Schrock happy to be back with PH Azkals

By Cedelf P. Tupas

IT’S as if he never took time off from the team.

Stephan Schrock felt at home as he wore the No. 17 jersey in training Monday with the Philippine Azkals, who started their buildup for the World Cup Qualifying clash against Bahrain on June 11.

The midfielder caught up with teammates, some of them he saw for the first time since May last year after the AFC Challenge Cup loss to Palestine in the Maldives. So excited was Schrock that he was the first player out on the pitch, doing ball work in the first training session of the team that boasts four new players.

“I’m just happy to be back,” Schrock said. “Playing for the Philippines never left my mind. It’s something that’s close to my heart.”

Schrock patched things up with coach Thomas Dooley early this year after a falling out in the wake of the Challenge Cup loss. The player said the incident is behind him now and he’s ready to help the Azkals’ campaign in a tough World Cup Qualifying group.
“I’m committed to help the team be successful,” said Schrock, who scored the country’s last goal in WCQ back in July 2011 against Kuwait.

New recruits Kevin Ingreso and Luke Woodland also trained with the team for the first time yesterday.

“It’s been a long process but I’ve been waiting for this to happen,” said the 19-year-old Woodland, who traces his roots in Talisay, Camarines Norte.

The 6-foot-1 Woodland is a defensive midfielder who was on loan at Oldham Athletic last season.

Ingreso’s father hails from Manila although he grew up in Germany where he is part of Hamburg’s youth team.

“They’ve been in the radar the past two years and it’s really great to have them over,” said skipper Rob Gier.

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