INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
DUBAI—Two more training camps in the Middle East are being lined up for the Philippine side preparing for the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives in May.
The Azkals, who were slated to face Azerbaijan in a friendly Wednesday night, are scheduled to hold camps in Qatar and Bahrain in the next two months before they plunge into action in the Maldives.
The Qatar camp starting April 8 will include matches against Nepal and Qatari club team Al-Ahli.
Azkals manager Dan Palami plans to hold the Bahrain camp from May 6 to 16 before they fly to the Maldives for the event that stakes a spot to the AFC Asian Cup next year. Palami is also hoping to have the Azkals together for a four-day training sessions in the Philippines.
The Azkals, handled by former United States skipper Thomas Dooley, open their Challenge Cup bid against Afghanistan on May 20, before facing Laos two days later.
Turkmenistan will be the Azkals’ last assignment on May 24 in Group B where the top two teams will advance to the semifinals.