The Philippines’ Under-23 men’s national football team is better prepared when they start competing against Timor Leste in the 30th Vietnam Southeast Asian Games football tournament this week.
Team skipper Stephan Schrock, one of the two veteran players in squad, said this ahead of the beginning of the matches on Friday at the Viet Tri Stadium in the northern province of Phu Tho.
“I’m very excited to be in the tournament. Finally, we are close to the opening games. We are more prepared than the last time,” said Schrock in a Zoom huddle with reporters before their practice sessions.
The Junior Azkals arrived in Hanoi on Monday, with Schrock, a Fil-German booter on his second stint with the nationals, and Oskari Kekkonen reinforcing the young team.
Kekkonen, a 22-year-old Filipino-Finnish midfielder, has been part of different national teams since he came to the Philippines last October.
National coach Norman Fegidero expressed confidence of the team’s capabilities in the days leading to their first game against Timor-Leste.
“Schrocky is a big help with the team because he can lead the boys. Our objective is to make it to the semifinals,” said Fegidero on their 4 p.m. clash with the Timorese booters.
The Viet Tri Stadium is one of the three stadiums selected to host the matches of Group A.
The Philippines is in the same group with defending champion Vietnam following a draw held last month.
Also in Group A with the host and Timor Leste are Indonesia and Myanmar.
Under the rules, the participating team must have under-23 players that will form the majority of the contingent. They are allowed to have only three players to be over the stipulated age of 23.
Group B is composed of Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore and Laos.
British mentor Stewart Hall is assisting Fegidero.
It will be recalled that the Filipinos drew 2-2 with the Timorese in the group stage of the ASEAN Football Federation Under-23 tournament in Phnom Penh, Cambodia last February.
The national women’s squad was also drawn in Group A, with reigning titleholder Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia.
The Vietnamese swept the football golds in the 30th Philippine SEA Games and are seeking to retain their crowns.