Manpower woes hound Azkals

BY BONG PEDRALVEZ

ALREADY saddled by manpower woes, the Philippine Azkals suffered another setback when Filipino-German goalkeeper Roland Mueller informed German coach Michael Weiss that he can’t play in a friendly match against the LA Galaxy this Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

"Mueller informed me by overseas call Monday night that he could not come for the friendly match because of his commitments to his club MSV Duisburg in the German Second Division," Weiss said yesterday of the 23-year-old goalie who saw action for the national team in the last 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

Weiss said he asked Mueller if he could intervene on his behalf to suit up for Saturday’s match "but Roland declined my assistance because he would not like to jeopardize his stint for the Azkals when they play in the Asian Challenge Cup in March in Nepal."

With Fil-British Neil Etheridge, the Azkals’ main goalie, also tied down to reserve duties to his Fulham side in the English Premier Division, the squad will have to make do with youthful Paolo Pascual and veteran Edward Sacapano to mind the net.

Team manager Dan Palami had no second thoughts about who would tend the goal, saying: "Sacapano, for sure."

Aside from Etheridge and Mueller, also out for the highly-anticipated friendly featuring the newly-crowned Major League Soccer champs starring David Beckham and Landon Donovan against the Azkals are Fil-foreigners Dennis Cagara, Paul Mulders, Jerry Lucena, Stefan Schrock and Manny Ott, who have commitments with their respective clubs.

It wasn’t all bad news for the Philippine camp since US-based Fil-British midfielder Chris Greatwich arrived last Monday morning and immediately rejoined his teammates in a workout at the Rizal Stadium.

"It’s amazing and great to be here playing against the likes of David Beckham," said Greatwich, 28, a four-year veteran of the national team who last saw action for the nationals in the 2010 Suzuki Cup.

Filipino football fans remember him best for scoring the 90th-minute equalizer in the Philippines’ 1-all standoff against fancied Singapore in the Suzuki Cup group qualifiers in Vietnam.

"Only two years ago, we would be playing tune-up matches against San Beda or any local club willing to play us, but now we have the LA Galaxy no less," added Greatwich. "This is a dream come true for me and the Azkals."

"He (Greatwich) is a solid player," said Weiss after witnessing him work out with the squad. "Chris will be a great help to us."

Greatwich will be reunited at midfield with Chieffy Caligdong, Jason de Jong and James Younghusband, according to Weiss.

Malaya