Azkals excited to play before Filipino fans in AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers

Karl Decena, InterAKTV ·

Members of the Philippine national men’s football team are looking forward to playing in front of Filipino fans as the Azkals compete in the 2014 Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium this month.


The Challenge Cup is participated by emerging football nations in Asia. The Azkals need to win their group, or become one of two best second-placed teams among 20 teams, in the qualifiers to advance to the Challenge Cup proper in Maldives next year, where the Filipinos aim to surpass their third-place finish in the same tournament last year.

Azkals manager Dan Palami is confident that playing as hosts will help the Azkals succeed in the qualifiers.

“The players need this hometown boost to really play well,” Palami said. “There’s nothing like hometown energy… (which will) help us boost our campaign.”

Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss also expressed his excitement about playing in a crucial tournament in front of the Filipino crowd.

“We are excited because it shows that the Philippines is able to host a tournament of this magnitude, and that is impressive,” Weiss said. “We have to take this as a challenge and go for the win.”

Unlike in their recent tournaments, the Azkals will be fielding what could be its best lineup as they have secured the availability of their players who are based overseas, as well as those who play locally, which further bolstered the team’s chances to succeed in the tournament.

“We want to show that we are ready for the higher level,” Weiss said. “We will have the best team available with fantastic players from overseas together with the wonderful ones we have here in the country who will play together.”

Azkals star striker Phil Younghusband is confident that the team will get past the qualifying stages of the Challenge Cup.

“With the players here and other players coming from Europe to strengthen the team, I’m confident we can do well and qualify,” Younghusband said.

The Azkals will face Brunei Darussalam on March 22, Cambodia on March 24 and Turkmenistan on March 26 for the Challenge Cup qualifiers. The winner of the 2014 Challenge Cup in Maldives will book a ticket to the prestigious 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.

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