THE national under-22 team gear up for a pace-setting kickoff battle against Cambodia in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) football competitions that open on Monday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
The Philippines has gone all-out in its prepations since August for the biennial event that is hosted by the country.
Two senior members of the national team—Amani Aguinaldo and mainstay Stephan Schrock—are reinforcing the team.
“Their impact is not just emotionally and psychologically necessary, but their technical skills are high boosters for the team,” Assistant Coach Ernie Nierras told the precompetition press conference on Sunday at the Century Hotel in Manila.
The Azkals are coming off the Copa Paulino Alcantara Cup where they were a guest team that served as the warm up games for the SEA Games.
The team showed booked a 1-1-1 won-lost-drawn record. They defeated Green Archers United FC (1-0), drew with Mediola FC (2-2) and lost to Ceres Negros FC (2-1).
In the Merlion Cup in Singapore, the nationals placed last among four countries. Singapore won the tournament followed by Thailand and Indonesia.
“They should not underestimate the new Azkals. They are totally different from the team that competed in the Merlion Cup,” Nierras said.