Azkals host Papua New Guinea in friendly

MANILA, Philippines - With Malaysia calling off their scheduled friendly, the Philippine Azkals found a new opponent in this weekend’s Fifa international match days in Oceania side Papua New Guinea.

The Papuans, who carry the monicker Kapuls, agreed to play the Azkals on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

“The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is pleased to advise all football enthusiasts that it will host an international friendly match between the national A teams of the Philippines and Papua New Guinea,” PFF general secretary Edwin Gastanes announced.

“The Phl-PNG friendly is part of the preparations of the national team for the AFF Suzuki Cup final round in November,” he added.

This will be the first face off between Phl and Papua New Guinea.

The Azkals were originally slated to face Malaysia tomorrow in an away friendly but the Malaysians cancelled it due to “conflicts on their current League Cup schedule.

Papua New Guinea, which is gearing up for the Pacific Games, looks at this friendly as a venue for nine new players to gain experience and prove their worth, according to assistant coach Milan Miric.

“The team will be in the Philippines for five days to give chances to the boys who are not part of the Singapore trip to experience being part of the team to gel better and to achieve our final goal,” Miric said in the website of PNG Football Association.

“It will be a good exposure for the boys in playing in East Asia while also looking forward to play more friendly in October and December before the National Soccer League kicks off,” he added.

PNG is coached by Wynton Rufer, Oceanic Player of the Decade and former mainstay of German first division Werder Bremen.