There won’t be a training camp before the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team plunges into action in the ASEAN Football Federation-Suzuki Cup 2020 this December.
Getting a team together for an organized period of training activity will be difficult at this time.
Azkals’ coach Scott Cooper said this after Singapore was selected as the only venue for this year’s biennial staging of the regional meet.
“I think for now we can’t have early training camps unlike Singapore or Thailand can because our players are scattered worldwide and it’s still going to be a logistical challenge for us to see who we can bring in, like the players who aren’t in season and the players in season,” said Cooper.
The tournament involving the 11 member countries of the ASEAN region, was done on a home-and-away basis when it was last staged back in 2018.
But this time, it will be played in a centralized format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cooper said the Azkals won’t be that well-prepared when their first game happens against host Singapore on Dec. 8, but the team will still come out fighting.
“We cannot be at full strength, but we’ll still give our best shot,” added Cooper.
The staging of the competition was delayed by a year because of coronavirus restrictions.
The Philippines and host Singapore are in Group A with Thailand, Myanmar, and the winner of a playoff between Brunei and Timor Leste.
The opening game will be on Dec. 5, with the finals scheduled on January 1.
Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta welcomed the move to have Singapore be the host this year.
“We welcome the ASEAN Football Federation’s selection of Singapore as host of the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup. Singapore has a wonderful track record in hosting major competitions. And we are confident that this year’s AFF Suzuki Cup will be conducted with the health and safety of players and staff as the main priority amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Araneta. Peter Atencio
