
Twelve new players were officially named to the 25-man squad of the Philippine Azkals for the Doha training camp which is a preparation for the upcoming resumption of the World Cup/Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Midfielders Lloyd Fagerlie, Mark Winhoffer, Oliver Bias, Raphael Obemair and Gerrit Holtmann, defenders Michael Kempter, Niko de Vera, Mar Diano, Jefferson Tabinas and Jesper Nyholm and goalkeeper Bernd Schipman will take part in the Azkals camp before flying to Suzhou, China to play the final three second round matches of the Asian Qualifiers.
Star midfielder Stephan Schrock, named team captain by coach Scott Cooper, and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge lead a group of veteran Azkals players who’ll be part of the team that will see action for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rest of the squad is composed of strikers Angel Guirado and Mark Hartmann, midfielders Jarvey Gayoso, Patrick Reichelt, Iain Ramsay and Patrick Strauss, defenders Martin Steuble, Luke Woodland, Alvaro Silva and Carli de Murga and goalie Kevin Ray Mendoza.
Bienvenido Maranon won’t take part in the Doha camp since his naturalization papers are still in the process of being transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte to sign the bill into law.
Players based in Manila left midnight Friday, May 21 for Doha while the others will come from different countries.
The team also said that Holtmann, Nyholm, Obermair and Fagerlie were called up by Cooper despite needing to complete some requirements for their registration.
The Philippines is aiming to gain a spot in the third round of the World Cup Qualifiers and gain a spot in the Asian Cup if it finishes at least among the best second placers at the end of the second round.
The Azkals are currently level with China in Group A with seven points apiece, eight behind Syria which has won all of its five matches, but is in third place on goal difference.
They resume their campaign on June 3 against Guam before facing China on the 9th and Syria on the 15th.