The decision of the popular Filipino-German football player Stephan Schrock to play club football in the Philippines with Ceres La Salle will benefit the Azkals in future tournaments according to national football team head coach Thomas Dooley.
Azka
The 29-year-old midfielder who played football in German’s premiere league, Bundesliga for two years made his debut in the Ceres-La Salle 2-1 win over Loyola Meralco which also featured fellow Azkals veterans last Sunday in the UFL Cup at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
During Stephan Schrock’s debut with the local football league, he failed to score for his team but definitely made an impact with his pace and creativity in the football field.
According to Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley, he welcomed Schrock’s decision to play his football club in the Philippines, saying the Azkals can now maximize the midfielder’s presence.
He was quoted as saying “For us as a team, its better,” Dooley told the Inquirer. “He doesn’t have those 18 hours (of travel) on his legs before (Azkals) games. Now he gets used to the climate. He gets used to his teammates a little bit more.”
Stephan Schrock is on-loan from his German second division club, Greuther Furth, until August as he tries to help Ceres’ campaigns in the AFC Cup and in the UFL. The AFC Cup will be held this coming February 23 up to April 26 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
Aside from Ceres La Salle representing the Philippines, the other teams in Group E of the AFC Cup includes Tampines Rovers of Singapore, Selangor of Malaysia and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi of Bangladesh.