Weiss waits for two key Azkals

DOHA—Philippine Azkals coach Michael Weiss Thursday expressed optimism that key players like Fil-German Stephan Schrock and Fil-Danish Dennis Cagara will be available for the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal next month.

However, Weiss said their availability, as in the past, will be known only at the last minute, making the team’s training camp in this bustling city crucial in honing up the Manila-based players.

“What is important is we have a strong group in Manila,” said Weiss. “And we will be even stronger when the professionals from Europe arrive.

“We are expecting a few of our professional players to join us for the Challenge Cup next month. So the idea now is to develop a parallel line of players to further the development of Filipino football.”

The Azkals were scheduled to play the Australia Under-23 team at the Al Maktoum Stadium Thursday night.

Weiss hinted on Monday that Schrock could suit up for one or two matches in the March 9 to 13 tournament.

The midfield dynamo hasn’t played for the Azkals since the 1-3 loss to Kuwait in the second leg of the World Cup Qualifying in July last year.

But it will be highly unlikely for him to be available if the Azkals reach the final on March 19 as Shrock’s team, Greuther Furth, has reached the semifinals of the German Cup that will be played two days later.

Furth is the only second-division team to have reached the tournament’s semifinal.

“It’s doubtful that they can make it, but the spirit of this team, I believe, can move mountains,” said Weiss, who has been burning the lines with the Europe-based players in the hope of convincing their clubs to release them for the tournament.

Paul Mulders, Ray Jonsson and Rob Gier have already confirmed their availability for the Challenge Cup, where the Azkals will face North Korea, Tajikistan and India. The winner of the Challenge Cup gets an automatic berth to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in Australia.

Azkals manager Dan Palami said the side is targeting a semifinal finish in the tournament.