Andrew Mullen/WORLD SPORT GROUP LTD
MANILA, Philippines — Foiled in their bid to win the AFC Challenge Cup, the Philippine Azkals hope to bounce back as they set their sights on another major trophy—the AFF Suzuki Cup—late this year in Vietnam and Singapore.
The Azkals dropped a 0-1 heartbreaker to Palestine in the finals of the AFC Challenge Cup at the National Stadium in Male, Maldives, last Saturday that denied them a spot in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
Reflecting on the Challenge Cup campaign, Azkals coach Thomas Dooley stayed upbeat, stressing there were plenty of positives from the campaign.
“There were a lot of positives in the campaign because the development of the players was great,” said Dooley at a press conference tendered by the Azkals’ coverer ABS-CBN in Makati Tuesday. “The team will rise again,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami.
“There will be plenty more challenges to conquer, particularly the Suzuki Cup.”
Pitting the top eight sides in the Southeast Asian region, the AFF Suzuki Cup is the same tournament that catapulted the Azkals to stardom four years ago when they beat then-defending champion Vietnam.
The draw for the Suzuki Cup is slated Aug. 5 in Hanoi.
The Azkals are hoping to surpass their semifinal finish in the tournament’s last two editions.