Holtmann gets Azkals call up for friendlies

Gerrit Holtmann could make his national team return after being called up by the Philippine Azkals for their two friendly matches in September.

Holtmann was among the 24 players named by the Philippine Football Federation on Wednesday as the Azkals return to action with friendlies against Chinese-Taipei and Afghanistan.

The 28-year-old last played for the Azkals in June 2022 during the third round of the Asian Cup Qualifiers.

He is currently playing for Turkish side Antalyaspor on a season-long loan from German Bundesliga club VfL Bochum.

Coach Michael Weiss has also called up veteran keeper Neil Etheridge for the games on Sept. 8 in Taiwan and Sept. 12 at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

OJ Porteria, Patrick Reichelt, Bienvenido Maranon and Sebastian Rasmussen join Holtmann as the other strikers who Weiss hopes can be available for the next international window.

Midfielders named for September are brothers Manny and Mike Ott, Sandro Reyes, Patrick Strauss, Kevin Ingreso and Dylan De Bruycker.

The defenders are Jesse Curran, Daisuke Sato, Santi Rublico, Michael Kempter, Amani Aguinaldo, Christian Rontini, Carli de Murga, Josh Grommen and Enrique Linares while the other goalkeepers are Patrick Deyto and Kevin Ray Mendoza.

The Azkals last played in June, posting a 1-0 win over Nepal before absorbing a 3-2 defeat to Chinese-Taipei, both at Rizal Memorial.

That split was the first matches under Weiss, who was brought back to call the shots after his first Azkals spell from 2011 to 2013.