Azkals coach begins tryouts in Germany

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO

MANILA, Philippines — The tryout for the Philippine football team in Germany begins today as a bevy of Filipino-foreigners strut their wares in the Nagold International Football tournament in Nagold, Germany.

Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss said the competition, where the Fil-foreign booters compete as a Philippine side, will serve as the tryout at the Eugene Breitling Stadium.

Five other teams, including the A-youth of the Stuttgarter Kickers and SSV Reutlingen will see action in the tourney held to celebrate the 100 years of football in Nagold, a town in southwestern Germany, according to a story posted at the www.schwarzwaelder-bote.de

“Tryouts will be in Nagold during a short tournament on Monday ,” the German mentor told the Bulletin.

While the tryout is meant to strengthen the Azkals for future international tournaments, including the coming World Cup qualifying match against Sri Lanka, Weiss said he has no plans of recruiting many players.

“Not too many. The backbone of the team deserves trust. (We will) only (get) real quality players,” Weiss, 46, said. “If the new ones are better, they will play.”

The German newspaper said the competition also serves as the Philippine U-20 selection, and that only two Filipino players came directly from the Philippines to play.

Manila Bulletin