Local-based Philippine Azkals are expected to arrive in Kuwait on March 20, 2023 to join the other players coming from different leagues in Europe and in Southeast Asia for the friendly against Kuwait on the 24th.
At least 25 to 26 players were invited to join the squad that will also face Jordan in Doha, Qatar on March 28. The team is expected to arrive in Doha on the 25th and will have at least two days to train for the tune-up against Jordan. The official announcement will come, naturally, from the Philippine Football Federation, but Azkals’ management has been in contact with players for the last two weeks regarding their availability.
Former Azkals’ captain and Pinoy football icon Stephan Schrock will join the team as part of the coaching staff. While he can’t mention yet who were invited, he said they are hoping to assemble a team strong enough to give the Al-Azraq and The Chivalrous Ones a good fight.
There were at least 22 names on the initial list, but according to Schrock there will be some last-minute changes.
“Some of them were injured, others are negotiating contract extensions with their clubs and others are fighting relegation in their leagues. We have to wait until this week to know the status of the last five names on the list. Offhand, it’s a good mix of veteran Azkals and young ones,” Schrock said.
Schrock added they prepared for a bigger pool knowing that injuries and availability are always big concerns.
“But definitely I can tell you that we invited Neil (Etheridge) and he greenlighted so far. We are hoping that he will be injury-free and nothing unfortunate will happen,” Schrock revealed.
Three more names were added to the list, who are considered mainstays in the team. Details are being finalized if they can join the squad. As of now, three big names are officially out of the squad.
“The guys we are targeting are recovering from their injuries. There is no secret that Gerrit (Holtman) had a surgery on his knee a few weeks back. (Jens) Rasmussen is resting and recovering from a hamstring injury, while Rapahel Obermair is tied with his club so he has to pass on the friendlies, unfortunately. On the bright side, these developments have given others the opportunity to step up for the national team,” Schrock explained. “We always strive to assemble the best possible squad.”
More often than not, the Azkals always had to struggle even before stepping on the pitch against opponents whether in official tournaments or tune-up games. Calling and eventually bringing the best Azkals together, among other things, will always be a challenge. This is just the initial, but crucial stage in the team’s preparations. In an ideal set-up, this shouldn’t be the case.
The team tried to form its core with young and local-based Azkals in its last tournament, but results were wanting. The games against Kuwait and Jordan are just tune-ups; the results, however, will matter most to the Azkals, to their fans and to their relevance in the country’s football consciousness now being dominated by their female counterparts. Here’s hoping that they will make good in the Middle East.
Etheridge to lead Azkals vs Kuwait, Jordan (manilastandard.net)
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