Azkals sport new look and renewed hope

A new-look Azkals side will try to inject a new formula to match—or surpass—its historic run in 2010 in the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup where it squares off with powerhouse Thailand on November 24 at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
Thailand is co-hosting the November 24-to-December 22 Suzuki Cup with Malaysia. The SCG Stadium in Nontaburi, Thailand, the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in Kuala Lumpur, and the Shah Alam Stadium in Selangor are the other venues.
Team Manager Dan Palami said most of the players who joined the Middle East camp would likely be included in the final 30-man roster of the national team for the Suzuki Cup. He added the veterans and new members—plus the available local materials—have strengthened their chances this year.
“Coming from 2010, we had difficulty in forming the team. I have seen their progress and we are a much stronger team now. We now have a lot of offensive options. Unlike in 2010 where we need to focus more on defense and counterattacking, now we can build up and set up for scoring opportunities,” said Palami.
Marwin Angeles, Misagh Bahadoran, and Demitrius Omphroy are some of the new faces on the roster. They will be playing in their first Suzuki Cup.
Palami said some members of the 2010 team that made it to the Suzuki Cup semifinals are no longer around because they have to compete for slots on the final roster.
“We are thankful for their contribution. We look on and move forward. We must play the best way that we can because the other teams are not resting on their achievements, especially those who failed to enter the semifinals, they will be preparing hard,” said Palami.
“We are still on a catching-up stage with our Southeast Asian neighbors. We are probably the busiest team in Asia and that allowed us to develop the team further and surpass some of our neighbors.”
True enough, the Philippines jumped from 10th place in Southeast Asia to third in the latest International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) rankings.
They are now 22nd, from 33rd, in Asia.
“Our neighbors no longer consider us underdogs and are giving us a second look. In 2010 we surprised them, now we have to live up to their expectations, our ranking, and the reputation we are getting from the football community,” said Palami.
The Azkals will be playing its final friendly against Singapore on November 15 in Cebu before leaving for Thailand. They are hoping to repeat their 2-0 win over the same squad in a friendly early this year.

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