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| The Azkals name will be used for the Philippine team to the Asia 7's Championships. Ivan Saldajeno |
MAKATI—The Philippine Azkals are back!
Former Philippine Men's National Football Team members Stephan Schrock and Misagh Bahadoran have been tasked to form a team that will compete in the Asia 7's Championships under the Azkals moniker.
"This is the next step in keeping alive the Azkals name which has become synonymous with Philippine football. It is very important to continue the Azkals' legacy of how as the former minnows of Asian football, we were able to rise and overcome the challenges before. Hopefully, by using the moniker again, we can once more inspire all aspiring football players in the country," Schrock said during the press launch of Asia 7's Championships on Wednesday at Dillingers 1903 restaurant.
Both Schrock and Bahadoran, now teammates with PFL side One Taguig, will serve as the co-captains for the new Azkals team, while a tryout will be conducted at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig, the home of sevens football, beginning next week to determine the rest of the rosters.
Longtime Mendiola captain Hamed Hajimehdi, still active as a player, will take a different role this time as the Azkals' head coach.
The new incarnation of the Azkals will face off against host country Malaysia, India, Japan, China, Brunei, Singapore, and Indonesia in the Asia 7's Championships from Oct. 9-12, at the EV Arena Elmina in Kuala Lumpur.
"The main goal is to make seven-a-side more accessible all over Asia. This competition can be as big as the Asian Football Confederation's tournaments and we just have to work extra hard to make this possible. The Asia 7's Championships is a positive step towards that direction," said former Azkal Anton Del Rosario, the commissioner of the Asia 7's Championships.
An exhibition match between the new Azkals and some celebrities is set for Oct. 6, where the final lineup for the Azkals is expected to be unveiled.
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