ni Anthony E. Servinio / VA - @Sports | September 30, 2021
Nakatagpo na rin ng venue na pagdarausan ng pinakamalaking international football competition sa ASEAN region.
Sa kanilang opisyal na anunsiyo noong Martes ng gabi, napili ang Singapore ng mga miyembro ng ASEAN Football Federation council para maging host ng 2020 (edition)AFF Suzuki Cup. “We welcome the ASEAN Football Federation’s selection of Singapore as host of the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup,” ayon kay Philippine Football Federation President Mariano Araneta. “Singapore has a wonderful track record in hosting major competitions and we are confident that this year’s AFF Suzuki Cup will be conducted with the health and safety of players and staff as the main priority amid the COVID-19 pandemic."
Naunang itinakda noong Nob. 23 - Dis. 21, 2020,sa isang home-and-away format, na-postponed ito dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic.
Mabuti na lang at naging matagumpay ang mga pagdaraos ng biosecurity bubbles para mapanatiling ligtas ang sports events na sinamahan pa ng malawakan na pagbabakuna sa mga bansang patuloy sa paglaganap ang coronavirus.
“Singapore is not on the red list in terms of COVID-19 restrictions in other countries so I think traveling there will be easier. What is important for us is to assemble the right team for this tournament considering all the restrictions on different countries from where our players will come from,” wika naman ni long-time Philippine Azkals team manager Dan Palami.
Matapos ang apat na semifinal finishes noong 2010, 2012, 2014, at 2018, umaasa ang mga Azkals na makakaabot sila ng finals sa unang pagkakataon ngayong taon.
Kasama ang tropa ni Coach Scott Cooper sa Group B kasama ng host nation Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Timor Leste at Brunei Darussalam. “I think for now we can’t have early training camps, unlike Singapore or Thailand, can because our players are scattered worldwide and that’s still going to be a logistical challenge for us to see who we can bring in like the players who aren’t in season and the players in season,”wika ni Cooper.
Ang torneo ay idaraos sa Dis. 5 hanggang Enero 1, 2022.
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