17-man Azkals face Nepal XI

Match tonight (Al Arabi Stadium)

7:40 p.m. (12:40 a.m. Saturday in Manila) – Philippines vs Nepal

MANILA, Philippines - An undermanned Philippine Azkals battle the Nepal Gorkhalis tonight (early Saturday in Manila) in the first of two matches they set for their weeklong pre-AFF Suzuki Cup training camp in Doha, Qatar.

The Azkals, who only have 17 players for the Qatar camp, take on the Gorkhalis at 7:40 p.m. Friday at Al Arabi Stadium and Qatari side Al Ahli on Sunday.

Phl XI found themselves short-handed after failing to secure the release of Ceres La Salle FC stalwarts Patrick Reichelt, Jeff Christiaens, Manny Ott and Juani Guirado

Ceres did not give the five the blessing to join the trip as it runs smack into the club’s preparations for the United Football League FA Cup. Ceres will play in the semis against Pachanga Diliman on Nov. 4, just near the Azkals are slated to return to Manila.

Ceres, though, allowed Fil-Dutch Paul Mulders, a player who has yet to play for the club, to hook up with Phil and James Younghusband, Mark Hartmann, Daisuke Sato, Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran, Anton del Rosario and Chris Greatwich and the rest of the Nationals.

Although not fielding a full-bodied side, the Azkals still favored to prevail over the Gorkhalis, whom they defeated, 3-0, in a similar friendly in Doha last April, and 4-0 in an earlier match at Rizal in 2011.

Likewise, Nepal is fielding a young crew against Phl.

According to the website www.goalnepal.com, coach Jack Stefanowski has brought in U-23 and U-17 stalwarts for the Doha friendly/camp, which serves as part of their buildup for the South Asian meet.

According to organizers, proceeds from the Phl-Nepal friendly will go to the construction of the Philippine School in Doha.

After the Qatar trip, the Azkals are slated to play fellow Suzuki Cup final round competitor Thailand on Nov. 10 in Nakhon Ratchasima then host Cambodia at Rizal on Nov. 14.