8 vets beef up Azkals AFF Suzuki Cup bid

MANILA, Philippines - Eight veterans from the 2012 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup will return to the region’s premier showpiece to carry the fight for the Philippine Azkals, teaming up with debutants in the group hostilities that begin Saturday in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Captain Rob Gier, Juani Guirado, Phil and James Younghusband, Chris Greatwich, Paul Mulders, Patrick Reichelt, and Jerry Lucena will don the Phl colors again, hoping to surpass the team’s semifinal finish two years ago and go all the way this time.

Manny Ott, Misagh Bahadoran and Mark Hartmann, who missed the final cut in 2012, will get their chance in the Nov. 22-28 Group A hostilities in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Also making their debut are Daisuke Sato, Amani Aguinaldo, Patrick Deyto, Martin Steuble, Simone Rota, Simon Greatwich, Tomas Trigo, Curt Dizon, Kenshiro Daniels and Dennis Villanueva.

New recruit Alvaro Silva, who has secured his Phl passport Tuesday, is not in the initial list released by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) but is expected to join the side, according to coach Thomas Dooley.

“I think every player is ready to give (his) 100 percent and fight for the win in the Suzuki Cup,” said Dooley.

The Pinoy booters arrived in Vietnam yesterday, three days before they kick off their bid against Laos on Saturday at My Dinh Stadium.

Being back in the very place where the Azkals started their climb with an unexpected Final Four appearance in 2010 give veterans Gier, the Younghusbands and Chris Greatwich some goosebumps.

“I’ve got this strange feeling of deja vu,” Gier twitted after landing in Vietnam.

The first-timers feel the thrill, too.

“I watched the previous Suzuki Cup games on Youtube and there were so many people watching the games. I’m happy, so excited to be part of this now,” said Sato.