Muller, Badelic, Mulders in as Azkals' roster versus Uzbekistan released

Rejj Sibayan (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Last July, Coach Tom Dooley told Dugout Philippines that he might be keeping the core of his Azkals from the team that won two straight games to kick off its FIFA World Cup bid.


Save for three changes, the same Azkals from the June matches are back for September.

On Monday, the PFF released the preliminary roster of the Azkals' lineup that will take on Maldives in a friendly on Sept. 3 and Uzbekistan in a pivotal World Cup qualifier match on Sept. 8.

Two changes in the roster came in the goalkeeping side as Loyola's Tommy Trigo was replaced by Global's Jun Badelic and Servette's Roland Muller was included to the roster.

Badelic made impression for Global in the AFC Cup this past season, getting the start for a then injury-depleted lineup in most of its matches.

On the other hand, Muller finally got the green light to join the Azkals for the September matches. He replaced defender Rob Gier, the team's longtime captain.

The third tweak announced was Ceres' Paul Mulders taking over the spot of Global's Mark Hartmann.

Mulders, who came back from an injury to help Ceres go unbeaten in the second round of the UFL season eventually won by the club, will make an Azkals comeback.

Except for the inclusion of Badelic, Mulders, and Muller, the PFF stuck with the rest of the June players for the September games.

Led by skipper Phil Younghusband anew, the Azkals will again compose of Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran, Kenshiro Daniels, Patrick Deyto, Neil Etherdige, Juani Guirado, Kevin Ingreso, Jerry Lucena, Manny Ott, Stephan Palla, Javier Patiño, Iain Ramsay, Patrick Reichelt, Simone Rota, Daisuke Sato, Stephan Schrock, Martin Steuble, Dennis Villanueva, and Luke Woodland.