Guirado's brother to fill Aly' spot

MANILA, Philippines - Azkals Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado’s older brother Juan Luis may try out to fill the spot vacated by injured defender Aly Borromeo for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup finals in Laos on March 3-18 and could fly in from Spain in February to be tested by coach Michael Weiss.

Guirado’s agent Rafa Garcia said yesterday Juan Luis has the experience and bulk to play physical defense but the question is if he can get time off work to join the Azkals. At the moment, the 31-year-old Juan Luis plays for Lermeno of Burgos in the Spanish Division III and is employed in a day job.

“We initially spoke to Juani about making himself available from February to March 20,” said Garcia, the Guirados’ first cousin. “He still has to check with his work if it’s possible.”

Borromeo suffered a torn ACL in the right knee during a recent UFL match and was scheduled to undergo surgery yesterday. He is expected to be out of action for at least five months. The Azkals join seven other qualifiers in the AFC Challenge Cup finals in March with the winner advancing to play in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. The other qualifiers are host Laos, North Korea, Palestine, India, Turkmenistan, Maldives and Tajikistan.  

Garcia said another Fil-Spanish player Carli Martinez de Murga will definitely play for the Philippine under-23 squad at the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia next month. De Murga, who trained here before playing with the Azkals at the recent Long Teng Cup in Taiwan, will not join the juniors for training in Japan but will fly directly from Spain to Indonesia.

De Murga, 22, plays for the Racing Club Portuense in the Spanish Division III. Garcia said after the SEA Games, De Murga will return to Andalucia and await Weiss’ advice if he is to be called for the Challenge Cup.

In the Racing Club Portuense website, De Murga was quoted as saying he agreed to play for the Azkals because “I really want to know the country of my mother and this opportunity, I could not let go which makes her very happy and very proud of me.”

Guirado, who turns 27 on Dec. 9, is recovering from a contusion in his right ankle. He played with a heavily-taped ankle for Global in the UFL last Sunday. Guirado suffered the contusion 15 minutes into the Azkals’ recent friendly in Singapore and had to leave the match. Garcia said Guirado has received offers to play in Iran and Japan but remains uncommitted. 

“Angel has a window of opportunity to play from December to January, perhaps in the Japanese Division II,” said Garcia. “International scouts are looking at him closely. Global has agreed to give him a leave if there’s an offer to play abroad. It’s Mr. (Dan) Palami’s way to give his Global players the chance to improve their game. We’re grateful to Mr. Palami for his support.”

Guirado has moved into a Wack-Wack condominium unit provided by Palami and plans to stay in Manila indefinitely. His Spanish girlfriend Rocio will visit for a week next month. Garcia said Guirado is determined to pay back Palami for his support by playing 110 percent every game whether for Global or the Azkals. Guirado’ Spanish father and Filipina mother live in Malaga.

Guirado and Azkals teammates Misagh Bahadoran and Topher Camcam made a cameo appearance at the Zonta Muntinlupa and Environs bazaar to support the campaign against abusing women and children at Ayala Alabang last Saturday. They were mobbed by fans and obliged everyone who asked for their autographs and posed for pictures.

Bahadoran, 24, is a Fil-Iranian striker who relieves either Chieffy Caligdong or Guirado with the Azkals. He also plays for Global. Bahadoran was born in Mabalacat, Pampanga where his mother Maryann Medina is from. He grew up in Iran and returned to Manila to take up dentistry at Centro Escolar University. The third of seven children, he finished dentistry last March and will take the board exams after playing for the Azkals.

“I don’t know when I’ll take the board or where I’ll practice, in Manila or Iran,” said Bahadoran. “I’ll decide when the Azkals don’t want me anymore. But for the meantime, I’m enjoying playing football and I’ve started a new business, operating a fleet of 17 taxis.” Bahadoran was a two-time Southeast Asian league top scorer in futsal and recruited to try out for the Azkals a day after his graduation from dentistry.

Camcam, 17, is one of three goalkeepers on the under-23 team. The others are Roland Moller and Paolo Pascual. Camcam played for the Azkals against Sri Lanka last July. He suits up for Kaya in the UFL.