President Benigno Aquino is not attending the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup at the Panaad Sports Stadium in Bacolod tomorrow but supports the Philippine Azkals’ bid and will be with them in spirit in their game against the Mongolian national team, Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said last night.

There was never any confirmation that the President will attend the game, Lacierda told the DAILY STAR.

Lacierda, in a statement he sent by email, said the palace has received reports that some media outlets in Bacolod (not the DAILY STAR) are disseminating information that the President will be attending the AFC Challenge Cup tomorrow.

Rob Gier is in and the Azkals are complete. So is Team Mongolia, whose players  arrived yesterday in Bacolod City, ready for tomorrow’s clash against the Philippine national football team in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying playoff match at the Panaad Park and Sports Stadium.

While the visiting squad from Mongolia opted torest at Luxor Hotel, the national team paid a courtesy call on Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia at theGovernment Center and visited University of St. La Salle before proceeding to Panaad stadium for their first training as a complete team.

Team Mongolia is scheduled to have a light practice this morning at the USLS pitch then at the Panaad stadium in the evening.

RP Azkals team manager Dan Palami personally invited Bacolod Mayor Leonardia and the city officials to the Azkals versus Mongolia Team qualifying game tomorrow during a courtesy call at the Bacolod City Government Center yesterday.

Palami said their visit was an opportunity to invite the mayor and the city officials to watch the qualifying game tomorrow.

Asked why the city did not have any official communication from the Philippine Football Federation, Palami said he believes that the PFF has a lot of things to do.