Source: malaya.com
FILIPINO-Spanish player Angel Aldeguer has impressed the coaching staff with his form and attitude and will be a shoo-in for the Azkals after their outing against Mongolia, according to coach Hans Michael Weiss.
"While other players talk what they can do, he (Aldeguer) does his talking on the playing pitch," Weiss said in an interview in last Saturday’s PSA Awards dinner after assessing the Malaga native’s four-day tryouts with the Azkals.
"Aldeguer is a versatile player who can play midfield or forward," added Weiss of the 6-foot-3, 26-year-old player who plays for Spanish Third Division Club Deportivo Ronda and whose mother is a native of Isabela.
Weiss was so sold on Aldeguer’s abilities he disclosed he might even revise the team’s usual "4-4-2" attacking formation to "4-3-3," meaning there would be three strikers up front with Aldeguer moving either on the wings or center.
More than his skills, the German mentor noted the booter’s humility "and passion to play for his mother’s country."
"What I’ve always said is that we do not only need players with ability but also those who have character," Weiss said. "Aldeguer has shown he has both.
"Not everyone can join this team and take over the spot of those who have worked so hard to be here. They must show they are far superior to those who are here already."
Assuming the Filipinos hurdle the Mongolians in their Asian Challenge Cup qualifying series return match on March 15 in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator, Weiss said Aldeguer is certain to be named to the 23-man roster he will submit for the group stages set to begin six days later in Myanmar.
He added that while Aldeguer speaks no English and needs cousin Rafael Garcia to talk for him "this won’t be a problem since the football language is universal."
"I will supply them with a dictionary that translates football terms in Spanish, German, Italian, English and Portuguese," Weiss, adding Aldeguer isn’t the only European-based Filipino player he is eyeing to reinforce the nationals in the Myanmar tournament.
"While other players talk what they can do, he (Aldeguer) does his talking on the playing pitch," Weiss said in an interview in last Saturday’s PSA Awards dinner after assessing the Malaga native’s four-day tryouts with the Azkals.
"Aldeguer is a versatile player who can play midfield or forward," added Weiss of the 6-foot-3, 26-year-old player who plays for Spanish Third Division Club Deportivo Ronda and whose mother is a native of Isabela.
Weiss was so sold on Aldeguer’s abilities he disclosed he might even revise the team’s usual "4-4-2" attacking formation to "4-3-3," meaning there would be three strikers up front with Aldeguer moving either on the wings or center.
More than his skills, the German mentor noted the booter’s humility "and passion to play for his mother’s country."
"What I’ve always said is that we do not only need players with ability but also those who have character," Weiss said. "Aldeguer has shown he has both.
"Not everyone can join this team and take over the spot of those who have worked so hard to be here. They must show they are far superior to those who are here already."
Assuming the Filipinos hurdle the Mongolians in their Asian Challenge Cup qualifying series return match on March 15 in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator, Weiss said Aldeguer is certain to be named to the 23-man roster he will submit for the group stages set to begin six days later in Myanmar.
He added that while Aldeguer speaks no English and needs cousin Rafael Garcia to talk for him "this won’t be a problem since the football language is universal."
"I will supply them with a dictionary that translates football terms in Spanish, German, Italian, English and Portuguese," Weiss, adding Aldeguer isn’t the only European-based Filipino player he is eyeing to reinforce the nationals in the Myanmar tournament.
An askal is a Filipino term for any dog with no pedigree, no breed, no class. The askal is usually astray, unsupported and survives by feeding on whatever provision it can find. The Filipino national football team can relate to this mongrel, they have almost no support from a government thats suppose to support them, they are underdogs not just only to the world but even in their own region, South East Asia.
Stephan Schröck - nicknamed "Schröcky", is a German–Filipino professional footballer who plays as a right back for 2nd Bundesliga club SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
