Palestine may headline Peace Cup

Reigning AFC Challenge Cup champion Palestine  will headline the teams that have been invited for the Philippine Peace Cup next month at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Philippine Football Federation is also eyeing Southeast Asian side Myanmar and Chinese-Taipei to compete in the tournament tentatively slated Sept. 3 to 9.

The Philippines has won the last two editions of the tournament held last year in Bacolod, where the Azkals lost to the Taiwanese before beating Pakistan for the trophy.

PFF general secretary Ed Gastanes said the federation will announce the list of teams for the tournament on Wednesday, a day after the draw of the AFF Suzuki Cup is held in Hanoi.

“We will finalize the details (of the Peace Cup) after the Suzuki Cup draw,” said Gastanes.

Should Palestine confirm its participation in the tournament, it will give the Azkals a chance to avenge their 0-1 defeat in the finals of the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives last May.

The loss proved painful as it also denied the Azkals the remaining spot in the prestigious AFC Cup in Australia next year.

The Azkals have not seen action since their loss to the Palestinians last May and coach Thomas Dooley is already eager to whip his players into fighting form once more.