The Philippine Football Federation has released the list of players, who will be at the training camp for the friendlies against Chinese Taipei on September 8 in Kaohsiung and against Afghanistan on the 12th at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
While there is nothing new and unexpected, the lineup was actually strong and is expected to give our opponents in the exhibition games a good match.
No. 1 goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will be joined by Patrick Deyto and Kevin Ray Mendoza along with Jesse Curran, Daisuke Sato, Michael Kempter, John Patrick Strauss, Kevin Ingreso, Dylan de Bruycker, Gerrit Holtmann, Santiago Rublico, Christian Rontini, OJ Porteria, Manny and Mike Ott, Sandro Reyes, Amani Aguinaldo, Patrick Reichelt, Beinvenido MaraΓ±on, Jens Rasmussen, Carli De Murga, Joshua Grommen, Enrique Linares and Oskari Kekkonen.
On paper, the team is no pushover. It could even be one of the strongest lineups ever for the Men’s National Football Team. But then again, reality always has some quirks in store for the Azkals that the list may differ, in a big way, when reality sets in.
There are a lot of factors needed for this strong team to materialize. Despite being FIFA dates, there is no guarantee that those called will actually show. Injuries, club decision, contract negotiations, personal matters and other reasons factor in. It is really important that the players should commit to playing for the national team. Pag gusto, lahat gagawan ng paraan. Pag ayaw, maraming dahilan, as the saying goes. Which also applies to almost everything in life and not just football.
Here’s hoping that we will have a strong team for the friendlies as we prepare for the November Olympic and Asian Cup qualifiers.
Head Coach Hans Michael Weiss said the Azkals are expected to arrive in the first week of September preferably all before the 4th, then fly out to the southern part of Taiwan to set up a camp on September 6, two days before the 2nd tune-up game between the two countries.
“We will have two (practice) sessions on the 6th and the 7th before flying back to Manila on the 9th. It will be a recovery day and we will have a team building event on that day too. Then the next two games will be preparation for Afghanistan,” Weiss said.
The Designated Kitman, however, is still keen on seeing the new Azkals that Weiss mentioned that he would like to see on the pitch in the forthcoming friendlies, if not next month then in October. And wishing, too, that by November, these new Azkals will have the necessary documents and papers that will allow them to play for the flag and country. The friendlies are very important because they will be used as the gauge on who will be part of the Azkals’ team that will compete in November, where the games really matter.
The Filipinas, too, will compete in the next two months for two important tournaments. There is really a need to find the replacement of Alen Stajcic as the head coach of the women’s national team.
Speaking of playing for the sun and the three stars, the U-23 national football team is now in Rayong, Thailand to compete in the AFF U23 Championship.
The U23 will face an uphill battle after drawing Vietnam and Laos in Group C. The top team in each group will advance in the knockout stage, along with the best second placed squad after the group fixtures.
Bannered by standouts Yrick Gallantes, Dennis Chung, Jared PeΓ±a and 20 others, the U-23 squad will face Laos today, 5pm Manila time, to open their bid in the tournament. They will face powerhouse Vietnam on August 25, 9pm Manila time, to wrap up their group fixtures. A good result against Laos will be a tremendous boost before the game against Vietnam.
All the best of luck, lads!
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