Little Azkals prepare for loaded schedule

After a successful stint in the Philippine Football Federation (PFF)-Smart Club Championships friendly matches, the Philippine Under 13 team tagged the Little Azkals will be getting ready for more tournaments and camps eyed at further improving the team’s performance.

After blanking all three of their foes—Cagayan de Oro Misamis Oriental Football Association (CMOFA) U14, 2-0; CMOFA U15/16, 2-0; and CMOFA selection, 2-0—in the first day of the friendlies, the Little Azkals routed Bukidnon U13/14, 3-0, and ended their match against CMOFA U16 in a scoreless draw the next day.

Head coach Oliver Colina applauded his boys’ performance saying the team has bonded well.

Among the team’s upcoming stints will be a shot at the National Festival of Football this November in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental

Colina also announced a proposed mini camp for the Little Azkals this December as part of the calendar of activities for the national team. The mini camp will serve as the Little Azkals’ training pool and will have a total of 30 members.

Based on their performance, some of the members of the current Little Azkals team will move on to become members of the RP U14 by January next year.

The training camp will serve as talent identification for additional members of the RP U14 next year.

Colina said it is very important to identify players by December for a longer training schedule, which would help the team’s consistency.

The RP U14 team will be seeing action in the PFF National U14 Festival of Football still in San Carlos City by February.

The festival will further serve as talent identification as aside from national and local tournaments, the RP U14 will also be seeing international action via the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Festival of Football by June.

Because the mini camp will be by invitation, Colina said he has already planned to invite some booters who saw action in the Palarong Pambansa in Dapitan.

Since some of the RP U13 players will be moving on to become members of the RP U14, new players will also be identified for the RP U13 for PFF’s continuous grassroots training program.

Colina, however, clarified that the calendar of activities has yet to be approved by the PFF.