(CNN Philippines) — With the World Cup Qualifying campaign against Bahrain on June 11 at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan fast approaching, the Philippines has beefed up their ranks with four new faces.
These players are former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Luke Woodland, former Melbourne FC winger Iain Ramsay, Wolfsberger AC defender Stephen Palla, and VfR Neumünster midfielder Kevin Ingreso.
In an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines, former Azkals coach Simon McMenemy says that these new players shouldn’t have a difficult time working within current coach Thomas Dooley’s gameplan despite the national team only coming together for the first time on June 1.
“These players that are new to the squad, are obviously coming in from established leagues and you would’ve thought that if they’re playing in leagues at that level then they would have been coached correctly from a young age,” said McMenemy.
“They will be used to different coaches, different tactics, different ideas, different formations.”
Related: Phil Younghusband on new players, James’ omission from Azkals World Cup lineup
Coach Dooley introduced the Azkals to a 3-4-3 system in their last training camp in Bahrain last March, but whether or not the national team would utilize this formation again is still unknown.
McMenemy, however, believes that the biggest challenge for Azkals this training camp is how they’ll build their team chemistry before their match opposite Bahrain.
“I’m pretty sure they will understand their role within the system, it’s the gelling with the guy in front of you, the guy next to you, the guy behind you, that is the problem, understanding how each other plays,” said McMenemy.
But McMenemy doesn’t doubt that Dooley will be able to rally his troops together.
“I’m sure coach (Dooley) is confident that he will be able to pull that together and these are the decisions coaches have to make so I’m sure he will be able to put a performance together (against) Bahrain.”
Related: PFF releases national team lineups for World Cup Qualifiers, SEA Games
