Badly needing matches to improve cohesion, the Philippines continues its buildup for the AFF Suzuki Cup with a showdown against Malaysia on Oct. 11 at Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor, Malaysia.
The Football Association of Malaysia confirmed the international friendly match in its website Tuesday.
The friendly marks the second time the two sides played this year after their scoreless draw last March. It was coach Thomas Dooley’s first match in charge of the Azkals who were then preparing for the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives.
Dooley wants the Azkals to play six matches prior to the Suzuki Cup. But the team has found difficulty arranging international friendly matches this month until the Malaysia duel was finally approved.
Azkals manager Dan Palami said the team will hold one more training camp in the Middle East before plunging into action in the regional tournament where the Filipino booters are back to back semifinalists.
Malaysia is also preparing for the Suzuki Cup which the Tigers won in 2010. They will be playing in Group B against host Singapore, Thailand and the qualifying round topnotcher.
The Azkals are in the other group playing in Hanoi where they face Vietnam, Indonesia and the No. 2 qualifier starting Nov. 20.
The Philippines is coming off a 2-3 loss to Burma (Myanmar) in the Philippine Peace Cup finals early last month. The loss, however, did not affect the Azkals’ standing in the region as they remained the top team in Southeast Asia at No. 134.
" But the team has found difficulty arranging international friendly matches this month until the Malaysia duel was finally approved."
ReplyDeletePFF being run by a bunch of clowns! Of course they found difficulty in arranging friendlies because they wait two weeks or so before the FIFA dates before they try to invite teams!
The lesser nations don't really have intentions to play friendlies while the others are already fully booked! To make things worse the PFF seem to limit themselves to certain nations when trying to arrange friendlies.
Clowns I tell you, clowns!!!!
Must choose opponents that we can win or draw.
DeleteIf not how to get points for fifa ranking and brag that we are the best in south east asia.
Didn't saw any clowns on their office when I passed by the PFF office. :/
ReplyDeleteFriendly against Malaysia has been cancelled.
ReplyDelete