Azkals to host Mongolia in Panaad
by rick olivares
After a highly successful 2010 Suzuki Cup stint where the Philippine National Men’s Football Team cracked the semifinals for the first time in the 14-year history of the tournament (only to be waylaid by Indonesia, the top goal-scoring team of the competition), the Azkals break for the holidays before returning to training mid-January for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup qualifiers in a home and away series with Mongolia that kicks off on February 9, 2011 in Panaad, Bacolod City.
“We have written Mongolia about the possibility of hosting the two matches in Panaad,” said Philippine Football Federation President Mariano V. Araneta. “It would be difficult to play in Mongolia at that time of the year because it’s the height of their winter season. We have sent them a letter of request and are waiting for their reply.”
The Azkals will also be competing in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers that begin by mid-next year and the year-ending Southeast Asian Games that will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The groupings for the World Cup qualifiers have yet to be determined by FIFA.
“We will be meeting with the national team management to discuss how we can help them and what needs to be done to bring the team to the next level,” added Araneta who was in Jakarta for the first match of the Suzuki Cup semifinals to lend some support. “Hopefully, what they achieved in Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia which is significantly raising awareness of the sport in the Philippines will continue to rise. We have shown that this is a sport where we can truly be competitive.”
This is amazing news rick! I really hope and pray that the support is all the way! The Azkals deserve it!
ReplyDeleteIt was great meeting you here in Jakarta! Will post our pic on my blog tomorrow. =)
I wonder how long it will take for Mongolia to come back with a reply. I have started to look at the flight schedules out of Sydney so that I can be there to watch the Feb 9 game. Now I will wait for the reply so that I can take in both games (hopefully) before returning to Sydney. It was such a disappointment re the home and away debacle against Indonesia. But to have a chance to watch both games against Mongolia . . don't you just love football. FIRE THE BARK UP AZKALS.
ReplyDeleteHow about Rizal stadium here in Manila? A lot of us here are dying to see the azkals play live too so please pick Manila for the home game.............
ReplyDeletei'm going to bacolod to watch the match on february 9. my guess is the second game will be held on neutral ground if it will not be in mongolia. if i were mongolia's team manager, i wouldn't want the second game to still be in the philippines. maybe macau.
ReplyDeletewhere can u get a reservation!? :)
ReplyDeleteWhere can I buy the Azkals t-shirt that the azkals were wearing last night here in Bacolod? The one that says we believe at the back and the logo in front with a combination of the Philippine flag and football?
ReplyDelete