FOUR new faces, prospects who play professionally in Australia, England, Austria and in Kuwait, have been invited to join the Philippine Azkals’ national football team.
Team manager Dan Palami announced this as the Azkals start their buildup for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers with a training camp and a friendly match in the last week of March in Bahrain.
Players like Fil-Australian left midfielder Ian Ramsay, Fil-Austrian defender Stephan Palla, Fil-Spanish central defender Alvaro Silva Linares and Fil-British midfielder Luke Woodland have been sent invitations by the Azkals.
“All the players are with their clubs. We are embarking on a training camp in Bahrain to prepare the team for the World Cup qualifiers. Team will get to know each other with new players coming,” said Palami, who discussed the camp during the launch of the Azkals’ mobile service at the F1 Hotel in Taguig City.
Palami was with coach Thomas Dooley and members of the team when organizers unveiled the Azkals’ mobile service, an app, which handles content involving information, photos and other matters on the Azkals during games, events and other matters through 2626 for Globe and 2263 on Smart and Sun.
The 27-year-old Ramsay plays for Melbourne Heart in the A-League as a left midfielder. He has previously made competitive appearances for Sydney FC, Sydney Olympic and Adelaide United FC.
Internationally, he is eligible to represent Australia, Scotland or the Philippines.
The 27-year-old Palla is an Austrian footballer, who plays as a left back for Wolfsberger AC and was part of the under-19, under-18 and under-17 national teams of Austria.
The 30-year-old Linares currently plays for Kuwaiti club Al-Qadsia and the Philippines’ national team as a central defender.
Woodland is with the Bolton Wanderers in the English Premier League. Currently, he is on loan to Oldham Athletics.
Dooley, who just returned from Germany early this month, has yet to name the new members of the team.