Suzuki Cup buzz intensifies
THE excitement over the aboutto-start ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup rose further last weekend with the arrival of the competition trophy on local shores which was celebrated by national team members and local fans.
After making stops in Jakarta and Vietnam, the Suzuki Cup trophy made its way to the Philippines as the final stop in its regional tour before the highprofile biennial tournament, which the country is co-hosting for the first time this year, fires off on Saturday.
Officials of the AFF and tournament title sponsor Suzuki Motors and members of the Philippine men’s national football team — “Azkals” — joined together in welcoming the trophy while mingling with local fans last Sunday in ceremonies held at SM City North EDSA.
“The AFF Suzuki Cup stirs the emotions of football fans across the region and we are therefore expecting a strong turnout of support when we take the trophy on the road,” said Lt. Gen. Dato’ Sri Azzuddin Ahmad, AFF General Secretary.
“Everyone is eagerly awaiting the start of the AFF Suzuki Cup and so the Trophy Tour will whet the appetite of fans in Southeast Asia for what promises to be one of the finest editions of the tournament,” he added.
Group Stage play for the Suzuki Cup officially begins on Nov. 19 with games to be played in Manila and Yangon.
The Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan, will host the games in the country with the Azkals, bracketed in Group A, playing Singapore on opening day followed by Indonesia ( Nov. 22) and Thailand ( Nov. 25).
In Group B are Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia.
Winners of the Group Stage will advance to the semifinals and the final to be held from Dec. 3 to 17 on a home- andaway basis.
BETTER TEAM
Playing yet again in the Suzuki Cup, veteran Misagh Bahadoran believes that they have a “better team” this time around.
“I think we have a better team this time as there are a lot of young players, a lot of options for the coach now. Coach [ Thomas] Dooley’s problem now is choosing who to play for 90 minutes. But he said his problem is good,” the Global FC stalwart said.
But he also said that they are fully aware that they will face tough competition in the Suzuki Cup and they have to be on top of their game as a team.
“The other teams will be ready to play. Thailand is a good team and so are Indonesia and Singapore. We have to really play well if we want to go deep in the tournament,” Mr. Bahadoran said.
In the 2014 AFF Suzuki Cup, the Azkals reached the semifinal stage.