Azkals test Dooley ‘system’ vs Malaysians

Match tonight (MPS Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia)

8:45 p.m. – Malaysia vs Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals usher in what most of the players consider as a “new chapter” for the team as they play their first game under coach Thomas Dooley tonight in an international friendly against Malaysia in Selangor.

Dooley, a former US skipper and Fifa World Cup veteran, took over the reins only last February and seemed to have won over the members of the pool he has assembled.

“The guys speak highly of him. It’s a new era and we’re excited,” said Phl captain Rob Gier of the German-born American mentor.

Dooley wants to make the Azkals play like top European clubs, employing a “fast-paced offensive game but still founded on perfecting the basics.”

“He’s straightaway. He likes simple football, he wants players to play a simple one and two touch. Me and my brother were talking about simplicity is genius and your teammates appreciate it when you pass and move, pass and move; a player always want to have the ball and do amazing tricks,” said James Younghusband.

“It’s a new time for the Azkals with coach Thomas Dooley in charge. It’s a good chance for the players to show what they got. There are a lot of things happening in the team. It will be interesting. We’ll see how it goes,” he added.

Brother Phil similarly feels good about the direction charted by Dooley for the team, which ultimately aims to win the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in Maldives in May.

“You know he wants players to be simple and play together. We can all get on board if the coach and the players are in sync, it will all mean success,” said Phil.

Joining Gier and the Younghusbands in the 8:45 p.m. match against Malaysia are regulars Juani Guirado, Patrick Reichelt, Misagh Bahadoran, Chris Greatwich, Jason de Jong, Jeff Christiaens, Mark Hartmann and Marwin Angeles and new Fil-Swiss recruit Martin Steuble.

Also in the roster are comebacking Anton del Rosario, Ruben Doctora, Simon Greatwich and Nate Burkey, and UFL standouts Andrew Liauw, Patrick Deyto, Nicholas O’Donnell, Amani Aguinaldo and Simone Rota.

It will be the third meeting in the last three years for the Azkals (127th in the Fifa world ranking) and the 150th-ranked Malayan Tigers. The two battled twice in friendlies in 2012, the first one ending in 1-1 draw at Rizal and the second resulting in a scoreless standoff in Kuala Lumpur.

After Malaysia, the Azkals are slated to face world No. 93 Azerbaijan in Dubai on March 5 with overseas-based Stephan Schrock, Roland Muller, Jerry Lucena, and Javier Patiño coming in as reinforcement. Neil Etheridge and Paul Mulders were originally supposed to join them but suffered injuries recently.