Tajikistan prepares for clash with the Azkals

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

The Tajikistan national football team is currently in Manila, where they are preparing for their upcoming 2019 AFC Asian Cup third qualification round match against the Philippine national football team, the Azkals, scheduled for tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Ceres-Negros FC winger Patrick Reichelt recalled the last time suiting up for the national team was in March 2016 for a match against Uzbekistan.

“After 2 long years, full of life-changing moments and sacrifices, there is no better way to put that rocky road behind me [than] by finally dressing up in that Philippines jersey again,” he said.

The Azkals are coming off a friendly match last week against Fiji, where the Philippines narrowly won, 3-2.

Among the other busmen selected to join the national team include defenders Junior Munoz, Jeffrey Christiaens, Carli de Murga, and Sean Kane; and midfielders Kevin Ingreso, Manuel Ott, and Mike Ott./JSG, WDJ