New-look Azkals join Taiwan meet

THE Philippine Azkals will unveil a new lineup when they see action in the four-nation Long Teng Cup, set in Taiwan from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.

New players in the team are Fil-American Lexter Moy, Filipino-British Mark Hartmann, Fil-Belgian Jeff Christiaens, Fil-Spanish Carli de Murga and Fil-German goalkeeper Roland Muller, together with local defenders Lemuel Unabia, Reymark Fernandez and Nickson Leonora.

“It’s an honor to come here and have this great opportunity to learn my Filipino side and be able to play soccer here,” said the 26-year-old Lexter Moy, a defensive midfielder, who was born and raised in New York.

Moy was among the members of the national team who showed up during the first Kia Cup 7-a-side tournament at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa.

The 5’8” Moy, who was also given a chance to play for the Kaya Football Club in the United Football League, later joined the Azkals in the clinics held in the afternoon.

Moy, whose father is a US Marine, who met his mother in Olongapo in the 1980s, used to play for a second division team, Taichung, in Hong Kong from 2009 to 2010.

Other teams taking part in the Long Teng Cup are host Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau.

The Azkals will miss Fil-German booter Stephan Schrock and Fil-British goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who won’t be available due to club commitments.

Azkals regulars Aly Borromeo and Chieffy Caligdong will still be around, along with brothers Phil and James Younghusband, Angel Guirado, Jason de Jong, Misagh Bahadoran, Roel Gener, Ian Araneta,Eduard Sacapano and the returning Matthew Hartmann. Peter Atencio

Manila Standard