More Fil-fors eyed for Azkals

MANILA, Philippines - The search for more Fil-foreign talents to beef up the current Azkals lineup continues.

Team manager Dan Palami is leaving for Europe this month to sit down with players who have the great potential to help the Azkals in future international competitions.

While the Philippine Football Federation under Mariano Araneta is serious with its grassroots development program, Palami said tapping talents from abroad is still part of the plan.

“It’s a continuing process (the scouting). I will spend two weeks in Europe to get in touch with the Filipinos playing in different clubs there,” said Palami.

The Azkals team manager said they’re looking at a goalkeeper in France, and currently playing for the PSG (Paris Saint-Germain Football Club).

“He is pure Filipino now playing for PSG and being courted by Tottenham Spurs and Manchester United. And we have other players applying,” Palami said.

If they succeed in luring this player to their fold, the Azkals won’t find a hole in the middle in case Neil Etheridge, now playing for Fulham, is unavailable.

Palami said some of these players wanted to come over to the Philippines but he felt it was more practical if he flies to Europe to track them out.

Rob Gier, a key player for the Azkals, is based in Europe, and has been tapped as the team’s official scout.

“Rob knows the system we are using. He knows how things work, and he knows how to talk to these potential players,” said Palami.

The Azkals work around a solid bunch of Fil-foreign players, and has made great headway in putting the Philippines in the football map.

The recent match against Kuwait, a team ranked No. 102 in the world as compared to the Azkals who are at No. 159, showed how far the team has gone in the international arena.

“And since we’re improving we must be ready to face the biggest teams in the region. The fact that we are now playing against teams like Kuwait is a significant step toward the development of football here,” he said.

“Unlike before when we only had to contend with teams like East Timor or Myanmar, now we are being pitted against teams like Kuwait. To be able to compete against teams like Kuwait is a big step for us.

“Losing is part of the process. And we must all realize that you will not be up against these teams if you were not improving. You will not get to this stage if you keep on losing in the lower stages,” said Palami.

The Philippines may have failed in its bid to advance in the qualifying stages of the 2014 World Cup, but its recent performances have proven that there’s something positive going on.

“We are more competitive now, and I can only see a better future for Philippine football,” said Palami.

Abac Cordero, Philippine Star