Azkals kick off WC bid in Bahrain

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals will set in motion their buildup for the 2018 Fifa World Cup Asian Qualifiers with a weeklong training camp in Bahrain capped by a friendly against the host nation’s A side on March 30.

The Azkals will leave for Bahrain on March 23 and will also use the opportunity to get acquainted with new prospects like Fil-Australian midfielder Iain Ramsay, Fil-Australian leftback Stephan Palla, Fil-Spanish defender Alvaro Silva and Fil-British midfielder Luke Woodland during the camp.

Goalkeepers Neil Etheridge and Roland Muller and Fil-Spanish forward Javier Patiño, who missed the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup campaign, will rejoin the Azkals for the Bahrain trip and friendly.

“We’re embarking on a training camp in Bahrain to prepare the team for the World Cup Qualifiers,” team manager Dan Palami said during yesterday’s launch of the Azkals Mobile Service, a new subscription service that offers fans exclusive behind-the-scenes contents for P10/a day.

“This is the first step – get the team to know each other because we have new players coming in and get them familiar with each other as well as the new system. Coach intends to implement a new formation we might use in the World Cup Qualifiers,” he added.

This will be the first time the Pinoy booters are getting together since their semifinal stint in the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup last December.

“It’s been a while, we got a few months off from the national team so I’m excited to be back with the team and be in an environment where we’re away with the team in a hotel,” said Phil Younghusband.

“I heard we got some interesting players, new players coming in so I’m looking forward to meeting them and playing with good players,” he added.