Younghusbands recalled to RP squad
Filipino-British brothers James and Phil Younghusband have been recalled to bolster the Philippine national football team for the qualifying stage of the ASEAN Football Federation Cup in Bacolod City next month.
But the Younghusbands, who wowed crowds when they saw action for the country in the Southeast Asian Games last year in Bacolod City, will not be the only foreign-born players strengthening the national line-up for the Nov. 12-20 tournament that serves as a qualifier for the main draw in the AFF Cup, formerly known as the Tiger Cup, set in Thailand in January.
National team coach Aris Caslib confirmed Monday night the inclusion of another Fil-Briton, Matthew Hartmann, a defender, and midfielder Chris Greatwich in the pool of players for the tournament.
The Younghusbands and Greatwich may join the rest of the squad two weeks before the Philippine Team faces Laos in its opening match on Nov. 12 at the Panaad Stadium pitch.
The RP booters and Laos played to a 1-all draw the last time they met in the 2002 World Cup qualifying on May 26, 2001 in Manila. "We want the best team possible for the AFF Cup qualifiers. Any additional player is a positive sign for our competitiveness," said Caslib, who is currently supervising the nationals' training camp at the PhilSports pitch. Among the players joining the camp is Ali Rojas, who was instrumental in the University of St. La Salle's victory in the Provincial Men's Open Championship and the National Men's Open finals.
The nationals also spent three weeks training at the Panaad turf, the venue for the five-nation tournament. They will leave for Thailand on Oct. 21 for the final phase of their training. While in Thailand, they will play six to seven exhibition games, including three against the Thai national team.
The 17-year-old Hartmann, a reserve for top-flight English club Portsmouth, was to arrive in Manila Tuesday night from England. Hartmann, who stands 5-foot-9, plays left-back and could well be the missing link in the defense, which is considered one of the weak points of the nationals' game. Hartmann's credentials include playing a full match in Portsmouth's 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Reserves' League and a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Phil Younghusband's Chelsea side Oct. 4.
"Phil met Matthew in that game and asked him if he wanted to play for the country," Caslib, who guided the national team to its first Tiger Cup victory two years ago when it beat East Timor, 2-1, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said.
While older brother James has been looking for a new club after he was released by Chelsea early this year, Phil has scored two goals in four matches for the London-based squad in the Reserves' League. His goals came in a 2-1 loss to Reading and a 4-0 victory Fulham.
"Phil's regular scoring in the reserves league shows that he is in-form and will be ready by the time he plays for the country," Caslib said.
The 6-foot-1 Greatwich, who played for the Philippines in the 2004 Tiger Cup, has yet to commit to play the national team, citing his studies at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, where he is one of the stars of the varsity football team.
But Caslib said he will be in constant communication with Greatwich leading to the AFF Cup just in case he will be available for the tournament.
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