Azkals eye friendly with Zidane-led XI

MANILA, Philippines – If it was done between the NBA superstars and the local basketball players, it can also be done for the Philippine Azkals.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said they are now arranging for the Philippine national football team to play friendly games against foreign squads, including a team led by French football legend Zinedine Zidane.

“We're working right now in playing against very strong legends of the game. There's a team that's composed of Zidane and the rest of the players who are household names in football,” Palami said in an interview on ANC’s The Rundown.

The Azkals team manager said the proposed match will take place in the Philippines.

Palami added that the Azkals will also have friendlies against Southeast Asian teams.

The games, he said, are part of their build up for major tournaments in 2012.

“For this year, we'll continue to build up the team, we'll play for major tournaments we've been participating for early next year. First there's the AFC Challenge Cup… to be part of the Asian Cup,” said Palami.

The Azkals just concluded their campaign for the 2014 FIFA World Cup with the 2nd-round qualifying tie against Kuwait Al-Azraq.

Palami said that a year ago, the team could only dream of a game against a high-caliber team like Kuwait.

“To think that we just achieved that, not just play against them but actually threatened them with a win. It just showed how big a stride we've made from starting to form this team,” he said.

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