CEDELF TUPAS/INQUIRER
MALE, Maldives—The final edition of the AFC Challenge Cup may have ended in disappointment for the Philippines but with several young players performing beyond expectations in the tournament, it’s safe to say there’s a bright future ahead for the team.
Daisuke Sato and Amani Aguinaldo played key roles in the run to the finals of the national side, even as OJ Porteria and Kenshiro Daniels got big-tournament exposure, coming in as substitutes in the 0-1 loss to Palestine in the finals Saturday night.
The four players are under 20 years old and should form the backbone of the Azkals team in the future, noted coach Thomas Dooley.
“Sato is 19 years old, Amani is 19 years old, and OJ and Ken who came in, they have a future in the national team,” said Dooley after the match Saturday night.
“It doesn’t mean we want to kick the old players out, but maybe the pace of the game will be better and it is good to have a young average age, especially with young players who we can develop.”
Striker Phil Younghusband, who bungled the Azkals’ best chance in the final when he fired over the bar after he was released by Stephan Schrock, echoed Dooley’s sentiments.
“We know we’re playing better at the moment and we know the potential of this team with players like Sato and Amani,” he said. “The future looks good.”
But without the Challenge Cup which gave emerging football nations a big opportunity to qualify to the AFC Asian Cup and without the rigors of a tough qualifying stage, the Azkals face a tough climb to make the tournament.
Held every four years, the continental event will adapt a different qualifying format aligned with World Cup Qualifying and with participating teams increased from 16 to 24 in 2019.
This is not the end,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami. “We will continue to strive to put Philippine football in a bigger stage.”