PATRICK Reichelt, one of the Philippine national men’s football team’s top wingers, won’t be around when the Philippine side plays its semifinal game against Thailand at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium at 9 p.m. in Manila on Friday.
A very experienced player, Reichelt, who has been with the national squad for 12 years, has called it quits after the Philippines won over Indonesia, 1-0, on Saturday evening at the Manahan Stadium in Surakarta, Central Java.
It turned out to be Reichelt’s last game for the Philippines in the ongoing 2024 ASEAN Football Federation Mitsubishi Electric Cup Championship. Reichelt saw action for 93 caps since 2012.
“Representing the Philippines as a national team player has been the greatest honor of my professional career. I hope, along the way, I was able to inspire fans, friends, and especially my teammates to understand what it truly means to represent this amazing team and the people of our country. I will treasure this journey and its memories forever,” said Reichelt in a lengthy Facebook post.
The 36-year-old Reichelt, a Fil-German, who traces his Filipino roots to Argao, Cebu, will soon become a father in the coming days, as he reconnects with his club team, Kuala Lumpur City, which will clash with the Singaporean squad, Lions City Sailors, in the AFF Club Championships on January 9.
“We are expecting our first baby and it’s time. It’s time. I’ll go home, prepare for the birth, and I’ll be the biggest supporter from back home,” added Reichelt in a statement.
The Philippines will also miss suspended skipper Amani Aguinaldo, who accumulated yellow cards in the group stage games.
Aguinaldo was shown his second yellow card in their Indonesian encounter, which saw a total of eight players handed the same violation. Indonesia’s Muhammad Ferrari was thrown out of the game via a red card.
Reichelt has great expectations for the present generation of players.
“I think Philippine football has been waiting for the next big thing, the next Miracle of Hanoi, and I just have a special feeling about this group now. I can see it happening, and I hope that we can wake up the Philippines, even the next generation, and have a big impact on what happens next in Philippine football,” added Reichelt.
After the Manila leg, Thailand will host the second leg on December 30 at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok.
