WITH an impending revamp of the Philippine football team known as the Azkals, the squad’s veterans remain hopeful that they will still be allowed the wear the country’s colors for this year’s Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia. Filipino-British siblings Phil and James Younghusbands and another Fil-Brit, Chris Greatwich, who are set to see action in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in Bacolod City next month, said they hope to go back to Indonesia and play for the country again.
“We will be in Bacolod City (for the Challenge Cup). But, we are hoping that we can play in the Southeast Asian Games. Our Indonesian fans will miss us,” said Phil on behalf of younger brother James during a live radio interview yesterday over at DZSR Sports Radio.
The Younghusbands spent the holidays in the country for only the second time since they were kids.
The Azkals will undergo a revamp by next week, right before they meet Mongolia at the start of a home-and-away qualifying series for the AFC Challenge Cup at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
The second game is slated Feb. 16 in Mongolia, but because of the cold weather there, the Philippine Football Federation will try to convince the AFC to hold the game in the same venue on Feb. 12.
Only six players are expected to remain in the roster after PFF officials decided to form a team built around new and younger players for the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.
Twenty-year-old Neil Etheridge, the Azkals’ 6’3” Fil-British goalkeeper, will remain in the team, along with Fil-Dutch Jason de Jong, Fil-Germans Manny Ott and Mark Drinkuth and David Basa of the University of Santo Tomas.
Greatwich also expressed hope that the ASEAN Football Federation-Suzuki Cup will not be his last tournament for the Philippines.
“It might be an opportunity for younger guys to come along and stake their claim. I have no idea (if I will be back). I’m trying to figure out what I can do with work. Hopefully, I can get aboard for the World Cup qualifiers,” said Greatwich, a Fil-British midfielder, who has relocated to New York.
Meanwhile, British coach Simon McMenemy’s fate remains uncertain after steering the Azkals to the 2010 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup semifinals.
Peter Atencio, Manila Standard Today
