PFF announces Azkals call-up against Nepal
THE Philippine men’s national football team goes back into international action next week to resume its AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign against Nepal in Kathmandu.
Currently on top of Group F with a record of two wins and two draws with eight points, the Azkals go for a win over tailending Nepal (0-1-3) that would give the full three points and solidify their hold for a top-two finish in their grouping and earn a ticket to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup that will take place in the United Arab Emirates.
As part of the preparation for the team’s match against Nepal on Nov. 14, the Philippine Football Federation ( PFF) recently released the names of players that will banner the country’s bid, culled mostly from the Philippines Football League.
Called up for national team duty are Marwin Angeles (Kaya FC Makati), Fitch Arboleda ( Stallion Laguna FC), Misagh Bahadoran ( Global Cebu FC), Dylan De Bruycker ( Davao Aguilas FC), Carlos de Murga ( Ceres Negros FC), Patrick Deyto ( Global Cebu FC), Curt Dizon ( FC Meralco Manila), Joshua Dutosme (Ceres Negros FC), Neil Etheridge ( Cardiff City FC), Kevin Ingreso ( Ceres Negros FC), Sean Patrick Kane (JPV Marikina FC) and Hikaru Minegishi (Global Cebu FC).
Also part of the team are Paul Mulders ( Global Cebu FC), Jim Junior Muñoz ( Ceres Negros FC), Nicholas O’Donnell ( Davao Aguilas FC), Mike Ott ( Angthong United), Iain Ramsay ( Ceres Negros FC), Simone Rota ( Davao Aguilas FC), Paolo Salenga ( Global Cebu FC), Daisuke Sato ( AC Horsens), Dennis Villanueva ( Global Cebu FC), James Younghusband ( Davao Aguilas FC) and Phil Younghusband ( Davao Aguilas FC).
Head coach is still Thomas Dooley, assisted by Stefano Marsella.
In their last game against second- running Yemen ( 1- 3- 0) on Oct. 10, the Azkals managed to force a draw care of Mr. Ott, who scored in the 89th minute to stun the home crowd while also helping the Philippines maintain the top spot in the group.
Receiving a pass from teammate Mulders, Mr. Ott coolly punched the ball past Yemeni goalkeeper Mohammed Ayash in answer to the 69th-minute goal of Yemen to force the stalemate.
While they were shooting for the full three points that go with a win to fortify their position at the top, Azkals coach Dooley still did not downplay the significance of the draw with Yemen as it resulted in them keeping their spot.
“It’s better than losing three points which would have meant us sliding down,” Mr. Dooley said in the postmatch press conference.
For its part, Nepal is coming off a 3-0 drubbing in the hands of Tajikistan, which is currently joint second in the group with 2-0-2 record and six points.
The Azkals- Nepal game will take place at the ANFA Complex in Kathmandu at 6 p.m. (Manila time).