The Philippine Men’s National Team return next month for another round of international friendly matches against Chinese Taipei and Afghanistan set to be played during the September FIFA International Match Windows.
The Men’s National Team will first face Chinese Taipei on 08 September 2023 at the National Stadium in Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei before flying back to Manila for a friendly against Afghanistan on 12 September 2023 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
24 players were called up for the friendly matches led by captain Neil Etheridge. Among those called up is forward Gerrit Holtmann, who now plays for Turkish side Antalyaspor. Other players called up are defenders Santiago Rublico of Atletico de Madrid, and Michael Kempter of Grasshopper Club Zurich, midfielders Manny Ott, who missed the last window due to an injury, and John Patrick Strauss, and forward Jens Rasmussen, who last saw action during the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup last year.
The friendly matches serve as the team’s preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26/AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualifiers scheduled this November 2023 where the Philippines will face Iraq, Vietnam, and the winner of the Indonesia/Brunei Darussalam qualifiers.
Players:
ETHERIDGE, Neil Leonard – Birmingham City FC (England)
DEYTO, Patrick Phillip – Chonburi FC (Thailand)
HANSEN, Kevin Ray – Kuala Lumpur City FC (Malaysia)
CURRAN, Jesse Thomas – Ratchaburi FC (Thailand)
SATO, Daisuke – Persib Bandung (Indonesia)
KEMPTER, Michael – Grasshopper Club Zurich (Switzerland)
STRAUSS, John Patrick – FC Hansa Rostock (Germany)
INGRESO, Kevin – Sri Pahang FC (Malaysia)
DE BRUYCKER, Dylan Alain Lucienne – Bhayangkara FC (Indonesia)
HOLTMANN, Gerrit Stephan – Antalyaspor (Turkey)
RUBLICO, Santiago – Atletico de Madrid (Spain)
RONTINI, Christian – Persita Tanjerang (Indonesia)
PORTERIA, Jose Elmer – Kelantan United (Malaysia)
OTT, Manuel – Kedah Darul Aman (Malaysia)
OTT, Mike Rigoberto – PS Barito Putera (Indonesia)
REYES, Sandro Miguel – SpVgg Greuther Furth II (Germany)
AGUINALDO, Amani – Trat FC (Thailand)
REICHELT, Patrick – Kuala Lumpur City FC (Malaysia)
MARAÑON, Bienvenido – Chanthaburi FC (Thailand)
RASMUSSEN, Jens Sebastian – Hobro IK (Denmark)
MARTINEZ DE MURGA, Carlos Alberto – PS Barito Putera (Indonesia)
GROMMEN, Joshua Jake – Khon Kaen United (Thailand)
LINARES, Enrique – PSM Makasaar (Indonesia)
KEKKONEN, Oskari – Lamphun Warriors FC (Thailand)
