Dooley reveals Peace Cup Azkals roster

MANILA, Philippines – Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley and team management announced the final 24-man line-up for the 2014 Peace Cup in a press conference at Aristocrat Restaurant, Manila on Friday, August 29.

The team’s final roster for the cup include regular national football team players Misagh Bahadoran, Nate Burkey, Jason De Jong, Anton Del Rosario, Simon Greatwich, Chris Greatwich, Juan Luis Guirado, Mark Hartmann, Carli De Murga, Manny Ott, Patrick Reichelt, Simone Rota, James Younghusband and Phil Younghusband.

Standouts from the under-21 Azkals Kenshiro Daniels, Amani Aguinaldo, Curt Dizon, OJ Porteria, Patrick Deyto and Daisuke Sato also made the cut.

Foreign-based national football team players Paul Mulders, Roland Muller and team captain Rob Gier are set to beef up the team’s bid to defend home turf and the Peace Cup title.

Meanwhile, Stallion FC midfielder Fitch Arboleda will also be joining the team as a reserve.

According to coach Dooley, aside from skill, one primary factor that he considered is the physical fitness of the players.

“Obviously, we are looking for players who are healthy and players who are fit,” he said. 

“We have so many good players here who can play in the same level in the field. It’s not a qualification or like the Suzuki Cup where you really have to make sure that you have [backups for each position],” Dooley stressed about his decision to only call up two for the competition.

The Philippine team will be aiming for their third straight title in the annual international football meet that is hosted by Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and will run from September 1 to 9.

The Azkals will kick-off their bid to once again take home the Peace Cup trophy on September 3 with a game against Chinese Taipei at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. – Rappler.com