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| Mike Romero (file photo) |
By Gil Moriones
MANILA - The core of the Azkals who played in the recent Asian Cup last January plus a mix of new breeds are the composition of the 23-man roster of the Philippine national football team for their first assignment in World Cup Qualifiers against Syria on Sept. 5
Ceres Negros' Stephan Shrock will lead the Azkals to their another tangible quest to make it in Qatar this 2022 as team captain together with Javier Patino, Patrick Reichelt, Daisuke Sato, Amani Aguinaldo, Alvaro Silva, Manny Ott, Mike Ott, Patrick Strauss, Kevin Ingreso, Carlie De Murga, Michael Falkesgaard amd Kevin Hansen.
The other Thailand-based players, Martin Steuble, Mark Hartmann, Marco Cassambre, and Angel Guirado, were also summoned including the other Ceres players, Sean Kane and OJ Porteria.
Goalkeeper Patrick Deyto who made some impression in his stay in Suphanburi FC is also back in the squad.
The new enlistments for the Azkals are teenagers Justin Baas and Yrik Galantes, who are currently playing in Europe.
Baas is playing for AZ Alkmaar U21 in Netherland as centerback while Galantes is playing as attacking midfielder loaned by Scottish side Hibernian to Gala Fairdean Rover.
Also, the Philippine Football Federation confirmed the appointment of Serbian Goran Milojevic as head coach of the national XI.
Milojevic was the former national coach for Yugoslavia which participated in World Cup 1990 in Italy, and the former attacking midfielder supervised some clubs in Spain, Serbia and Mexico.
After their home game at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod, the Azkals will fly to Hagatna for their first away match against Guam in Sept. 10.
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