James (left) and Phil (right) Younghusband. Photo by August Dela Cruz
MANILA, Philippines – After missing the recently concluded Philippine Football Peace Cup, Phil and James Younghusband are back with the men’s National Football team for its coming Middle East Camp.
The Fil-British brothers, whom the Philippine Football Federation didn’t include in the lineup the last time out citing “economic and non-economic” reasons, will join the Azkals as they face Bahrain and Kuwait in a pair of international friendlies set on October 7-11.
Expected to lead the Azkals along with the Younghusbands are PH squad fixture Chieffy Caligdong, Peace Cup Golden Boot awardee and MVP Denis Wolf and Angel and Juan Guirado.
The Philippines, which ended its 99-year international title drought, will again miss the services of Neil Etheridge but hoping to continue his good run is Eduard Sacapano, who almost had a clean sheet in the Peace Cup.
The Middle East Camp is also part of the Azkals preparations for the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup, which kicks off on November 24.
Also part of the line-up released by the PFF, are Ian Araneta, Marwin Angeles, Demetrius Omphroy and Patrick Reichelt, both riding high after a stellar Peace Cup stint, Misagh Bahadoran, Jeffrey Christiaens, Rob Gier, Jason de Jong, Fil-Spanish Carli de Murga and Ray Jonsson.
Rounding up the 26-man field, are Dennis Cagara, OJ Porteria, Roland Muller, Paul Mulders, Matthew Uy, Ref Cuaresma, Andres Gonzales, Nestorio Margarse and Jerry Lucena.