Challenge Cup campaign, which comes to an end on Monday when they face Palestine in the third-place play-off.

"I will make a recommendation to PFF president Mariano 'Nonong' Araneta that we host the qualifiers for tournament and the finals as well," said Palami, who is also the Philippines Team Manager.

"It would be good for us to be a host of this important tournament. I think that's the next step for us.

"I think we should do that. By that time, we will have the facilities to have the two groups for the finals.

"I saw the pitches we have trained in and we have played in and we should be okay. One group can be in Panaad in Bacolod CIty. Hosting will definitely be a huge boost for Philippine football."

The football scene in the Philippines has improved exponentially over the past few years, with the semi-professional United Football League building a healthy fan base in the basketball-crazy country.

In 2010, the national team reached the semi-finals of the ASEAN region's main tournament, the AFF Suzuki Cup, having previously won just once in eight editions of the competition, while the current pack of Azkals have impressed at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, defeating former champions India and Tajikistan on route the semi-finals, where they narrowly lost 2-1 to Turkmenistan, the 2010 Challenge Cup runners-up.

And perhaps if the Philippines were to host the Challenge Cup then they might go further, suggests Palami.

"You're in the same situation as everybody else but the home crowd is a very big factor.

"OK, it didn't help Nepal but with the crowd that we have in Manila it would make a lot of difference."


afc.com