Azkals want foreign-born Pinoy booters

Determined to field the best possible squad for the Asian Cup Qualifiers, the Philippines is eyeing two foreign-based players to beef up the Azkals in their campaign to reach the prestigious continental tournament in 2019.

Azkals manager Dan Palami on Tuesday confirmed he had gotten in touch with Fil-German midfielder Raphael Obermair and Fil-Swedish defender Jesper Nyholm for a possible stint with the national side that is bracing for a tough grind in Group F of Asian Cup Qualifying.

Palami said both Obermair and Nyholm had started processing their application for a Philippine passport, which would make them eligible to represent the country.

Obermair, 20, is with German giants Bayern Munich. He’s assigned to the second team, Bayern Munich II, that plays in the fourth-tier of German football.