Azkals battle tough Malaysians in friendly

Reigning AFF Suzuki Cup champion Malaysia looms as the first side that will test the mettle of the Philippine Azkals following the Pinoys� historic bronze medal showing in the AFC Challenge Cup.

�Malaysia has invited us to play a friendly in Kuala Lumpur on June 1 and more or less, we�ll (accept the invite and) go there,� Philippine Football Federation (PFF president) Nonong Araneta told The STAR yesterday.

�I�ve had initial talks with (Azkals team manager) Dan (Palami) and he�s okay with this,� he added of what could be a rematch of the international friendly that two nations played at the Rizal Memorial last Feb. 29.

The Azkals and the Tigers battled to a 1-1 standoff two months ago.

The prospective gig could provide a good opening salvo and test for the Azkals as they get back to the pitch after breaking camp following their milestone campaign in the Nepal Challenge Cup.

Enjoying an all-time best position in the Fifa world rankings at 148th, the Azkals will now train their sights on the Suzuki Cup set later in the year and their idea of a buildup opener is to challenge ASEAN rivals, led by 156th-ranked Malaysia Tigers, during Fifa�s June calendar days.

The PFF has a standing invitation to Indonesia and Thailand for possible matches on June 5 and 12 in Phl.

�I�ll be talking further to officials of Indonesia and Thailand when they go here for the AFC Council meeting on April 21 and 22 (to persuade them),� Araneta said.

China has also been invited to come over but has yet to respond, according to the PFF chief.

Araneta, meanwhile, said PFF�s technical people will go to Bacolod City after the AFC gab to assess Panaad Stadium�s capability to host one of the projected friendlies.

�We might hold the June 5 match to Bacolod. We�ll send people to make an assessment and we�ll also require numbered seats,� he said.

Panaad was the home field when the Azkals beat Mongolia last year, 2-0, in the first leg of the AFC Challenge Cup playoffs. The stadium was packed with 18,000 paying fans but for the Azkals� projected return, only about 10,400 �seated� spectators will be accommodated, according to Araneta.

philstar