Seasoned goalie returns for two Azkals ‘friendlies’

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran goalkeeper Ed Sacapaño returns to the Azkals fold as he leads a 22-man crew called up by coach Thomas Dooley for the Philippines’ upcoming friendlies and training camp in Qatar.

Sacapaño, who missed the Azkals’ previous sortie in Malaysia and Dubai after failing to secure clearance from Philippine Army, is expected to get his starting position back as Phl takes on Nepal on April 11 and Qatari club Al Ahli three days later.

He joins a mix of Azkals regulars, fresh faces, and returnees for this stage of the preparations for the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup.

Captain Rob Gier, Juani Guirado, Phil and James Younghusband, Chris Greatwich, Patrick Reichelt, Jeff Christiaens, Jason de Jong and Mark Hartmann got their call ups anew as did Nicholas O’ Donnell, Charles Pettys, Anton del Rosario, Simone Rota, Simon Greatwich, Kenshiro Daniels, Curt Dizon, Martin Steuble, Amani Aguinaldo, Nate Curkey, Ruben Doctora and Andrew Liauw.

Most had been with the team when it battled Malaysia to a scoreless draw last March in Malaysia and some hooked up with the overseas-based stalwarts in yielding a fighting 0-1 defeat to world-ranked Azerbaijan the same month in Dubai.

The Azkals hope to build on the good start they had under Dooley. Although they failed to get either a win or a goal, the Azkals had impressed a lot with their improved passing game and better movement in the friendlies against Malaysia and Azerbaijan.

According to Dooley, they will work on getting better scoring opportunities for the forwards and try to prove they can score goals in this next phase of their buildup.