3 key Azkals to miss KL friendly

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals will likely miss three key starters when they play the Malaysian Tigers in a Fifa international friendly on June 1 in Kuala Lumpur.

Phil Younghusband, the Golden Boot awardee of the last AFC Challenge Cup, said he and his brother James will not be available against the Tigers due to a previous commitment.

Keeper Neil Etheridge will also sit out to serve a one-game suspension belatedly slapped by the AFC for his action in the Azkals’ third place match against Palestine in the Challenge Cup in Nepal.

“James and I won’t be able to play against Malaysia because we had a commitment we could not get out of,” said Phil during the recent launch of the Chelsea Soccer School Philippines, a joint undertaking of Chelsea FC and The Younghusband Football Academy.

“But we’ll be playing against Indonesia and Guam,” he assured, referring to two friendlies succeeding the Malaysia fixture, on June 5 against Indonesia at Rizal Memorial and on June 12 against Guam at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.

Etheridge was penalized by the AFC disciplinary committee last month for “violating” Article 57 of the Disciplinary Code during the Azkals’ March 19 match against Palestine and slapped a $3,000 fine. The article stipulates that “Anyone who insults someone in any way, especially by using offensive gestures or language, or who violates the principles of fair play or whose behavior is unsporting in any other way may be subject to sanctions...”

The AFC did not specify what Etheridge did that merited the punishment. The Fil-British actually sat out that game as penalty for getting a red card during Phl XI’s previous outing against Turkmenistan in the semis of the same tourney so his alleged misconduct might have happened on the sidelines of that Palestine fixture.

“The friendly game against Malaysia is an AFC-sanctioned match and therefore, Etheridge should serve his suspension on that match,” said Azkals team coordinator Ace Bright.

The Azkals will hold a local training camp in San Carlos and Bacolod on May 21-28 to crank up their preparations for the three friendlies.