TOP Fil-German striker Gerrit Holtmann is unavailable due to injury but other offensive options can step up when the Philippines plays Maldives in the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers starting on March 25 at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, according to national team manager Freddy Gonzalez.
“Gerrit wanted to play but unfortunately has this niggling injury with his left adductor muscle since December so we decided to sit him out for the next match, a key one against Tajikistan in June, so he can fully recover,” Gonzalez said.
“Besides, Holtmann’s German club, VFL Bochum, is fighting relegation in the Bundesliga so it would best for him to compete for and help his team first,” he said, adding that forwards Javier Marionas and Dylan de Muynck were also hurt “so that’s practically our whole left wing.”
However, the national team honcho was not worried about having the firepower against the Maldivians, who are ranked 12 notches lower than the hosts in the FIFA men’s world ratings at No. 162.
The other squad in the group is Timor Leste, with the group topnotcher in the home-and-away series advancing to the AFC Asian Cup set Jan. 7 to Feb. 5, 2027 in Saudi Arabia.
“We might see a different style from Spanish coach Albert Capellas against the Maldives,” said Gonzalez, who disclosed the Nationals had an array of versatile and dangerous midfielders at their disposal.
“Sandro Reyes is there, Zico Bailey is there, Randy Schneider is there, Scott Woods is there, Manny Ott is there, so who are you going to bench?” Gonzalez asked. “We might have Manny as the anchor.
“Randy is like a joker, he can play anywhere, the same with Zico. Midfielder Michael Baldissimo is also returning to play after signing up with Canadian Premier League club Calvary.”
Likewise providing the scoring sock up front are forwards Jarvey Gayoso, Bjorn Kristensen and young Santi Rubico, 19, who often operate on the right wing, he said.
Also poised to make his national team debut is Fil-Norwegian defender Josef Baccay, 23, who plays for Norway First Division Club Odd and recently got his Philippine passport.
Gonzalez expressed confidence that the defensive back row would be stout and sturdy, led by veteran Amani Aguinaldo, who now plays for Thailand League 1 Club Rayong, plus Christian Rontini, Paul Tabinas, Jasper Nyholm, Michael Kempter, and returning Jessie Curran, among others.
“Rontini made the best move from moving from Indonesia to Thailand where he gets to play 90 minutes,” said Gonzales of the defender who now plays for Thai League 2 side Nonbua Pitchaya, adding that Nyholm and Aguinaldo were also enjoying the same exposure from their respective Thai clubs.
“Given the depth of talent coach Albert will have a difficult time selecting the final squad, which is a good problem to have,” he pointed out.
The Nationals began training at the New Clark City Stadium field made of natural grass last Monday in their preparation for their first group match against Maldives, Gonzalez said.
