Half-Filipinos to bolster Azkals’ Asian Cup roster

The Philippines aims to strengthen its squad with a slew of new recruits in anticipation of its toughest challenge yet in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup next year in the United Arab Emirates.

Germany-based players with Filipino lineage, Raphael Obermair and Gerrit Holtmann, as well as Sweden-born Jesper Nyholm are among the players eyed by Azkals manager Dan Palami to beef up the squad in the 24-nation Asian Cup, where the Philippines will be seeing action for the first time.

The Azkals boss is also not discounting the possibility of tapping some collegiate stars to join the Azkals, who beat Tajikistan, 2-1, on Tuesday to punch their ticket to the Asian Cup.

Obermair plays for German giant Bayern Munich, while Holtmann, a former Germany Under-20 player, is under contract with FSV Mainz in the Bundesliga.

Nyholm, a central defender who plays for Swedish top flight side AIK, has been in the Azkals’ radar the past two years.

“We’ve actually talked to the moms of the players who are playing in higher competitions,” Palami revealed at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Tapa King Farmers Market in Quezon City.

“They are interested to join the team. At the same time, we’re looking at local football players who are exceptional in their leagues, like the UAAP. It’s a two-pronged process to augment the national team.”

Palami said the Philippine Football Federation has yet to decide on the status of coach Thomas Dooley, whose two-year contract lapsed on March 31.

The former US international has publicly expressed his desire to stay with the Azkals, although Palami said they will still evaluate his performance and consult with players.

“There’s a lot of reasons for him to be extended,” said Palami. “We’ve had our best performance under his tenure.”