In a memo published on its official website dated September 25, 2016, the Philippine Football Federation announced that the Philippine Men’s National Football Team (Azkals) will play against Bahrain at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
The Azkals were originally set to face their counterparts from Bahrain at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan. There is still no word as to the reason for the sudden change.
The fixture will still be played on October 7, 2016 (Friday). Kickoff time is tentatively at 3:30PM, as there is a possibility that the Rizal Memorial Stadium’s floodlights will be operational. If indeed the floodlights are operational, then the kickoff time will be set at 8:00PM.
Tickets for the game are already being sold via Ticketnet. The ticket prices are Php 500.00 (Category 1), Php 300.00 (Category 2) and Php 100.00 (Category 3).
Based on the current FIFA World Rankings, the Philippines are ranked higher at 125 compared to Bahrain, who are at 126. This won’t be the first encounter between the two countries. In fact, it will be the fifth.
As early as 2012, the Azkals secured a 0-0 draw in their first encounter with Bahrain. Three years later, though, the Azkals succumbed to a 1-2 loss. Both fixtures were played away at Bahrain.
The Philippines and Bahrain were in the same 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifying group. The Azkals have only won once, a 2-1 home victory at the Philippine Sports Stadium. However, the Azkals lost the away fixture with a score of 0-2.
This friendly is one of two games which will be used by Azkals coach Thomas Dooley to prepare the squad for the upcoming 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup on home soil. After this game, the Philippines are set to face North Korea on October 10, 2016 (Monday). Details for that game are yet to be revealed.
