Search is on for future Azkals

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will hold a month-long search for players who will comprise the national under-23 training pool.
PFF President Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said that since the U23 Suzuki National Cup began in 2011, the tournament has served as a key tool to promote and develop football in the country.
"Through the U23 Suzuki National Cup, we get to see the future of Philippine football. With the Philippines’s pleasing performance in the recent (Asean Football Federation) Suzuki Cup, we are indeed optimistic that football will continue to flourish in the country," said Araneta.
Araneta said the third edition of the PFF U23 Suzuki National Cup opens next month with the Luzon teams facing off at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna, from April 8 to 13.
The Visayas teams will converge from April 15 to 20 in San Carlos City in Negros Occidental, while Davao City will be hosting the Mindanao leg from April 22 to 27.
The top two teams after the three legs will advance to the final qualifying round in Dumaguete City from May 20 to 25, where they will play double-round-robin eliminations.
The top four teams enter the knockout semifinals also in Dumaguete from May 27 to 28. The finals, a home-and-away format, will again be played in Dumaguete City on June 1 and 8.
The Luzon teams will be coming from the Masbate Football Association, Laguna Football Association and Baguio-Benguet Football Association.
The Negros Occidental Football Association, Iloilo Football Association and Cebu Football Association will be competing in the Visayas leg, while Mindanao will be composed of squads from North Cotabato Football Association, Iligan-Lanao del Norte Football Association, Davao Football Association and Zamboanga Dipolog Football Association.
"We look forward to a high level of competition amongst teams and players but we also expect to see a showcase of fair play and sportsmanship among them,” said Araneta, who thanked Suzuki for its continuous support in discovering talented players.
"Further we are excited to see emerging young football players whom we can tap for the upcoming SEA Games and hopefully become part of our (Azkals) seniors’ team later on."

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