Stephan Schrock: I won’t play for Dooley

MANILA, Philippines — Unhappy over their diminished roles in the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives last May, Stephan Schrock and Dennis Cagara pointed to Azkals coach Thomas Dooley as the reason for their sudden resignation from the national team.

“I will die for my country but as long as Dooley is coach, I will not play for the Azkals,” Schrock said in a message to the Inquirer Monday night.

Schrock later came out with the same statement on his official Facebook page, before Cagara followed suit, saying in a Twitter post that Dooley was also the reason he was taking a break from national team duties.

Reliable sources said the two players were unhappy over Dooley’s decision to reduce their playing minutes during the Azkals’ run to the Challenge Cup final.

Nursing a hamstring injury, Schrock was substituted at halftime in the finals against Palestine. Schrock started on the left wing against the Palestinians.

Dooley could not be reached for comment as he was part of the Philippine Football Federation delegation that attended the AFF Suzuki Cup draw in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Azkals landed in Group A that will play in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi from Nov. 22 to 28.

Aside from host Vietnam, Group A will also have Indonesia and the No. 2 team of the qualifying round that involves Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

The Singapore Sports Hub will be the venue for Group B which includes Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and the top qualifier.