MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals will be missing the services of mainstays Phil and James Younghusband in the China training camp that kicks off the team’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. 

However, new faces will debut for the Philippine men’s football team in the friendly against China on Friday, June 7, 7:35 pm at the Guangzhou Tianhe Stadium.

The new additions include goalkeeper Bernd Schipmann, who plays for German side Rot Weiss Ahlen, and midfielder Christian Rontini who plays for Italian club ASD Sangiovannesse 1927.

Stephan Schrock – who scored the Philippines’ first Asian Cup goal – will be the team’s source of veteran presence along with left back Daisuke Sato. 

The Younghusbands haven’t played for a club since December 2018 when Davao Aguilas FC folded up.

The team of 24 players will also be playing a practice match with a local club on Sunday, June 9 in the Guangdong Province.

This will be the second time in recent years that China will host the Philippines in a friendly match.

In June 2017, China trounced the Philippines, 8-1, in a friendly. But the Nationals have strengthened their defense over the years as they only conceded two goals against China in the 2019 Asian Cup last January. 

Squad list: 

Goalkeepers: 

DEYTO, Patrick – Stallion Laguna FC
FALKESGAARD, Michael – Bangkok United (Thailand)
SCHIPMANN, Bernd- Rot Weiss Ahlen (Germany)

Defenders: 

AGUINALDO, Amani- PKNP FC (Malaysia)
CASAMBRE, Marco- Chainat Hornbill (Thailand)
PALLA, Stephan- Buriram United (Thailand)
WOODLAND, Luke- Kuala Lumpur FA (Malaysia)
SATO, Daisuke- Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe (Romania)
SILVA, Alvaro- Ceres Negros FC

Midfielders: 

INGRESO, Kevin 
OTT, Mike Rigoberto- Ceres Negros FC
RONTINI, Christian- ASD Sangiovannesse 1927 (Italy)
SCHROCK, Stephan- Ceres Negros FC

Forwards: 

BEDIC, Jovin- Kaya FC – Iloilo
DIZON, Curt- Ceres Negros FC
REICHELT, Patrick- Melaka United FC (Malaysia)
PATIÑO, Javier- Buriram United (Thailand)

Foreign-based players invited: 

BARDANCA, Diego- Defender- MKS Bytovia Bytow (Poland)
KEMPTER, Michael- Defender- FC Zurich (Switzerland)
GUERRA, Kevin- Midfielder- ATSV Erlangen (Germany)
STRICKLER, Kristofer- Forward- Virginia Tech University (USA)
BAILEY, Kainoa- Forward- Des Moines Menace (USA)
FERNANDEZ, Pancho- Forward- Deportes La Serena (Chile)
BERNAL, Enrique- Forward- Real Balompedica Linense (Spain)

– Rappler.com