The Azkals are coming off two straight wins in the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Bahrain 2-1 on June 2 and Yemen 2-0 last June 16. In a friendly, the Azkals also won over the Maldives team last week.
Some of the celebrities that made an appeal to the Filipino sports fans to support the Philippine National Football Team include among others TV hosts Coleen Garcia and Karylle, TV personality Ryan Bang, MMA star Brandon Vera, Atty. Karen Jimeno and Talk Show host Kris Aquino.
“Suportahan natin ang ating mga kababayan na Azkals sa darating na September 8 (Let us support our Azkals team this coming Sept. 8).They will be competing at the Philippine Sports Stadium against Uzbekistan,” Karylle has said.
Politicians including Senators Pia Cayetano and Sonny Angara have also called on the people to support the Azkals in their qualifying game tonight.
Uzbekistan is perceived as the strongest team in the World Cup Qualifiers but Azkals coach Thomas Dooley is confident his team will be victorious.
“Uzbekistan is the best team in our group, the most difficult team to play against,” said the American coach. “What they do is that they are not outstanding, but they are more experienced.”
“It will be a very very difficult game for us, we are totally the underdogs in that game.”
In a draw held at in Kuala Lumpur last April 14, the Philippine team was included in Group H which include Uzbekistan, Bahrain, North Korea and Yemen.
The Philippines is currently tied with North Korea with two wins each.
