Peter Atencio - Manila Standard Today
FIL-DUTCH Jason de Jong and Fil-German Patrick Hinrichsen have been tapped to reinforce the Philippine Azkals in the likely event that team captain Aly Borromeo and Filipino-German Stepahn Schrock are barred from playing in the first game of a two-game series against Middle East powerhouse Kuwait two weeks from now.
De Jong and Hinrichsen are set to arrive in Manila and will immediately join their teammates when they leave for Bahrain on July 14 for two tune-up matches against the Bahrain national Olympic team.
De Jong had earlier been tapped to lead the Southeast Asian Games-bound national under-23 team, along with Hinrichsen, a 20-year old attacker who can play both as a midfielder and striker. He plays for SC Eintracht Oberusel back in Germany.
National team coordinator Patrick Ace Bright said the Azkals are slated to play against the Bahrainis on July 16 and 18, as part of their preparation against Kuwait’s Al-Azraq on July 23.
The Azkals play the Bahrainis at 7 p.m at the National Stadium on July 16, and meets the same team again at the Muharraq Stadium in Muharraq two days later.
Before their trip to Bahrain, the Azkals have been practicing with the national under-23 team at the Alabang Country Club football grounds in Muntinlupa.
Borromeo and Schrock were barred from playing in the nationals’ first game against the Kuwaitis after earning their second yellow cards during the Azkals’ 4-0 victory Sunday in the second leg of their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying home-and-away encounter against the Sri Lanka Brave Reds at the Rizal Memorial football grounds.
National team manager Dan Palami said the Azkals will have to make major adjustments against the Kuwaitis, who are currently ranked 102 in the world.
“It’s going to be a different ballgame. They are a very much stronger team. Nevertheless, we will make sure na prepared tayo,” said Palami.
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