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Dooley names Azkals squad for Peace Cup

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Dooley (left) and Chris Bauer. Image copyright Bob Guerrero.

The final 23 players for the Philippine Men’s National Football team for next week’s PFF Peace Cup are now known.

All-time leading scorer Phil Younghusband has been selected along with his brother James from Loyola. Simon Greatwich is the other Loyola Meralco Spark on the team.

The club with the most number of players in the side is Global, with seven. Striker Curt Dizon, keeper Patrick Deyto, mids Misagh Bahadoran and Jason de Jong, as well as defenders Daisuke Sato and Amani Aguinaldo are included. Mark Hartmann, Global’s striker and the leading scorer in the UFL league, is also back on the squad after being a surprise omission during the Challenge Cup

Ceres-La Salle have five players in this Peace Cup Azkals team, namely Manny Ott, Nate Burkey, Juani Guirado, Carlie de Murga, and Patrick Reichelt. Ott is back after a two-year absence with the team.

Four players from Kaya have made the cut and they are OJ Porteria, Chris Greatwich, Anton Del Rosario, and Kenshiro Daniels.

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Kaya’s veteran centerback Aly Borromeo trained with the team but did not make the final roster. At the press conference in Aristocrat restaurant in Roxas Boulevard, head coach Thomas Dooley expressed his belief that that Aly wasn’t up to the standard of international play after three ACL surgeries and a two-year convalescence to rehab his latest one.

Roland Müller, who plays for Servette in the Swiss second-tier, is flying in on September 1. He and Deyto are the only goalkeepers. Nick O’Donnell of Kaya was not selected. Dooley explained that O’Donnell had been ill lately and only trained once in the lead-up to this competition.

“We have so many outfield players right at the edge of starting so it didn’t make sense to use a slot on a third keeper who will likely not play,” divulged Dooley. If ever the team needs an emergency third goalie, they can probably rely on de Murga, who came on to play keeper for the Azkals against Turkmenistan in the 2012 Challenge Cup semifinals after Neil Etheridge was red carded

Paul Mulders, who is now plying his trade in the German third tier, is also in the roster, as is Rob Gier from Ascot United in England. Simone Rota, so effective in the Challenge Cup at right back, is also in the list.

There is one reserve player for Thomas Dooley, and he is striker Fitch Arboleda. It appears that the former UE Red Warrior from Romblon can be inserted into the team if an injury during the Peace Cup renders one of the original 23 unable to play.

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“I’ve been a little bit impressed with him in training so I asked him to come along,” revealed Dooley.

There was some speculation that Filipino-Spanish defender Alvaro Silva would be able to begin his Azkal career next week but due to an inability to finish his citizenship paperwork, he cannot be fielded. Dooley expressed optimism that he could be available for the AFF Suzuki Cup in November.

Chieffy Caligdong will miss the Peace Cup after spraining his foot in training, an injury that will take at leas two weeks to heal.

The nationals play Chinese Taipei on Wednesday, Myanmar on Saturday, September 6, then Palestine, their Challenge Cup conquerors, on September 9. All the matches will kick off at seven pm in Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Ticket prices have been lowered, with bleacher seats now selling at just P60.

The national team will visit Enchanted Kingdom on Saturday. Fans who wish to enjoy the theme park with them can get a free bus ride from Harrison Plaza, said Chris Bauer of Fröhlich Tours. Fans can go to the meeting point at nine am, with the buses leaving at nine thirty. Azkals supporters who avail of this get a day pass in Enchanted for a discounted price of only P399.

The Azkals will make that trip in their specially outfitted 32-seat bus from Fröhlich Tours.

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.