MANILA, Philippines – Vietnam, the ASEAN power that the unheralded Philippine Azkals ambushed in the group stages of the AFF Suzuki Cup back in 2010, wants a crack at the Pinoy booters before they embark on their campaign in this year's Suzuki Cup.
"Vietnam has invited us to play a friendly in Vietnam," said Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta, who received the invite from his Vietnamese counterparts when he and Monico Puentevella director of the Fifa marketing and television committee attended the Fifa Congress recently in Budapest.
The Azkals had made the Vietnamese some sort of stepping stone to fame in 2010, hacking out a monumental 2-0 shocker over the then defending Suzuki Cup champions before 40,000 fans at the My Dinh National Stadium.
That epic victory paved the way for a breakthrough semis stint for the Azkals, who went on to make inroads in other tourneys spiked by a bronze medal in the AFC Challenge Cup last March in Nepal.
Aside from Vietnam, which is the highest-ranked ASEAN nation in the Fifa world rankings at 97th, Araneta said representatives from Bahrain and Indonesia have also asked him for a shot at the Azkals (148th). As of posting time, the Indons are playing the Azkals at Rizal Memorial tonight and the Merah Putih would want a Round 2 in Indonesia later in the year.
"They (Vietnam, Bahrain and Indonesia) want to play us anytime during the next Fifa match days," said Araneta, referring to the next international friendlies slates in the Fifa calendar, Aug. 15, Sept. 7-11, and October 12-16.
"We still have to discuss it with (Azkals team manager) Dan (Palami)," the PFF chief said.
PFF president = no power
ReplyDeleteDan Palami = big chief
Nevertheless, its good to see that other nations wants to play against the Philippines.
it is but right for him to ask Dan Palami because if i remember right, the team has a scheduled camp in the US this Aug. and October would be the Long Teng Cup. Nothing wrong with coordinating schedule if you ask me.
Deletethe Philippines never had this kind of opportunity before. No nation would think of inviting the Phiippines for a friendly. Now we can see that the future of the Philippines (football) is bright. Go Philippines!!!!....
ReplyDeleteHope U22 performs well.
ReplyDeleteI love your optimism guys, I'm so happy we see less and less people with crab mentality here.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I'm very proud of our NT. We have come a very, VERY, long way. I am not saying that we are beyond amazing, I am just proud and glad that we are finally making sort of a dent in ASEAN football.
I always hope for more success in the future. Good luck azkals :)
Our NT management is developing and becoming strong as a group. There are proper coordination and respect of authority.
ReplyDeleteThese things reflect to the performance and attitude of the players.
Our NT as a whole is slowly but surely becoming cohesive and not divided anymore. We have already started and moving slowly but surely.
We have to think always that we are not yet there like the other countries that has been in the ranks of football, but we are going there.
Let us continue supporting our football guys. Most of you have seen how they played, to get a goal alone, the have to played in the mud, rain, slides, tackles, body contacts, etc. Let's give credit also to the Indon team, they gave us a scare but our team held on.