The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has officially announced the retirement of the “Azkals” moniker, which has characterized the country’s men’s football team for nearly two decades.
The decision reflects the PFF’s commitment to a new direction, emphasizing equality between homegrown players and overseas-based talents known as Fil-foreigners.
Team manager Freddy Gonzalez highlighted the need for a fresh identity during the press conference introducing new coach Tom Saintfiet in Makati City.
The Azkals name, derived from a local term for street dogs, gained popularity following the team’s remarkable victory against Vietnam in the 2010 Asean Football Federation Cup.
Former team manager Dan Palami, who resigned in January and holds the Azkals trademark, offered to transfer the name to the PFF. However, the federation opted for a different approach, favoring terms like “men’s national team” or “MNT” in official communications.
Gonzalez acknowledged the potential for a new moniker to emerge naturally over time, suggesting that discussions on the matter may occur after the Philippines’ upcoming World Cup/Asian Cup Qualifiers matches against Iraq in late March.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 27, 2024
