PFF also joining Asian under-22 tournament next year

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will join one more international tournament next year, adding the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Championship Under-22 qualifiers to an already packed schedule for 2012.

No venue or date has been announced yet for the tournament, but PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta Monday confirmed that the federation will be sending a team to the maiden staging of the event.

“We want to join as many tournaments as possible,” said Araneta.

The main tournament, which will have 16 teams, including the host country, is slated in 2013.

Hoping to fill the competition vacuum after the Under-19 level, the AFC plans to make the Under-22 Championship a biennial event with the 2015 tournament doubling as a qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in 2016.

The PFF’s busy schedule for 2012 also includes the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy competition in Brunei, where the country plans to send an Under-21 team in February as well as the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal and the Suzuki Cup for the Azkals.