Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Philippine Azkals aren’t resting on their laurels as they brace for bigger wars ahead.
Team manager Dan Palami shared that this early, the management is already scouring the nation and the globe for prospects who could don the national team colors beginning the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup in November.
“We’re already talking to some prospects,” the amiable executive said Tuesday in the weekly PSA Forum at Tapa King in Cubao. “We’ve actually talked to the moms of the players who are playing in higher competitions.”
Palami said there are three Fil-foreign booters who are in the process of joining the Azkals for the next window of competitions.
Raphael Obermair is a 21-year-old midfielder currently playing for FC Bayern Munich II in the fourth-tier Regionalliga Bayern.
“Sometimes he has been in the line-up of the first team in some of their games. Even though he didn’t play, he’s on the bench and it’s a testament to the quality that he has.”
Meanwhile, Geritt Holtman is a 23-year-old midfielder playing for FSV Mainz and has seen action in top-tier Bundesliga. He has made five appearances for the German U-20 squad back in 2015.
Completing the trio is Jesper Nyholm, who is a 24-year-old defender suiting up for AIK Fotboll in Allsvenskan, the top flight league in Sweden.
Palami shared he has already talked to the parents of these players.
“They are interested in representing the country.”
But the Azkals aren’t limiting their choices to Fil-foreign booters as top players from the Philippines Football League (PFL) and in the collegiate leagues are also in consideration for a possible call-up.
“Maybe, they can actually shine when they’re playing with players with the quality of those in the national team,” said Palami. “It’s a two-pronged process, we’re looking outside of the country and inside. We’ll be looking at players so that we could augment them to our national team.”