AFTER qualifying to the 2012 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup tournament, the Philippine Football Team-Azkals will take another tough assignment as they embark on the World Cup Asian qualifier – the qualifying stage for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Azkals’ co-skipper Chieffy Caligdong told Sun.Star-Bacolod upon arriving in Manila that, though coming from a victorious campaign in the AFC-Challenge Cup in Myanmar, the team will again undergo rigid training as part of their preparation in the upcoming World Cup Asian qualifier in June.
“We will be preparing thoroughly for this event as we may play again here in the Philippines in June,” he added.
The national squad, which currently ranked 151 in the world rankings, is grouped with the bottom 16 among the AFC members. They are the teams from Malaysia (145), Afghanistan (195), Cambodia (154), Nepal (172), Bangladesh (174), Sri Lanka (173), Vietnam (134), Mongolia (183), Pakistan (171), Palestine (178), Timor Leste (201), Macau (181), Chinese Taipei (147), Myanmar (161) and Laos (170).
Meanwhile, the draw for the home and away matches in the first round, scheduled on June 29 and July 3, will be tomorrow March 30.
If ever the Azkals win in the first round series, they will play in another home-and-away second round with the top 22 teams in Asia.
0 Comments
