Four mainstays beef up Azkals

MANILA, Philippines -  After missing the Philippine Azkals’ last friendly against Nepal due to club commitment, Ceres La Salle FC stalwarts Patrick Reichelt, Juani Guirado, Jeffrey Christiaens, and Manny Ott will rejoin the national side that will travel to Nakhon Ratchasima to battle Thailand on Nov. 9.

Reichelt and Co. weren’t released by Ceres for the Nepal game held in Doha, Qatar as the club aired concerns about their health with the international match running smack into the United Football League FA League Cup semis.

With the UFL ending with last night’s finals between Ceres and Global, the four will become free for national duties as the Azkals enter the homestretch of their preparations for the Nov. 22-28 Suzuki Cup in Hanoi.

Paul Mulders, the lone Ceres player who suited up when the Azkals beat Nepal, 3-0, was called up by coach Thomas Dooley anew for the Thailand gig.

They will link up with Global’s Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran, Paolo Bugas, Patrick Deyto, Curt Dizon, Mark Hartmann, Daisuke Sato, and debuting Satoshi Otomo and Dennis Villanueva; Loyola Meralco Sparks’ Phil and James Younghusband add Simon Greatwich; Kaya’s Chris Greatwich and Kenshiro Daniels; Stallion’s Simone Rota; and Team Soccerro’s Tomas Trigo.

Captain Rob Gier of Ascot United will return to the fold after skipping the last game due to family matters. Martin Steuble of Sporting Kansas City and Alvaro Silva of Al Qadsia, who were with the team in Qatar, were enlisted again.

Meanwhile, the Philippine leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup Trophy Tour will be held on Nov. 17 at the Central Plaza of Market!Market! Bonifacio Global City, the Philippine Football Federation announced yesterday.

According to PFF general secretary Ed Gastanes, the event will be a whole-day affair and will showcase the 2014 Suzuki Cup Trophy and treat football fans to live entertainment and interactive booths from the tourney’s official sponsors.