The Philippine Men’s National Football Team (Azkals) are set to commence preparations for the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup this September. With the Azkals’ conspicuous absence in the past FIFA international friendly window, it was imperative for them to play two friendlies in the next one.
The Philippine Football Federation arranged just that, and the Azkals are set to compete once again on the international stage. For the first of the two friendlies, the Azkals will play Turkmenistan at home on Friday (Sept 2, 2016) at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan and the list of players for that game has been released.
Twenty-two players were chosen for the fixture, with Stephen Palla having to withdraw due to injury. The 22 players are as follows:
1) Amani Manuel AGUINALDO
2) Misagh BAHADORAN
3) Kenshiro Michael DANIELS
4) Patrick Phillip DEYTO
5) Neil Leonard ETHERIDGE
6) Daniel Bernan GADIA
7) Kevin INGRESO
8) Roland Richard MÜLLER
9) Jim Junior MUÑOZ
10) Manuel OTT
11) Javier PATIÑO
12) Iain RAMSAY
13). Patrick REICHELT
14) Simone ROTA
15) Daisuke SATO
16) Stephan Markus SCHRÖCK
17) Martin Markus STEUBLE
18) Miguel TANTON
19) Dennis VILLANUEVA
20) Luke WOODLAND
21) James Joseph YOUNGHUSBAND
22) Philip James YOUNGHUSBAND
There is no word yet whether or not this exact lineup will travel to Kyrgyzstan a day later to compete against that country’s national team on September 6, 2016. It should also be noted that this is the first time Kaya Football Club’s Junior Muñoz will be called up for national team duty.
Only three months are left before the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup will be held at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan. With that short span of time, the Azkals will need everything in their arsenal in order to bring home an inaugural championship.
