Philippines plan US assault

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) are planning to tour the United States, as they prepare for the Suzuki Cup.

PFF president Mariano Araneta revealed the national team’s will to arrange as many games as possible in their planned 15-day camp, which will be followed by the Long Teng Cup and then by the much awaited Suzuki Cup in Thailand and Malaysia later this year.

“The 15-day training camp and the friendly matches are good opportunities for our team because it will make them tougher,” Araneta told The Manila Times.

“Suzuki Cup is the most competitive league in South-East Asia so we need to prepare seriously.”

Among the Filipinos’ possible opponents are MLS outfit Chicago Fire and the US Virgin Islands national team, but Araneta added it is the PFF’s priority to confirm the date and the venue of the Long Teng Cup, with Bacolod City the likely host of the tournament.

“We are still waiting for the final confirmation from Macau and Taiwan but I’m sure we’re the one that will host it because they have decided to skip the hosting,” he said.

The 2012 Suzuki Cup will start on November 24 and will be contested by top South-East Asia’s nations, with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam all qualified for the tournament.