RANGOON - Bago harapin ang Palestine, mukhang ninenerbiyos na si German head coach Michael Hans Weiss.
“There’s always a problem. It’s Neil,” sabi ni Weiss kay Etheridge, ang goalkeeper ng Azkals na hindi nakatulog buong gabi dahilan sa sakit ng tiyan.
“It’s his stomach. It’s some water he drank. He said he didn’t sleep well. Now he’s in his room resting. Or in his toilet,” sabi ni Weiss. “He’s dehydrated.”
Ang 6-foot-3 goalie mula sa koponan ng Fulham ang aasahan ng Azkals sa depensa laban sa Palestine.
“His presence would mean a lot especially if it’s a close game,” wika ni Weiss.
Matapos ang kanilang team practice, kaagad na dumiretso si Etheridge sa fitness room upang magbuhat ng weights. At ayon sa kanya, 80 percent na siyang nasa kondisyon.
Bukod kay Phil Younghusband, nagkaroon rin ng injury sina Yanti Barsales at Roel Gener matapos ang kanilang 1-1 draw sa White Angels ng Myanmar noong Lunes.
May hamstring injury naman ang baguhang si Fil-Spanish recruit Angel Guirado.