Despite the times, Cooper still focused on strengthening Azkals

Even as the world deals with the COVID-19 pandemic, national men’s football team coach Scott Cooper is keeping tabs on some of his prospects who could beef up the squad in future competitions.

Cooper remains hopeful that he could add Gerrit Holtmann, Jesper Nyholm, Niko de Vera, Jessie Curran, Jefferson Tabinas, Bernd Schipmann and Raphael Obermair to the current squad that is still in the hunt for a berth in the 2022 World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup joint qualifying.

“All of these players can make their entry in the near future,” Cooper said. “We’ve been studying their abilities and most importantly, their true desire to play for the Philippines and their commitment.

One of the players in Cooper’s radar, Michael Kempter, a Filipino-Swiss defender, was already supposed to join the team after he was cleared by Fifa.

But his Azkals debut would have to wait as international matches have been postponed indefinitely by the sport’s governing body. The Azkals were supposed to play Guam in a World Cup Qualifying match on Thursday.

Holtmann, 25, is the most high-profile player on the wish list as he is currently on loan with Bundesliga side Paderborn from FSV Mainz.

Curran has been training with the Azkals since late last year as he awaits several requirements before getting his Philippine passport.

The Sweden-based Nyholm is coming off a serious leg injury, but has already expressed willingness to play for the Azkals. “As the world is dealing with the coronavirus, I am also trying to recover from a bad injury and everything is going well with my rehab,” said Nyholm, who was once a prospect of the Swedish national team.

“To play for the Azkals is a goal that makes me push harder everyday. I have my mother’s Filipino blood in me and I want to make her proud by representing her side of the family.”

The 23-year-old De Vera, who is working out with the Azkals development team after seeing action for the Portland Timbers 2 last year, is optimistic about the future of the team.

“I am very excited about the future because there are a lot of very good players from different clubs coming together to not only win, but build a good foundation for the future,” said De Vera, a leftback. INQ