Younghusbands rarin' to join Azkals anew

MANILA, Philippines -  After missing the last game of the Azkals’ recent three-nation ASEAN tour, Phil and James Younghusband assured their participation in the Pinoy booters’ campaign in the Philippine Peace Cup on Sept. 25-29 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

“We’ll be available for those games in Rizal. We’ll play there,” Phil Younghusband said during a recent event for the Chelsea FC Soccer School Philippines at TRIbeca Residences.

The Younghusbands were excused from playing in the Azkals’ friendly against Laos in Vientiane as they commemorated their mother’s first death anniversary. The Azkals eventually lost that fight-marred match, 1-2.

The Azkals will host the Peace Cup, the 2012 version of the four-nation Long Teng Cup, facing Guam on Sept. 25, Macau on Sept. 27, and Chinese-Taipei on Sept. 29.

James is personally looking forward to the upcoming matches, hoping that the Philippine Football Federation’s appeals committee will act favorably on his appeal against his one-game suspension.

"They haven't decided yet. I hope I miss no games. I enjoy playing for the Phl national team. In terms of cap, I'm two games away from 50 so that would be some landmark. I would be disappointed if I get injured or suspended. I hate missing games," said the ace midfielder.

James was sanctioned as an offshoot of the Phl-Malaysia friendly last February at Rizal, being the captain at the time match commissioner Cristy Ramos complained of "sexual harassment" against Angel Guirado and Lexton Moy.

The players were eventually cleared of sexual harassment by the PFF's disciplinary committee but nonetheless suspended the two for "breakdown in discipline, as well as James, coach Michael Weiss and manager Dan Palami (two games each) for "failure in leadership."

Younghusband, Weiss and Palami have all appealed the sanctions and their cases currently are being heard by the appeals committee.