Philippine Azkals singing the National anthem. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is pulling out all the stops to make sure that the Azkals will be in top form for their two crucial away matches next month.
A friendly against Vietnam on Oct. 3 at Rizal Memorial Stadium has been arranged before the trips to Pyongyang, North Korea, and Manama, Bahrain.
It will mark the first time that the Azkals will meet the Vietnamese in a friendly. Their last three meetings have been in the AFF Suzuki Cup with the Azkals winning twice, including in 2010 when they pulled off the upset of the tournament against the then defending champion
Vietnamese side.
With the United Football League season already finished, the match gives the team, particularly the Manila-based players, an opportunity to sharpen up before the game against North Korea on Oct. 8 and Bahrain five days later.
“We will prepare the team the best way we can,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami. “This is one of the most important stretch of games for us in the campaign.”
The Azkals were slated to play Group H top seed Uzbekistan last night.