Top keepers out of Suzuki Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Azkals coach Thomas Dooley has ruled out overseas-based goalkeepers Roland Muller and Neil Etheridge from the team that will do battle in next week’s Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup group stage due to club commitments.

“Neil Etheridge will not be available for the Suzuki Cup. Roland Muller will not be available in the group stage. But if we make the semis, he (Muller) may be able to play for the team,” Dooley said.

Fil-German Muller is tied up with duties for Servettte FC in the Swiss Challenge League while Fil-British Etheridge recently joined League One club Oldham Athletic on a two-month deal.

With Muller and Etheridge not in harness, goalkeeping responsibility will fall largely on the shoulders of homegrown keeper Patrick Deyto.

The Global FC custodian has seen extensive action leading up to the Nov. 22-28 Suzuki Cup group play in Hanoi, taking the starter’s role in majority of the international friendlies.

Fil-Spanish Tomas Trigo of Team Soccerro FC joins Deyto in the Azkals’ goalkeeping bench in Hanoi.

Only three players from abroad are beefing up the side for this campaign, namely skipper Rob Gier of Ascot, Martin Steuble of Sporting Kansas, and Jerry Lucena of Esbjerg fB.Gier and Steuble were with the team that played Cambodia in a friendly last night at Rizal Memorial Stadium.