Guirado, 3 pa pinayagang sumipa sa Suzuki Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Matapos ang kanilang misyon para sa kanilang football club na Ceres-La Salle, itutuon nina Patrick Reichelt, Juani Guirado, Manny Ott at Jeffrey Christiaens ang kanilang atensyon para sa Philippine Azkals.

Hindi pinayagan ng Ceres-La Salle ang apat na su-mama sa Azkals sa pagharap sa Nepal sa isang friendly match sa Qatar noong nakaraang Sabado.

Ang paghahanda para sa United Football League’s Football Alliance League Cup knockout phase ang na­ging dahilan ng management.

“It’s very big to play for the country, but there are times when you have to step back as a player and let people who know better decide,” sabi ni Reichelt. “No one among us wanted to miss the friendly. But it was a reasonable decision for our club. We had to stay here.”

Kinatigan ito ni Guirado.

“Every single player wants to play for the national team, but we need to respect the local teams and we are working hard to win something,” ani Guirado. “And they (management) are spending a lot of time and money for us to win.”

Nakamit ng Ceres-La Salle ang FA League Cup title matapos talunin ang Global FC, 2-1, sa finale noong Huwebes.

Matapos ito, tiniyak ng apat ang kanilang paglalaro para sa Azkals na sasabak sa Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup.

“It’s a big tournament,” sabi ni Guirado sa Suzuki Cup kung saan dalawang sunod na pagkakataon nakapasok ang mga Filipino sa semifinals.

Sina Reichelt, Guirado, Christiaens, Ott, at Paul Mulders ay bahagi ng Azkals’ 24-man lineup sa kanilang away friendly laban sa Thailand ngayon.