NEW players have been selected to make up the Philippine national men’s football team in the coming’s King’s Cup, set to be held from October 8 to 14 in Thailand.
New coach Albert Capellas have made adjustments with at least three veterans unavailable and with Fil-British goalkeeper Neil Etheridge focusing his energies with Thai League 1 champions Buriram United.
The 34-year-old Etheridge, who has been with the Philippine squad since 2008, has signed a two-year deal with Buriram United, and won’t be around with the Baldissimo brothers Michael and Matthew, who are recovering from injuries.
“He (Etheridge) is focused with his new club. We will see what happens. The coaches have not closed the door on him. It does not mean that if you are not selected, you won’t be selected in the future,” said Philippine Football Federation national training director Freddy Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, along with PFF president John Gutierrez, Capellas and national women’s coach Mark Torcaso, talked about the status of the Philippine men’s and women’s teams during a meeting with scribes at Studio 300 in Makati on Friday.
Among the new players coming in are goalie Kevin Rey Mendoza, who plays for Indonesian club Persib Bandung, and Joshua Grommen, Jesper Nyholm and Christian Rontini — booters playing in clubs abroad.
The Philippines is among four teams that will be competing in the 50th King’s Cup, an annual international men’s football tournament organized by the Football Association of Thailand.
Capellas will make his debut in the King’s Cup, which will have host Thailand also joining with Tajikistan and Syria.
“I hope I can help with my experience, with my knowledge, and my hard work to Philippine football,” said Capellas, who is from Spain.
The 56-year old Capellas is also preparing the national squad for the Mitsubishi Electric Cup in December.
Capellas took over from Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who quit and returned to Africa to handle the Malawi side, after six months with the national team.
