Azkals to miss key players

By JONAS TERRADO

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Azkals could miss several of their key players when they compete in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup slated March 3 to 18 next year in Katmandu, Nepal.

Team manager Dan Palami said that they will try to appeal to their European clubs to allow the Fil-Foreigners to play for the Azkals.

“That will be the challenge,” said Palami. “What we will try to do is talk with the clubs to allow them to to play for two games. And from there, once we know if the clubs will allow them, then we will determine the games where they will play.”

Among those who are commited to their mother clubs are goalkeepers Neil Etheridge (Fulham) and Roland Muller (MSV Duisburg), Stephen Schrock (SpVgg Greuther Furth), Jerry Lucena (AGF Aarhus) and Dennis Cagara (Lyngby) and Paul Mulders (ADO Den Haag).

To make up for their potential absence, Palami has ordered coach Michael Weiss to have the National players based here to be ready for the AFC tourney, so eager that the training camp starts on Dec. 8.

The Azkals are scheduled to train in the Gulf region while a friendly match on Feb. 29 is being planned, possibly here or in a nation near Nepal.

Manila Bulletin