The preparation for the South East Asian Games begins now as the Philippine Football Federation has signed Serbian coach, Zoran Djordjevic to lead the Under-21 side next month and subsequently the Under-23 squad in the 2013 SEA Games last week.

Djordjevic was with National team manager Dan Palami, PFF President Mariano Araneta and FC Deren Sumida President Takashi Morimoto.

Djordjevic noted that he was "Grateful and very excited for the Football Association of the Philippines (PFF) give me an opportunity to work with them as football coach, and I take the obligation as the most challenging in my life. I'll do my best as the coach to promote Philippine football in the world level"

"It's a long way to go and I'm very optimistic because of what I saw during the first few days, it's unbelievable talent of boys, full of enthusiasm and passion. Mr. Dan (Palami) have great ambition and willing to put the future of Philippine football in the highest level." Djordjevic added.

On the players, Djordjevic noted that "They will (have to) show themselves in official games, important, under pressure and result oriented games. This is the time to talk, we will show ourselves in the games and the results."

Djordjevic was the former head coach of the Bangladesh national football team which he steered to a gold medal finish at the 2010 South Asian Games with five wins, zero draws, zero losses, and scoring 13 goals while conceding none.

Some of his former position was being the head coach of Sudan and Yemen. On the club side, he had managed Churchill Brothers SC and is proclaimed as the first foreign coach to win the India Championships, leading to an AFC Champions League berth and a Coach of the Year award for his efforts.

The Hassanal Bolkiah Cup is expected to start on February 21, 2012 and will be allowing five senior players to join the Under-21 squad.