Fil-German to boost Azkals AFC Challenge bid

MANILA, Philippines - A veteran player from Germany, Denis Santos Wolf, will reinforce the Philippine Azkals in their coming international sorties, particularly the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal in March.

The 29-year-old Wolf, a striker/attacking midfielder for Regionalliga Nord club FC Magdeburg, arrived in Manila this week to join the Azkals’ practices as the team began its preparations for the March 8-19 Challenge Cup.

“I don’t know the whole team (yet) but a lot of good characters in them. Looking forward (to playing with the Azkals),” Wolf was quoted in an ABS-CBN report.

Wolf is one of two new recruits for the Azkals’ Challenge Cup campaign. The other is Fil-Spanish defender Juan Luis Guirado, older brother of Angel, who is due in February yet.

“He arrives next month for the Dubai camp,” said team coordinator Ace Bright of the player in the Tercera Division who’s expected to fill in for injured defender Aly Borromeo and hook up with seasoned Fil-British Rob Gier at the back.

The Azkals will play Korean club Icheon Citizen on Saturday in a charity match at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, a sort of warm-up for their Challenge Cup buildup.

Phl XI will hold a training camp in Dubai from Feb. 6-17, highlighted by four matches against topnotch clubs there and possibly the Australian U-23 team.