Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — We may be well into March, but for the Philippine Azkals, 2017 is just getting started.
After a disappointing campaign at the 2016 Suzuki Cup last November, the Azkals have dusted themselves off and now have a fresh new set of goals in their radar.
Speaking to the media ahead of their friendly match against Malaysia, the Azkals laid out their plans moving forward.
This year and the following year, the Azkals intend to break into the top 100 teams in the FIFA world rankings, and to become the first ever Philippine team to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup.
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According to Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley, breaking into the world’s top 100 teams is important for team’s development.
“This year or maybe next year, that we need to focus on the 100,” Dooley bared. “We need to break the 100 once, even if it’s just for one day so that we can set new goals.”
The Philippines currently is ranked at 124 in the world, which is a far cry from the lowly 191 position that the country occupied when current team captain Phil Younghusband made his international debut in 2005.
“Breaking the hundred is something you know?” Younghusband said. “I remember joining and we were 191, and its not easy to get up the rankings.”
Aiming high in Asia
Apart from hiking up the rankings, the national team also has an eye on rubbing elbows with the continent’s best in the Asian Cup at Abu-Dhabi in 2019.
Only the winners and runners-up from each group in the qualifiers will book a ticket to the final competition.
Those who qualify will join defending champions Australia, China, Iraq, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and hosts the United Arab Emirates.
The Philippines was drawn with familiar foes in Tajikistan, Nepal, and Yemen in Group F of the competition.
Nepal will be the first opponent to test the Philippines, when they open up the group stage on March 28 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
For Younghusband, the Azkals have been handed a favorable draw after looking back at their past meetings with their opponents.
“We’ve drawn teams that we’ve had success in the past, and that we’ve had comfortable success with in the past,” the Philippine skipper said.
Younghusband also says that four wins in the group could possibly be enough to advance in the competition, and the Azkals are eager to start things off in a positive note to revive interest in football in the country once again.
“if we win our first four games, that puts us in a great position and that would be great for Philippine football, and hopefully that could be the rejuvenation, the acceleration point of Philippine football to again make a name in the Philippines among Filipino people,” he said.
Overall, both the players and the staff feel that their goals are realistic and within reach.
But games are played on the field, and not on paper.
The Azkals will have to show their resolve first by dealing with Malaysia in a friendly on Wednesday evening.
