Azkals, Oman in international friendly this weekend
PART of its preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 and AFC Asian Cup 2019, the Philippine national men’s football team will play Oman in a FIFA international friendly match on Oct. 13 in Doha, Qatar.
The friendly will mark the first time in 17 years that the nations will face one another.
Oman topped the Philippines the last time they met at the World Cup qualifiers in 2001, winning, 2-0, and 7-0, respectively.
The two teams are seeing action at the AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates next year, with the Azkals lumped in Group C and Oman in Group F.
In relation to the scheduled friendly in Qatar, the Philippine Football Federation released early this the names of the players called up to make up the pool for international duty.
Heading the list are goalkeepers Neil Etheridge (Cardiff City FC) and Michael Falkesgaard (Bangkok United).
Joining them are defenders Amani Aguinaldo, Stephan Palla, Simone Rota, Daisuke Sato and Martin Steuble; midfielders Kevin Ingreso, Paul Mulders, Manny Ott, Mike Ott, Iain Ramsay, Adam Tull, Dennis Villanueva, Luke Woodland, and James Younghusband; and forwards Jovin Bedic, Curt Dizon, Javier Patino, Patrick Reichelt and Phil Younghusband.
Also invited were defender Alvaro Silva (Kedah FA) and midfielders Amin Nazari (IFK Mariehamm, and John-Patrick Strauss (FC Erzgebrige Aue).
The Azkals, now coached by Scott Cooper, are coming off a stint in the 2018 Bangabandhu Cup in Bangladesh where they reached the semifinals before bowing out. —