Tower of power
Neil Etheridge of the Azkals hopes to help drive the success of the Philippines national team
By Ares P. Gutierrez, Copy Editor, gulfnews.com
Neil Etheridge wasted no time as he immediately limbered up and joined his teammates for a quick kickabout after lacing up to join the final training camp practice a day before the Philippine national football squad faced the Australia U-23 Olyroos at the Al Maktoum stadium earlier this month.
Etheridge, the second choice goalkeeper at Fulham, was firing on all cylinders as he launched a solid goal kick towards Paolo Pascual, who dove for the ball as fellow reserve goalkeeper, Eduardo Sacapaño, and one of the team’s assistant coaches watched intently.
“They are learning from the master,” said one journalist on the sidelines of the team’s practice who has closely followed the transformation of the Azkals from a wet-nosed puppy into a ferocious mutt, whose exploits in the 2010 Suzuki Cup triggered an overnight resurgence of football in the basketball-crazed south-east Asian nation.
Etheridge, who jetted in the night before from London after getting a three-day clearance from Fulham to join his country’s team for the training camp in Dubai, told Gulf News that he was “fit and ready” to take on his role as the Philippines first choice goalkeeper, taking over from Roland Muller, who…READ MORE
