Home tiffs spice up Azkals’ AFC Cup bid

by Peter Atencio

Home games at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod will spice up the campaign of the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team’s campaign in the 2018 Asean Football Federation-Suzuki Cup.

 ​Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said this will happen this November.

The Azkals, who is coached by Terry Butcher, will be involved in a five-team round-robin group stage of the Suzuki Cup, which will feature a new home-and-away format.

First, the Philippines will host Singapore in Bacolod’s Panaad Stadium on Nov. 13 before playing either Brunei or Timor Leste away four days later. 

On Nov. 21, the Azkals will clash with Thailand at the Panaad Stadium.

They will close out their group stage against Indonesia, in an away game in Jakarta, on Nov. 25.

The semis will then run from Dec. 1 to 6, with the two-leg finals being held on the 11th and 15th.

Meanwhile, team manager Dan Palami said they have appointed Melchor Miras Jr. as Advertising Manager.

Miras will handle the marketing and promotion of the Azkals, which will be in coordination with other partners that the management has in the pipeline.

He is currently the Chairman of Media Puzzle Inc., one of the country’s largest advertising companies.

Media Puzzle Inc. specializes in Out-Of-Home media, including being the sole advertising manager along the whole MRT-3 route along EDSA in Manila. 

“Jun is a great addition to our team. We want the Azkals to be around and in people’s consciousness even when there are no immediate matches. Of course, the funds we can generate through advertising will also be very important for our campaigns in the Suzuki Cup, Asian Cup, and beyond,” said Palami.

http://manilastandard.net/sports/active/271931/home-tiffs-spice-up-azkals-afc-cup-bid.html