Schrock: Marañon is special

MANILA, Philippines — Azkals skipper Stephan Schrock said Spanish-born striker Bienvenido Marañon will be a great addition to the national side once he becomes eligible to represent the Philippines as a naturalized player.

Schrock only has good words for the prolific scorer Marañon, who has been his teammate for six years with Ceres Negros FC and now United City FC.

“In every tournament he played, Bienve just bamboozled the competition; he’s scoring in every game of every competition and in every important game, he’s there. He has something very, very special,” Schrock said during the Eat, Sleep, Breathe Football podcast.

The Philippine Congress has already approved the bill granting Philippine citizenship for Marañon, needing only the signature of President Duterte to become a law.

Schrock hopes it will be finalized in time for the resumption of the Azkals’ campaign in the Joint FIFA World Cup-AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers slated June 3-June 15 in a centralized venue in China.

The Filipino booters will face Guam, China and Maldives in Group A play at Sozhou Olympic Sports Stadium.

“He would help us when we go to China for the qualifiers because he’s an absolute killer. It’s a pleasure to have him in the team with Ceres and United and I’m looking forward to having him in the Azkals,” said the Fil-German dynamo.

Marañon, if ever, will be the first naturalized player in the squad.

“He knows that but he can handle the pressure. He’s one of the smartest players I’ve played and he will be a big boost for the national team,” he said.

The Azkals sit third in Group A with seven points behind unbeaten leader Syria (15 points) and the Chinese (seven points but with superior goal difference versus the Philippines) with three matches left in their schedule.