Azkals Updates - Sunday

 Azkals arrived training camp in Qatar :

Matt Baldissimo Mark Hartmann Niko De Vera Mar Diano Angel Guirado Alvaro Silva Mark Winhoffer Stephan Schröck Luke Woodland Bernd Schipmann Jarvey Gayoso Patrick Reichelt Michael Kempter

Not arrived : - Strauss (match today) - Holtmann (match today ) - Obermair (played yday) - Fagerlie (?) - Etheridge (just married) - Bias (coming soon) - De Murga (?) - Nyholm (not going) - Steuble - Mendoza - Tabinas - Ramsay

Carli De Murga may not be going to Qatar . Expect late additions to the squad list !

Schrock, Etheridge ready to lead Azkals in World Cup Qualifiers

 Veterans Stephan Schrock and Neil Etheridge headline the 25-man squad called up for the training camp in Doha, Qatar and the three remaining matches in the joint Fifa World Cup and AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Suzhou, China.

The Azkals are holding a training camp in Doha, Qatar from May 22 to May 31, 2021, before flying to China for their matches against Guam (June 3), China (June 9) and the Maldives (June 15).

“Stephan Schrock and Etheridge are the core of this team in terms of the commitment and the things they do to talk to other players,” said Cooper.

The Manila-based players are scheduled to leave for Doha on Friday morning, while the rest of the squad are arriving on different flights from Thailand, Germany, Malaysia and the United States, among others, in the succeeding days.

Although they are still completing requirements for their registration, Gerrit Holtmann, Jesper Nyholm, Raphael Obermair, and Lloyd Fagerlie have also been called up by coach Scott Cooper.

Cooper did not select naturalization candidate Bienve Marañon and Jesse Curran as both are not able to process their documents in time for the trip. But he expects the duo to be part of the team in the future.

FORWARDS
Mark Hartmann
Angel Guirado

MIDFIELDERS
Stephan Schrock (CAPTAIN)
Patrick Strauss
Iain Ramsay
Gerrit Holtmann
Raphael Obermair
Patrick Reichelt
Oliver Bias
Jarvey Gayoso
Matthew Baldisimo
Mark Winhoffer
Lloyd Fagerlie

DEFENDERS
Carlie De Murga
Alvaro Silva
Luke Woodland
Jesper Nyholm
Martin Steuble
Jefferson Tabinas
Mar Diano
Niko De Vera
Michael Kempter

GOALKEEPERS
Neil Etheridge (VICE-CAPTAIN)
Bernd Schipman
Kevin Ray Mendoza

http://theazkals.com/news/schrock-etheridge-ready-to-lead-azkals-in-world-cup-qualifiers/

Azkals coach Cooper targets sweep of June matches in World Cup qualifiers

by REUBEN TERRADO 

 AZKALS coach Scott Cooper believes the team is capable of sweeping their remaining matches, including a clash against China, in the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers next month. Cooper expressed his confidence with the Azkals set to hold a training camp in Qatar before heading to Suzhou, China, site of the centralized matches of the competition that also serves as the qualifier for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. “We don’t have excuses,” Cooper said. “We have the time in Doha. We’ve already beaten Maldives and Guam away from home, we’ve tied with China here. It’s up to us and the staff to raise the bar. That’s what we are hoping to do with this national team. The Azkals will go up against Guam on June 3, China on June 9, and Maldives on June 15. Focus, however, is expected to be on the match against China as both teams look to secure the second spot in Group A and a place in the third round of the World Cup qualifiers.

 Cooper likes the chances of the Azkals against China based on previous results that included a scoreless draw last October 15, 2019 in Bacolod City. At the same time, Cooper is also wary with reports of China fielding in naturalized players from Brazil for the World Cup qualifiers.

 https://www.spin.ph/football/fifa/azkals-coach-scott-cooper-confident-about-chances-vs-china-in-world-cup-qualifiers-a795-20210513

Neil Etheridge committed to Azkals duties despite busy summer, says Cooper

 by REUBEN TERRADO

THE stint of Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge in the coming 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers next month is uncertain due to personal commitments that include his upcoming wedding.

Azkals head coach Scott Cooper said Etheridge has expressed his desire to be part of the national squad for next month’s competition to be held in China in June under a bubble set-up.

However, Cooper also bared Etheridge’s busy schedule in the coming months.

“Neil is eligible. He is wanting to come,” said Cooper during Wednesday’s virtual press conference hosted by the Philippine Football Federation.

“He is just getting his passport renewed at this moment. Of course, Neil is getting married this summer right around the middle part of that. He is going to be with us to start off, then let’s see where it goes,” Cooper said.

Etheridge, considered as one of the best goalkeepers in Southeast Asia, played for the Azkals in their last three matches including a clean sheet in a scoreless draw against China on October 15, 2019.

This year, Etheridge played for Birmingham City in the English Football League Championship.

https://www.spin.ph/football/fifa/neil-etheridge-committed-to-azkals-duties-despite-busy-summer-a795-20210505?utm_source=Twitter-Spin&utm_medium=Ownshare&utm_campaign=20210505-twnp-football-neil-etheridge-committed-to-azkals-duties-despite-busy-summer-a795-20210505-twfirst

PH Azkals to set up training camp in Qatar

 By: Mark Giongco

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Azkals are set for a training camp in Qatar as part of their preparations for the Joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asia Cup qualifiers in China next month.

The camp, which will be hosted by the Qatar Football Association, will be held from May 18-31 in Doha before heading to Suzhou, China.

“We have communicated with the Qatar Football Association to host our team for a training camp in Qatar,” said Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta during a virtual presser on Wednesday. “As you know very well, it’s so hard to train in the Philippines right now. so we have decided to do the training camp in Qatar.”

The Azkals will be comprised of a 26-man pool in Doha, according to team manager Dan Palami.

The team is also slated to play friendlies against Palestine and Syria during the camp.

“We’re lucky other teams are there also so we can have the friendly matches before we go to China,” Araneta said. “And China is also arranging for the flights of the Group A teams to emanate from Qatar so ideally, we should be in Qatar doing the training camp.”
The Azkals, who are currently third in Group A with seven points, will face Guam, host China and Maldives in the centralized bubble.

Read more: https://sports.inquirer.net/422327/ph-azkals-to-set-up-training-camp-in-qatar#ixzz6u0DUI4wx

PFF eyes Azkals bubble buildup

 

By 

Ian Suyu

A three-week bubble training camp in Carmona, Cavite, is on the pipeline for the Philippine Azkals as it prepares to compete in the resumption of hostilities of the FIFA World Cup in late-May, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) said yesterday.

PFF chief Mariano ‘Nonong’ Araneta said the PFF national training center is ready to host the squad.

“We can do bubble training in Carmona. We’re looking at around three weeks of training then they will go to China,” said Araneta, who was also appointed as the country’s chief of mission for the Tokyo Olympics in July.
Since the surge of the coronavirus pandemic last year, the national squad has not been able to compete in the international stage.

In fact, its last appearance was more than a year ago, when it competed in the Southeast Asian Games last 2019.

If the PFF plans push through, Araneta said that they are targeting to send the athletes to China on 29 May, just in time for the resumption of the competition.

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/04/19/pff-eyes-azkals-bubble-buildup/

Kaya FC-Iloilo beefs its frontline with the signing of Patrick Asare

 Kaya FC-Iloilo completed its foreign lineup with the signing of Ghanian forward Patrick Asare for the upcoming domestic and international campaigns this season.

The forward, who hails from Accra, Ghana, had a storied career before joining Kaya. He started out playing for youth teams in Ghana’s youth leagues until an opportunity to play in Malaysia came for the forward.

The opportunity did note come for Asare at the time, but the setback did not deter him. In 2014, he took a degree in Sports Management with a focus on Football Studies. At the same time football came knocking back to Asare, signing for Myanmar clubs Zwekapin United, Yadanarbon FC, and Shan United FC.

After his stint in Myanmar, Asare continued his studies, while playing in Malaysia for third division clubs, until 2020 finishing with a Masters degree in Psychology for Coaching. With his studies done, he has set his sights on his return to professional football with the Philippines as his third Southeast Asian country to play for and Kaya as his latest club.

Asare completes the five-man foreign contingent for Kaya together with veteran Masanari Omura, midfielder Daizo Horikoshi, defender Carlye Mitchell, and fellow new signing Ryo Fujii.

https://pfl.org.ph/kaya-fc-iloilo-beefs-frontline-signing-patrick-asare/

Jason Withe named United City FC head coach

 2020 Philippines Football League champions United City FC have signed veteran coach Jason Withe to be the club’s head coach for the 2021 season.

“We are proud to announce the addition of Jason Withe, a UEFA Pro License holder, to work alongside Frank Muescan & playing-coach Stephan Schrock during the AFC Champions League group stages in June/July,” read the club’s statement on their official Facebook account.

Withe’s signing brings a wealth of experience to the reigning Philippines Football League champions ahead of the AFC Champions League group stages this June. The English coach started his playing career with West Bromwich Albion and went on to play for several clubs in Finland and in England before moving on to coaching.

As head coach, he has earned a wide grasp of the ASEAN football scene with stints in Thailand, where he won the Thai Premier League and FA Cup double with BEC Tero Sasana in 2000, Singapore, with Home United, and Indonesia, with Pestebola Merdeka.

His time in Southeast Asia also saw him serve as assistant head coach for both the Thailand and Indonesian national teams, as well as club director for Sukhothai FC, which claimed the Thai FA Cup in 2016.

Withe has already experienced coaching a team in the AFC Champions League having led Sukhothai FC in their 2017 AFC Champions League play-off campaign.

Withe is expected to lead the club to domestic and international glory alongside Frank Muescan , who returns to the club as assistant coach and team captain Stephan Schrock who will be the playing coach.

 https://pfl.org.ph/jason-withe-named-united-city-fc-head-coach/?fbclid=IwAR2XJFUBSUijMfHv17Tfs6bRJfRV0h9ktBVsGqVusCreA8StxclsbbFdqek