BY BONG PEDRALVEZ
THE scramble for slots on the Philippine men’s football team kicks off today as the Azkals open their training camp-cum tryouts at the Alabang Country Club inside the plush Ayala Alabang subdivision in Muntinlupa City.
At least two Filipino-Americans, who were scouted last April in the United States, a Fil-Swede and a Manila-based Fil-Iranian are among the hopefuls joining the national team regulars in the opening phase of preparations for their World Cup opening round qualifier against Sri Lanka.
The opening match is scheduled on June 29 in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo while the second leg is set on July 3 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.
"We start I wouldn’t say from zero but we have to work very, very hard on the physical conditioning," national coach Hans Michael Weiss said. "But we are also starting with the ball right away to get back to back to our good level."
The German mentor, who arrived last Wednesday after holding tryouts in Germany, said most of his European-based mainstays won’t be available for the fitness camp.
"We will begin with the locals and some tryout players," Weiss said of the group he expects to show up at the camp that runs until May 21.
Among those that Weiss and his coaching staff will evaluate are Fil-Am striker James Rochilitz, 16, who used to be a place kicker for his varsity American football team, and defender Nathaniel Payos Burkey, 26.
Rochilitz and Burkey were invited to the camp after they were singled out during tryouts in Daly City last April 9 and 10 that were conducted by Azkal co-captain Aly Borromeo and key defender Anton del Rosario.
Also coming over to try his luck is 6-foot-4 Fil-Swede striker Gustav Cajayon Sjoberg, 29, who was born in Tondo and currently plays for Lindo FC in the seventh division of the Swedish League. Sjoberg has reportedly scored 38 goals in 58 matches for his club since 2009.
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