THE Philippine Azkals has Chooks-to-Go as one of its supporters as the team resume their bid in the joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers from June 3 to 15 in Suzhou, China. — THE AZKALS FB PAGE
THE Philippine national men’s football team recently got support for its joint 2022 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup and the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign from a local rotisserie chain.
Chooks-to-Go is the latest group to rally behind the Philippine Azkals as they resume their bid in the joint qualifiers set for June 3 to 15 in Suzhou, China.
It is a reunion of sorts for the two groups, with the rotisserie firm, through its president, Ronald Mascariñas, supporting the team from 2016 to 2018.
This was apart from Azkals team manager Dan Palami and Mr. Mascariñas back in 2016 working together to support the men’s basketball team of the University of the Philippines.
It is the same harmonious relationship the two want to establish in the latest link-up between their groups.
“Chooks-to-Go has been a staunch supporter of the Azkals since 2016… We are hoping that me and Sir Ronald rekindle the magic we had a few years ago as it always leads to something positive,” said Mr. Palami in a statement.
“It’s really an honor to have them back… We are proud to be a Manok ng Bayan.”
For Chooks-to-Go, to be of help to a team like the Azkals is something it welcomes since it is in line with its push of championing Filipino talent Philippine sports.
It is hoping that amid the challenges the team is facing, the Azkals get to represent the country well and good deep in the qualifiers.
“We want the Azkals to fully focus on the task at hand,” said Mr. Mascariñas.
The Philippines is currently at third place in Group A of the qualifiers with seven points from a 2-1-2 record, behind Syria (5-0-0) with 15 points, and China (2-1-1) with seven.
Maldives (2-0-3) and Guam (0-0-5) round out the group.
The Azkals last played in the qualifiers in November 2019, losing to Syria (1-0) in Dubai.
Scheduled qualifying matches of the team in 2020 failed to push through because of the pandemic.
The Philippine men’s football team is to face Guam on June 3, then China on June 9, and Maldives on June 15.
All the Azkals matches in the qualifiers can be seen on One Sports and One Sports+. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo