By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Philippine Azkals are ready to impress and push further in the upcoming 2021 AFF Suzuki Cup.
Despite a depleted lineup coming into the prestigious tournament, the PH national football team is still locked in and is hoping to end the Suzuki title drought they had been in the past years.
Manny Ott, Jarvey Gayoso, Carli De Murga, Michael and Matthew Baldissimo, Adian Ugelvik, and Sebastian Rasmussen will be absent for their campaign but the team will still have newly naturalized player Bienvenido Marañon, Martin Steuble, Stephan Schrock, and Angel Guirado.
“The COVID situation has not made this campaign any easier that’s why I salute all the players, Bienvenido, Martin, all the rest of the team, who have answered the call to represent the country in the AFF Suzuki Cup,” said PFF President Ilonggo Nonong Araneta.
The Azkals will formally kick off their Suzuki Cup campaign on December 8 as they take on host nation Singapore at 8:30 in the evening.
“Despite all these challenges, we look forward to a good tournament. The players are ready. We will make sure the Filipino people will be represented properly,” said team manager Dan Palami.
Philippines drew Group A in the elimination stages and are bound to meet Myanmar, Thailand, and Timor-Leste in their next matches.
Meanwhile, in Group B, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, and Vietnam will battle it out for top spot honors.
