Azkals open to naturalized player

MANILA, Philippines — Will the Philippine Azkals feature a naturalized player soon?

The prospect of seeing one cropped up recently after Ceres Negros FC foreign players Bienvenido Marañon and Robert Lopez-Mendy signified their interest to become Filipino citizens and be eligible to play for the national team.

“If and when they get their citizenship, I’m sure they’ll be invited to at least try out with the team,” team manager Dan Palami said in the CPT Crossover podcast.

“We’ve always given a chance to everybody who could be part of the team but as far as selection is concerned, that would be the coach’s decision,” he added.

For his part, coach Scott Cooper said he would cross the bridge when he gets there.

“These two players are good players. Could they help? I don’t know because until I know they’re eligible to help, I wouldn’t really even assess it and even then, I’d have to be real sure in my own mind that it’s the right thing for the squad and it’s the right thing going forward,” he said.

Two separate bills (1390 and 1391) have been filed at the Senate by Sen. Miguel Zubiri to get the ball rolling for Senegalese Mendy and Spaniard Marañon.

The idea of naturalizing players for the Azkals rekindles debates about how the team should be composed. Should it be pure homegrown and Fil-foreigners or beefed up by foreign-born players?

“For me, I prefer to simplify the issue. I’d want to form the best team for the Philippines composed of Filipinos, whether they’re natural-born or naturalized or recognized Filipinos because they were born abroad to a Filipino parent like some of our players are already,” said Palami.

“Any Filipino is welcome to the team. Do we prefer homegrown? Yes, that’s the reason the ADT (Azkals Development Team) is there. Will there be Filipinos who might be coming from abroad because their parents are Filipinos and interested in doing their share for football? Yeah, why will we not allow them?

“Will there be Filipinos who will acquire Philippine citizenship via naturalization process because they love the Philippines and they want to be part of the team and they’re good players? Why not at least take a look at them?” he said.