Araneta expects bigger things for Azkals

BUOYED by the recent success of the Philippine Azkals in the AFC Challenge Cup Group E qualifiers, football chief Mariano Araneta Jr. is optimistic the Nationals would figure prominently in next year’s main tournament in Maldives where a spot in the Asian Cup is at stake.

“It was a well-deserved victory for us, and you saw they have the talent. If they work together for a long time, the teamwork will be there, and I hope we can qualify for the Asian Cup,” Araneta said.

He said the PFF would “move heaven and earth” to have the Maldives Challenge Cup held on International Football Federation “match dates since this tournament is already a qualifier for the Asian Cup.

“I have talked to three members of the Asian Football Confederation executive committee explaining that just like the other countries in the upper Asian bracket, the Maldives (competition) is a direct qualification for the Asian Cup. There should be no discrimination as with the other qualifiers.”

Araneta said the AFC executive members he talked to were sympathetic to his appeal, with the issue to be taken up when the AFC Executive Committee meets in May.

“At the very least, what the AFC can do is to have the tournament fall on FIFA match dates,” said the football chief, pointing out this would enable strong overseas players such as Stefan Schrock, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara to suit up for the national team.

He added this was a major reason why the PFF requested the AFC to reschedule the Group E competition from early March to March 22 to 26 because the schedule fell on FIFA match dates, freeing players from club commitments to play for their respective national squads.

This enabled coach Michael Weiss to assemble a formidable squad that won two straight games, capped by a stirring 1-0 win over 2012 AFC Challenge Cup runner-up Turkmenistan. It marked the first time Azkals beat the squad from the former Soviet Republic in three outings.

National team manager Dan Palami echoed Araneta’s sentiments, saying with the present crop of players his main challenge would be “to allow this group to play longer together.”

He said they would take advantage of all the FIFA friendly dates in their build-up for the Challenge Cup, beginning with a friendly match against Hong Kong in the former British colony on June 4, a possible clash with Vietnam on June 7 in Cebu and on June 12 against “a quality opponent” in Manila.

“We will probably play more outside the Philippines to take advantage of our overseas players,” Palami said.