SPORTS STADIUM FOR AZKALS-UZBEKISTAN MATCH SEPT. 8
TICKETS FOR AZKALS VS. UZBEKISTAN NOW AVAILABLE AT WWW.TICKETWORLD.COM.PH
15 July 2015 – Manila: The Philippine Azkals will face a hardened and
experienced Uzbekistan squad on Sept. 8, a game that would test the mettle of
the newly-minted and strongest ever roster of overseas- and local-based
professional footballers.
“We
need the support of Filipino football enthusiasts and even non-football fans to
fill up the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan, and applaud and
inspire our players to give their best for the country,” Team Manager Dan
Palami said.
Opened
on July 21 last year, the world class Philippine Sports Stadium is the newest
and largest stadium in the Philippines with a maximum football seating capacity
of 20,000. Located within a tourism enterprise zone in Bocaue, it is bordered
by the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) itself and easily accessible by private or
public transport. Travel time is less than an hour from most parts of Metro
Manila as the site is just after Marilao and before Bocaue with direct access
exit along NLEX.
Holding
the game at the Philippine Sports Stadium will also allow spectators to
experience first class facilities and ultra modern surroundings and see the 103
x 68 meters football field with natural grass surface, he said.
The
much-awaited match, which is part of the Asian qualifiers of the 2018 FIFA
World Cup, starts at 8 p.m., giving football aficionados and non-aficionados
enough time to catch the first kick.
“There’s
no better way to push our Azkals to play at the top of their game, score goals
and impose a high-pressure defense on the opponents than the thunderous
applause, encouraging shouts of fans and electric atmosphere in the stadium,”
Coach Tom Dooley said.
He
said Uzbekistan, which ranks 75th in the recent FIFA rankings and
the highest ranked team in its group, is a formidable opponent and has been
burnishing its credentials as genuine title contenders in Asia. The Uzbeks have
a good showing in the tough Asian Cup with back-to-back quarter-final
appearances in 2004 and 2007 and a fourth place finish in Qatar in 2011.
Talking
about determination to make it to the FIFA World Cup in 2018, Uzbekistan has
lots of it since host Russia is just next door and it wants nothing short of
qualification for its first ever World Cup.
The
Azkals, on the other hand, are ranked 124th, so far their highest
place in the history of the FIFA rankings. They also dislodged Southeast Asian
neighbors Thailand (140th) and Vietnam (143rd) in the
recent rankings.
“The
team is very motivated to end the qualifying round at the top of the group to
be able to move a step closer to the World Cup. It’s an uphill goal but we will
do our best to achieve it,” Palami said. Landing as one of the four best second
place finishers in the qualifying round will likewise enable the team to make
the cut to the next round of the World Cup.
He
believed that the team has assembled the strongest Azkals roster ever with the
addition of highly experienced Filipinos playing abroad and some returnees.
The
good showing of the Azkals in their first two outings indicated the impressive
line-up is living up to its billings. The Azkals
defeated Bahrain for the first time, 2-1, at home last June 11 then thrashed
Yemen, 2-0, on the road last June 16. A win against Uzbekistan on September 8
will help advance the team to the next round in the World Cup qualifiers and
also book an automatic slot in the next AFC Asian Cup.
Tickets
for the Azkals vs. Uzbekistan game to be held at the Philippine Sports Stadium
on September 8, 2015 are now available at www.ticketworld.com.ph.
Tickets are at P531.80 for Price Zone 1, P331.14 for Price Zone 2 and P125.40
for Price Zone 3.
Media Contact:
Charmaine Cruz
PR for AZKALS
Local Mob: +63920-5837008
Email: sports@greatcampaigns.asia
Twitter: @char_cruz
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