By FRANCIS SANTIAGO
MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-Spanish Juan Luis Guirado, a midfielder who plays in the Spanish Division III team Lermeno of Burgos, may join the Philippine Azkals in their bid to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Juan, 31, is the older brother of Angel, an attacking midfielder who helped the Filipino booters advanced in the finals of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup last month in Yangon, Myanmar.
Azkals coordinator Patrick Ace Bright said team manager Dan Palami is hoping to get the elder Guirado, who could be a big boost for the national football team seeking a huge victory in their World Cup qualifying first-round match against Sri Lanka on June 29.
“We’re hoping that he (Juan) could process his Filipino passport in time for the qualifier,” Bright said Monday.
Rafael Garcia, cousin of the Guirado brothers who worked as interpreter for Angel when he was in the country, said Juan has not yet declared himself available for team because of his commitments in Spain.
Juan works as freight handler for Pepsi Cola Spain in the morning and plays for his team in the afternoon.
“There’s a 50-50 chance he would make himself available for the Azkals tryouts,” said Garcia who coordinates with the Azkals officials. “We have given him (Juan) until the end of April to process his passport in Madrid. But if he couldn’t do it, then that means he could not join.”
Garcia said Juan would be a huge help for the Azkals’ bid the same way Angel had helped the team in the Challenge Cup.
Angel, who impressed Azkals coach Michael Weiss no end, scored two goals in the Filipino booters’ 3-0 demolition of Bangladesh in the last of the three Challenge Cup group elimination round matches in Yangon, Myanmar.
Manila Bulletin
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This is Juan Luis response to being asked about joining the national team that he wrote on Angel Aldeguer's fanpage:
ReplyDeleteLa selección nacional del pais de mi madre (FILIPINAS) del que me siento muy orgulloso me ha llamado para participar con ellos,debido a la mala situación en España,futblisticamente me debe media temporada el C.D.Marbella y este año estoy en un club humilde por lo cual tengo que trabajar,hace 1 mes que conseguí un buen trabajo y me es imposible en estos momentos dejarlo para ir unos días a filipinas,agradezco todo el interés mostrado por la comunidad filipina y desde aqui os apoyo incondicionalmente y deseo todos los exitos,aunque no descarte nunca la posibilidad de ir algún día. Tenéis ahora al mejor de la familia Aldeguer,Angel, que os seguirá dando muchas alegrías, Maraming salamat mabuhay ang pilipinas AZCALS Juan Luis Guirado Aldeguer
My mother's country's national team -whom I feel very proud of- has called me up for join them, due to the bad situation in Spain's football (he doesn't say it, but obviously means economically), CD Marbella owes me the half season (wage I guess) and this year I'm at a humble team, as a result I've to work. I found a good job one month ago and it's impossible for me in this moment to leave it and go to the Phils for a few days, I appreciate all the interest shown by the filipino community, and I support you unconditionally from here and wish you to success, althought I never dismiss the posibility of going some day. You have now to the best of the Aldeguer family, Angel, who will continue bringing you a lot of joy, Maraming salamat mabuhay ang pilipinas AZCALS.
Juan Luis Guirado Aldeguer
Looks like he has already made his decision.
Props to Juan for being proud of his roots. We will wait for that time.
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