HEAD coach Thomas Dooley will have a chance to experiment with the composition of the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team.
More players will be given enough playing time when the Azkals clash with North Korea in a friendly encounter at 8 p.m. tonight at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
“We want to try different players in different positions. Because, if something happens, we can adjust,” said Dooley following a pre-match huddle with North Korean coach Jorn Andersen, who is Danish.
Dooley cited Fil-German, Kevin Ingresso and he took note of his versatility in the field.
“I want to see him score more goals. It’s important for him to be playing behind. He can distribute the ball better,” said Dooley.
The friendly comes three days after the Azkals took a 1-3 loss to the visiting Bahrain side last Friday.
Aadem Khabir scored at the beginning of the first and second half for Bahrain while Marzooq Alromaihi claimed the third goal.
It was newcomer Mike Ott who scored his first goal for the Azkals.
The Azkals are getting ready for their stint in the AFF Suzuki Cup, which gets going on November 19, with the Philippine side taking Singapore at Philippine Sports Stadium.
Dooley is excited with their friendly wth North Korea, considering that Andersen was his classmate in a coaching course, and when they were just starting out way back in 2001.
The Azkals are expected to have Fil-German Stephan Schröck in the roster.
The versatile Schrock has accounted for four goals for the Azkals in 22 appearances for the Philippines.