Azkals need new blood, Palami says

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine national football team manager Dan Palami said the Azkals are not getting any younger and will need to replenish their lineup for future competitions.

Palami, who appeared on ANC’s Hardball sports show, cited as an example the Azkals' first defensive unit.

“We have Ray Jonsson, who is about 32; we have Rob Gier, who is 30 years old; we have Aly [Borromeo], 28; and Anton [del Rosario] is 29. So we really need to replenish the back 4,” he said.

Although the team's veterans still have a lot of playing years ahead of them, Palami said the team needs younger footballers who will fill their boots.

More foreign-trained players

He added that while the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is building up the country’s grassroots program, the team management is scouting more overseas-based players who can potentially help the Azkals in future tournaments.

“We are concurrently trying to get the interest of good players outside the Philippines and get them to play for us,” he said.

Palami admitted that it is too early for the Azkals to rely solely on local players.

“In fact when I started managing the team, the first thing I did was to look for locally based players,” he said.

“Unfortunately, our grassroots program had been dormant for a few decades so it will take a while before we get locals. [But] it will probably happen in 4 years,” added Palami.

Among the European-based players reportedly eyed by the team management is Alphonse Areola, an 18-year-old goalkeeper who currently plays for the Paris Saint-Germain football club in France.

Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News