AFC OKs date change

The Asian Football Confederation has agreed to the Philippine Football Federation’s proposed date for the AFC Challenge Cup Group E Qualifiers, which will now be slated March 22 to 26 at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The information was relayed to the Inquirer by PFF president Nonong Araneta, who welcomed the schedule change, saying that it would give the federation and the national team more time to prepare for the hosting of the tournament.

Earlier scheduled on the first week of March, the tournament will now be played on Fifa international match dates. That means the Azkals will have their foreign-based players possibly released for the tournament.

Clubs all over the world are inclined to release players for national team duty on international match dates set by Fifa.

Among the overseas-based players expected to bolster the squad are Stephan Schrock, Neil Etheridge, Roland Muller, Paul Mulders, Jerry Lucena, Dennis Cagara, Ray Jonsson, Juani and Angel Guirado and Rob Gier.