THE Azkals travel to Nepal this week for that all-important match in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Still undefeated in four games, the Azkals lead Group F with eight points and a win could assure its entry in the Asian Cup for the first time.
Nepal, one of two nations re-invited to the qualifiers due to the withdrawal of Guam and suspension of Kuwait, is at the bottom with a point, having drawn once and lost three matches.
So, on paper, the odds are in favor of the Philippines, which will have Neil Etheridge back between the posts. The Cardiff City goalkeeper has conceded the fewest goals in the Championship in England and his confidence is at an all-time high.
Aside from Etheridge, the old regulars are still there--brothers Phil and James Younghusband and Misagh Bahadoran. The Younghusband brothers are the longest serving members of the national team, having joined the senior squad in 2006 a year after seeing action in the SEA Games in Bacolod. Etheridge signed up in 2008, when Iloilo hosted the AFF Championship qualifiers.
Daisuke Satto of AC Horsens also returns along with Mike Ott, who is now with Angthong United. The rest of the 23-man pool are all PFL players mostly from Global FC (six), Davao Aguilas (four) and Ceres Negros (five). League leader Meralco Manila has one call up, along with Kaya FC, JPV Marikina and Stallion Laguna, which prompted a strongly-worded tweet from Kaya GM Paul Tolentino.
“No disrespect to the young kid from Ceres but he’s played one game all season. Meanwhile, Jalsor Soriano gets snubbed again,” he said, while adding the no respect hashtag.
I don’t know who he was referring to from Ceres in the list and I haven’t seen how good Soriano is--hey, TV games anyone in the PFL?--but I don’t think a GM would say anything like that if he thinks it isn’t warranted.
I think that shows there’s a healthy competition for slots in the national team and that’s always a good thing, though some may take it wrongly if they don’t get a call up. The PFL, too, gives the local players a regular and competitive league to stay in shape.