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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Philippine Azkals asked for support from hometown fans as it begins its campaign in the 2016 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup on Saturday at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The Suzuki Cup will be held for the first time in the Philippines.
“We really hope we get as many people as we can,” James Younghusband told Fox Sports. “Filling up the stadium, it will make a big difference having a lot of people supporting.”
“When you hear the crowd erupt, that gives you more extra percentage to make every inch,” he added. “We really hope that we get great support in the stadium and they become the 12th man.”
Curiously there was a low turnout of football fans watching Azkals play live, even when the FIFA World Cup qualifier was held here in 2015 and the AFC Challenge Cup early this year.
Azkals was picked in Group A along with defending champions Thailand, 2012 titlist Singapore and Indonesia, which is returning from FIFA suspension.
Curiously, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia were the last three teams that ousted Azkals in the semifinals round of the previous three editions of the biennial football tournament.
The Philippine team starts its campaign against Singapore on Nov. 19, followed by Indonesia on Nov. 22 and Thailand on Nov. 25. All the games will be held in Bocaue.
Only the top two teams from the Philippine group stage will move on to the semifinals against the top two teams from the Myanmar group stage, which comprised Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia./PN
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