EN
Philippines begin preparations with Bahrain friendly
Riffa: The Philippines' campaign for the AFF Cup 2018 and the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 begins this month as they face Bahrain in a friendly match scheduled on Thursday at the Bahrain National Stadium in Riffa, Bahrain.

The team is led by new head coach Scott Cooper, who hails from England and had prior coaching stints in Thailand and Indonesia. He is assisted by Chris Greatwich and Steve Marsella.

Midfielder Stephan Schrock returns to the squad. Defender Amani Aguinaldo and midfielder Luke Woodland also make their national team return after injury.

Ceres Negros FC forward Curt Dizon was also included in the squad, as well as midfielder Angel Guirado who was part of the team that participated in the CTFA International Tournament in December 2017.

Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was also selected for the friendlies, as he offers the experience of being the first Filipino to play in the English Premier League.

In the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019, the Azkals are making their debut at the Continental spectacle and were drawn alongside Korea Republic, China PR and Kyrgyz Republic in Group C.


Squad:

  1. Neil Leonard ETHERIDGE – Goalkeeper – Cardiff City FC (England)
  2. Amani AGUINALDO – Defender – Ceres Negros FC
  3. Carlos DE MURGA – Defender – Ceres Negros FC
  4. Junior MUÑOZ – Defender – Ceres Negros FC
  5. Daisuke SATO – Defender – Sepsi Sfantu Gheorghe (Romania)
  6. Hikaru MINEGISHI – Midfielder – Pattaya United (Thailand)
  7. Paul MULDERS – Midfielder – Ceres Negros FC
  8. Manuel OTT – Midfielder – Ceres Negros FC
  9. Mike Rigoberto OTT – Midfielder – Ceres Negros FC
  10. Patrick REICHELT – Midfielder – Ceres Negros FC
  11. Adam TULL – Midfielder – Davao Aguilas FC
  12. Dylan DE BRUYCKER – Midfielder – Davao Aguilas FC
  13. Stephan SCHROCK – Midfielder – Ceres Negros FC
  14. Luke WOODLAND – Midfielder – Suphanburi FC (Thailand)
  15. Curt Jordan DIZON – Forward – Ceres Negros FC
  16. Angel GUIRADO – Forward – Negiri Sembilan FA (Malaysia)
  17. Philip James YOUNGHUSBAND – Forward – Davao Aguilas FC
  18. Patrick DEYTO – Goalkeeper – Davao Aguilas FC
  19. Louie Michael CASAS – Goalkeeper – Global Cebu FC
  20. Nathanael Ace VILLANUEVA – Goalkeeper – Kaya FC Iloilo
  21. Stephan PALLA – Defender – Buriram United (Thailand)
  22. Fitch ARBOLEDA – Forward – Stallion Laguna FC
  23. Jovin BEDIC – Forward – Kaya FC Iloilo

Sources: pff.org.ph