Training camp serves as Teen Azkals elims

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Under-19 football squad yesterday kicked off its week-long training camp which also serves as part of the tryouts for Teen Azkals at the EVIA City football field in Las Piñas City.

The camp, conducted by the team’s coaching staff, is the fourth and latest phase in selecting a 28-man pool, which began with the scouting of potentials during last year’s Palarong Pambansa in Lingayen, Pangasinan, according to team manager Alvin Carranza.

“From this pool will come the national team that will compete in the AFF Under-19 and AFC Under-19 qualifiers that will be held later this year,” Carranza said. “This camp is an opportunity for local and overseas players to showcase their skills so they can play for the Teen Azkals.”

Head coach Marlon Maro described the screening process as “final inspection week” for the national team hopefuls.

“We will assess how these players attack and defend in team formations as well as individually, and see if they can work within our system,” Maro said. “We also would like to see how our local players fare against their overseas counterparts.”

He declined to name those who stood out so far “but I see a lot of promising players. We can make a better assessment of them by Friday.”

Among those aspiring to play for the Teen Azkals is Filipino-Australian goalkeeper Jaime Vicenzo Cheng, son of Sydney-based business consultant Jeff Cheng, who flew in during the Lenten vacation just for the tryouts.

“I really want to play for the Teen Azkals, and I’m willing to come over and practice with the squad if I make it,” said the 17-year-old St. Anthony High School standout.

Philippine Football Federation general secretary Atty. Ed Gastanes, who visited the training camp, cited the team management for the series of tryouts “which is a good move to determine the performance of our players in the national pool.”