11 Busmen in Azkals call-up

ELEVEN players from Ceres Negros FC were recently called up to be part of the Philippine Men’s National Football Team for the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup home matches next week against Singapore and Thailand at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

The team will be under the direction of newlyappointed Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

Among the Busmen were forwards Curt Dizon, Patrick Reichelt and OJ Porteria; Mike and Manny Ott, Kevin Ingreso, Stephan Schrock and Paul Mulders; and defenders Amani Aguinaldo, Carlie de Murga, and Martin Steuble.

Also listed as part of the Filipino squad are Davao Aguilas Bellmare FC’S Dennis Villanueva, Phil and James Younghusband, Marco Casambre, and Patrick Deyto, Adam Tull; Jovin Bedic of Kaya FC Iloilo and Jarvey Gayoso of Ateneo de Manila University.

Highlighting the squad’s roster are international players Neil Etheridge of Cardiff City FC in Wales,

Michael Falkesgaard of Bangkok United in Thailand, Stephan Palla and Javier Patino of Buriram United in Thailand, Daisuke Sato of Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe in Romania, Luke Woodland of Suphanburi FC in Thailand, John-patrick Strauss of FC Erzgebirge Aue in Germany, Iain Ramsay of Felda United in Malaysia, Misagh Bahadoran of Perak FA in Malaysia, and Alvaro Silva, who last played with Kedah FA in Malaysia./hgd

Expected to grace the occasion is Bacolod City Representative Greg Gasataya, Mayor Evelio Leonardia and members of the City Council.

Meanwhile, athletic manager Eden Ariola said that aside from the studentathletes, there will also be more than 250 technical officials who will be joining the ceremony.

She added that some of the events like football and volleyball will be played ahead due to lack of venues.

Among the events to be contested in both levels are arnis, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, chess, football, gymnastics, sepak takraw, sipa, softball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, and volleyball.

This event will also serve as the qualifying round for the upcoming Palarong Panlalawigan next month.*