Azkals hope for better draw in Suzuki Cup elims

MANILA, Philippines - As the Philippine Azkals look forward to the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 in November in Malaysia and Thailand, they are also hoping to get a favorable draw in the Group Stage of the tourney


The Azkals, who made their star-making semifinal stint in the 2010 edition, have been seeded into the main competition on Nov. 24-Dec. 1 along with Vietnam, Indonesia, defending titlist and host Malaysia, co-host Thailand and Singapore.

Two more from the ranks of Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Timor Leste will join the seeded nations in the final phase following the Qualifying Round on Oct. 5-13 in Myanmar.

For the Group Stage, the eight will be divided into two, the composition of which will be determined during the official draw on Wednesday in Bangkok.

�Of course, the host will be one of the hardest to play. Vietnam is also one of the top contenders, always is. Maybe the likes of Malaysia and Indonesia will suit our style of play. Also Myanmar and Singapore, physically, we�re up to their level so they�ll be a good matchup for us,� said Azkals captain Aly Borromeo.

�Based on ranking, I�d rather be with Singapore, the host, probably Malaysia, and one from the group that will go through the qualifiers � Myanmar, East Timor or Laos,� Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta said, for his part.

The PFF and executives of Suzuki Philippines, president Satoshi Uchida, formally launched the Suzuki Cup 2012 yesterday at the federation�s office, also kicking off the Azkals� upcoming quest.

Also present were Suzuki Philippines GM-automobile sales and marketing division Shuzo Hoshikura, GM-Motorcycle sales and marketing division Eiji Kobayashi, and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia, who all renewed their commitment to Phl football.

�As a company committed to local and global sports, Suzuki is once again proud to be part of yet another anticipated event,� said Uchida. �We hope to inspire more and more able and athletic Filipinos to take up the sport and be like our national team, who showed to the world what the Filipino determination, hard work, passion and discipline can do.�

Speaking for the government, Garcia reiterated the PSC�s 100 percent support.

�As a matter of fact, we�re about to sign with the PFF an agreement for 25 years for the use of Rizal as a football stadium in the Philippines,� said Garcia, referring to the projected conversion of Rizal into an international standard artificial turf under Fifa�s $500,000 Goal Project.

The Rizal, he added, should be ready to serve as home venue for the Azkals if they reach the Suzuki Cup�s home and away, two-leg semis knockout stages. The semifinals are slated Dec. 8-9 and Dec. 12-13, and the finals are scheduled Dec. 19 (first leg) and 22 (second leg).

�We�re really raring to put up a good show. We�re now seeded so expectations are a little higher this time around. But we�re more than up to it; we want to show what we can do,� said Borromeo, who was with Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta and Misagh Bahadoran.

Training camps in the US, Middle East and Japan and friendlies against Indonesia or Vietnam are in the pipeline for the Azkals.

�The PFF will do everything to prepare the team,� said Araneta.

philstar