Fil-Spanish Aldeguer to help Azkals – Weiss

BEFORE the Philippine Football Team-Azkals flew to Narita, Japan Monday afternoon, Azkals’ head coach Hans Michael Weiss disclosed that another Fil-foreign player will beef-up the national squad in their upcoming battles after their assignment in the AFC-Challenge Cup second leg on March 15, 2011 in Ulan Bator, Mongolia.

The information was confirmed by a source in the team who said that Weiss was impressed with the form and attitude of the 26-year-old, 6’ 3” Filipino-Spanish football player Angel Guirado -Aldeguer.

Aldeguer, whose mother is a native of Isabela province, plays for Spanish Third Division Club Deportivo Ronda in Spain. He is also the first cousin of Philippine Basketball Association’s Rain or Shine Assistant coach Caloy Garcia.

The source further said that Weiss looks at Aldeguer as a great help to the team, noting that the booter’s abilities might even revise the team’s usual “4-4-2” attacking formation to “4-3-3”, meaning that there would be three strikers up front with Aldeguer moving either on one of the wings or center.

But more than Aldeguer’s soccer skills, the German mentor noted his humility and passion to play for his mother’s country, the source added.
Assuming the Filipino booters hurdle Mongolia in their Asian Challenge Cup qualifying series, Weiss said that Aldeguer was certain to be named to the 23-man roster he will submit for the group stages set to begin on March 21 in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Weiss disclosed that Aldeguer isn’t the only European-based Filipino booter he is eyeing to reinforce the nationals in the upcoming Myanmar tournament. He is also aiming for the services of Filipino-Danish players Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena because Weiss wants to really go all out and qualify for the Asian Cup, the source said.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on March 08, 2011.

/via Sunstar (Jerome S. Galunan Jr., 3/8/2011)

New recruits to boost Azkals

The Azkals, honored with the Presidential Achievement Award, pose with Philippine Sportswriters Association president Teddyvic Melendres (center) during the PSA Annual Awards Night Saturday at the Manila Hotel.

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano Araneta Jr. and national team manager Dan Palami broke the news during an interview at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night in the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel last Saturday. They confirmed that three recruits will reinforce the Azkals in the group stage of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup in Yangon, Myanmar, on March 21, 23 and 25, assuming the Philippines dumps Mongolia in their qualifying series.

The recruits are led by Spanish-born Angel Aldeguer Guirado, a Fil-Spanish striker who has played for the Spanish Division III team Deportivo Ronda in Malaga. He cuts an imposing figure on the pitch because of his 6-2 frame. Guirado, 26, is a first cousin of Caloy Garcia, Rain Or Shine assistant coach in the PBA. His mother Angela Aldeguer is the sister of Garcia’s mother Gloria and father Juan is Spanish. The Garcias trace their roots to Ilagan, Isabela. Guirado has worked out with the Azkals but is not eligible to play in the Azkals’ second leg match against Mongolia in Ulan Bator on March 15 because he’s not in the lineup submitted to the AFC.

“Angel was in Manila five years ago,” said Garcia’s mother Gloria. “He will leave for Spain tomorrow and rejoin the team in Myanmar. It’s a pity he can’t play in Mongolia because his name was not included. The coach (Michael Weiss) is happy with him.”

Guirado, who speaks only Spanish, now has a Philippine passport. In Spain, the mother’s maiden name is used by children to follow the father’s surname so that the Azkals’ latest recruit is known as Angel Guirado-Aldeguer or Angel Guirado y Aldeguer. It’s the same in Cuba where former Philippine boxing coach Raul Fernandez is known as Raul Fernandez-Liranza or Raul Fernandez y Liranza as his mother’s maiden name is Liranza.

Araneta said possible future recruits are the Toronto-born De Guzman brothers, whose father Bobby is Filipino and mother Pauline is Jamaican. Midfielder Jonathan, 23, is now playing for Spanish La Liga club Real Mallorca after a stint in the Dutch league. Older brother Julian, 29, used to play for the Spanish club Deportivo La Coruna and now suits up in the Canadian league. The De Guzmans, however, have indicated no interest to play for the Philippines so far. Julian has played for the Canadian national team. FIFA allows players to switch national teams provided they are able to show legitimate passports.

The two other Azkal recruits are Fil-German Stefan Schrock and Fil-Danish Jerry Lucena. Schrock, 24, plays for the German Division II club Greuther Furth. His mother is Filipina and father, German. Lucena, 30, was born in Esbjerg, Denmark, to a Filipino father and a Danish mother. He plays for the Danish Division I club AGF Aarhus.

Schrock showed up at the PSA Awards Night walking with crutches. He’s in town to apply for his Filipino passport.

Also at the PSA Awards Night were goalkeeper Neil Etheridge’s parents Martin and Merlinda Dula of Concepcion, Tarlac. Etheridge was not permitted to take a leave from his English club Fulham to play in Ulan Bator. His parents are in town for a two-week holiday.

The Philippines will advance to the group stage in Myanmar if it beats Mongolia in their qualifying two-game series on an aggregate goal basis. Awaiting the Philippines-Mongolia winner in Group A are host Myanmar, Bangladesh and Palestine. The top two finishers in Group A will join the top two placers in three other groups to play in the eight-team Challenge Cup finals where the winner qualifies to compete in the AFC Asian Cup.

/via Philippine Star (by Joaquin Henson, March 07, 2011)

New Azkal member Angel Aldeguer

Angel Aldeguer with @gamedaywithboom /via CherryPineda's Twitter

Angel Aldeguer (left) with his cousin Rafael Garcia /via abs-cbnnews

MANILA, Philippines -- The newest Philippine Azkals team member, Filipino-Spanish Angel Aldeguer, is waiting for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) approval for him to suit up for the Nationals should they barge into the Challenge Cup Group Stage.

But even without the approval, Aldeguer said he feels like an Azkal already.

“Yes I am already an official member of the Azkals,” said the 6’2” Spanish-speaking striker through his cousin Rafael Garcia, who acted as his translator.

Aldeguer already has a Philippine passport and is raring to represent the country in the Challenge Cup Group Stage.

The Azkals will face Myanmar should they get past the Mongolia Blue Wolves in the second leg of the Challenge Cup qualifiers.

“We're just waiting for the go signal of the AFC if he could play against the Myanmar,” said Garcia who is incidentally, a brother of former Rain or Shine head coach, Caloy Garcia.

The Fil-Spanish is planning to take English lessons so he can communicate better with his team, composed mainly of Filipino-British and full-blooded Pinoy players.

The 26-year-old Aldeguer arrived in Manila last Tuesday and has been training with the Azkals since.

“He trained with the team already… He's happy about the team, the team really welcomed him. It's a  verycompetitive play,” said Garcia.

Angel Aldeguer during practice.

 Born with ball on the foot

Aldeguer was born in Malaga, southern Spain to a Filipina mother, who hails from Ilagan, Isabela.

He’s been playing football since he was 6. “He was born with a ball on the foot already,” quipped Garcia.

He suited as a forward for Spanish third division Club Deportivo Ronda and also trained with Spain’s first division team.

Aldeguer said he has long dreamed of playing for the National team.

“When the opportunity came along, I took the opportunity… It's an honor to represent the country,” he said.

When asked about his team mates' chances versus Mongolia this coming March 15, Aldeguer said the only thing the Azkals should worry about is the Mongolian weather.

“He's hoping that the team would be able to adjust with the weather. But he has good vibes that the team will win,” said Garcia.

/via abs-cbn news