AZKALS will be more competitive and strong with new recruits when they compete against Mongolia in the first leg of 2011 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup, according to team manager Dan Palami. Palami told The Manila Times Sunday he is confident the Filipinos reinforced by bunch of Filipino-Germans will qualify in the group stage of Challenge Cup beginning February 9 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
Another thing, he said, is the good news sent by Philippine’s top goalkeeper Neil Etheridge who is now available to play for the Azkals against Mongolia.
Palami, who supported the Azkals all-throughout, confirmed that the Fulham Club has given Etheridge the permission to play for the Challenge Cup that definitely boosts the morale of his teammates.
He also said he will make a request to Fulham once again before March 15 to allow Etheridge to play in the second leg at Mongolia’s hometown field.
“We formally asked permission to Fulham and we’re so thankful they allowed Neil to play for us,” said Palami, who also informed that various Filipino-Germans aspiring to become Azkals will try their luck in a try out beginning this week.
Filipino-Danish Dennis Cagara, Jerry Lucena and Filipino-German Stephan Markus Schrock are assured of making it to the team because of their experience in playing for their respective clubs in first and second division tournaments.
Filipino-German Patrick Herget, 18, will try out, while others like Mark Drinkuth, John Patrick Hindrichsen, Oliver Potlschke and Jason Sabio will also join the training in University of Makati next week.
Etheridge, who saved the Philippine team many times by intercepting rival’s goals in last year’s Suzuki Cup on the way to its first-ever semifinal stint, assured his to return to the Philippine team.
“I’m very much willing and inspired to play in the Challenge Cup,” said the 20-year-old Etheridge, who is also a member of the Fulham Football Club in the prestigious English Premier League in the United Kingdom.
The impressive performance of the Filipinos in last year’s Suzuki Cup, according also to Palami, is the main reason why the prestigious English Premier League allowed Etheridge.
“They are so happy to see the Filipinos excel in football,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons I guess why they allowed Neil to play for us again.”
JOSEF T. RAMOS
Manila Times
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I hope the Philippines will go from strength to strength with the addition of these players. But with the big number of fil foreigners now being recruited, let us also hope the local players will not be discouraged. To those players, keep your head up and continue to train and give 100%.
ReplyDeleteJay,,don't worry about our local players,, some of these Fil-foreigners they have recruited have no chance in Europe where they came from, thats why they are trying their luck here in the Philippines. And surprisingly the Philippine national team accepted them. It only shows how far we really are when it comes to football knowledge. I hope PFF will learn from the new German coach.
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