Phil Younghusband (right) and his brother James: Excluded AFP file photo
MANILA, Philippines—Brothers Phil and James Younghusband couldn’t help but feel disappointed over their exclusion from the men’s football squad’s lineup for the Philippine Football Peace Cup, which kicks off Tuesday.
The Fil-British brothers are also clueless as to why they were left out of the team, as they said in a television interview.
“We were very disappointed to learn just a couple of days before. I mean, we don’t know the reason why,” said the striker Phil, who leads the Azkals in international goals scored.
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has addressed the issue in a press conference stating that the football body “can no longer meet some of the demands of the brothers.”
“Without getting into too much detail, they are economic even half of which the amount the PFF cannot handle and non-economic are with regards to commitment to schedules.”
Azkals head coach Hans Michael Weiss has said his relationship with the Younghusbands ‘is good’ and that he was able to ‘communicate with them well.’
But the German coach added: “I tried to understand their extracurricular activities again and again and again until it becomes unacceptable to other players.”
“Sometimes, things have to be done for the sake of the team because team is greater than individual,” said Weiss.
The PFF made clear it was not a sanction, adding that it was still uncertain whether Phil and James’ exclusion is temporary or permanent.