Azkals set mini-camp for S'pore 'friendly'

 Although currently with their respective clubs, members of the Philippine Azkals based in Manila will regularly get together for a “mini-camp” and play tuneup matches against local clubs prior to their Nov. 15 international friendly with Singapore in Cebu.

“We’ll gather them in a mini-camp, for say, three days, probably house them in a hotel, so they can be together as a team and develop camaraderie,” Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta said.

“The plan also calls for them to play against local teams, against UFL teams, in preparation for Nov. 15 in Cebu,” Araneta added.

The friendly with the Lions – actually a second engagement this year following their initial meeting last Sept. 7 in Singapore that saw a monumental 2-0 triumph for the Azkals – serves as Phl XIs’ send-off home game before plunging into action in next month’s AFF Suzuki Cup in Thailand.

The Azkals came off a productive 10-day training camp in the Middle East, battling higher-ranked Bahrain to a scoreless draw and yielding a fighting 1-2 setback to fancied Kuwait before breaking up to rejoin their respective clubs.

philstar