Azkals legends come together for Asia 7s Championship 2024

Photo credits: Asia 7s / Jihan Ivy Parohinog

Ready to represent the country again on the international stage, The Azkals are set for a comeback in the field for the upcoming Asia 7s Championship 2024 that will take place at the EV Arena Elmina in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

What was once a name synonymous with Philippine Football, the rebranded Azkals bannered by two-time PSA's Mr. Football awardee and former national team captain Stephan Schröck alongside 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers prolific and instrumental striker Misagh Bahadoran will be taking on some huge opposition inside the small-sided pitch from October 10 to 13, 2024.

"This is the next step in keeping alive the Azkals name which has become synonymous with Philippine Football. It is very important to continue the Azkals' legacy of how as the former minnows of Asian Football, we were able to rise and overcome the challenges before. Hopefully, by using this moniker again, we can once more inspire all aspiring football players in the country," Schröck said.

Rather than answering why revive the name of the Azkals, Schröcky confidently answered, "Why not? Why keep the Azkals' name in the closet and bury it there? It gave a lot of pride and hope. It made a lot of lives happening for a lot of players over the last 15 years and, I think, with the sport coming up this fast and this intense, it's a good restart which is a perfect connection and works hand in hand with the 7s."

With the announcement, fans and even former national team players are looking forward to seeing The Azkals taking on the field again, this time, inside the 7-a-side pitch.

Donning the national colors would be Schröck alongside Bahadoran and they're also looking for players who would join the squad through tryouts that will be happening from September 7 to 8.

Former men's national team goalkeeper Ref Cuaresma already showed his intent to join the squad by commenting on the live stream of the presser with the words, "COMING TO MANILA TO TRYOUTS!! Let's go!!"

Aside from former members of the national team, the Azkals are opening its doors to everyone, fans included during their tryouts where they would get to meet their idols and even join the trials themselves. and before the Azkals fly out to Kuala Lumpur, fans will be able to see the squad in action during a friendly match with celebrity football players on October 6.

In their efforts to make 7s football a whole new avenue for up-and-coming football talents in the country, former Azkals defender and tournament commissioner of the Asia 7s Championship 2024 Anton Del Rosario turned, what was once, a recreational league among friends and former colleagues, into an international brand that could introduce a new aspect of the sport.

"In 2018, I started a football league (7s FL) something fun between friends and then I slowly found out that 7-a-side football wasn't under FIFA so there was no governance to it. So I saw an opportunity there to create something much bigger than just a team," Del Rosario said.

A tournament that started in 2023, the Asia 7s Football Championship serves as a gateway for Del Rosario and all others who are willing to take the path of 7s football whether recreational or competitive.

From the original participants Philippines, Japan, India, and Brunei, the Asia 7s have expanded to eight countries with the inclusion of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Hong Kong which would make the matches more interesting. The Philippines is looking to bounce back after finishing third in the 2023 edition of the tournament.