With qualification hanging in the balance, the player and coach should set aside differences and do what’s best for the Philippines.
The Philippines bid for 2019 Asian Cup will be decided on March 27, the last day of qualification. The country needs a point against Tajikistan to qualify.
March 27 will be a day of anxiety for players, coaches, and fans.
Amid the backdrop leading to that fateful day is the need to field the best team possible. For that to happen, Coach Thomas Dooley and Ceres Negros FC midfielder Stephan Schrock should sit down and settle their dispute.
It’s a dispute that went public nearly four years ago. In 2014 Stephan Schrock announced his resignation, citing Coach Thomas Dooley as the reason. He wrote on Facebook (original, unedited text):
Courtesy Philippine Star
“Dear Fans, Because of all accuses, i wanna talk to u Directly. It’s not true that i don’t wanna play for the Philippines anymore. It was always a pleasure for me and I feel still honoured to have the possibility to play for my country, the country where my heart belongs. I wanna be honest with you, cause you deserve the truth. As long as coach Dooley will lead the team I won’t wear the jersey of Azkals again. Anyway, i’m still one of you, & I’m proud to be one of u!I wish u all the best, for the football and for the team!! I hope I will give my comeback one day.”
In response to Schrock, Dooley said this to German media: “He is going all over the world and then hammering us over here on what kind of a chicken farm we are and he is not playing for me anymore because I don’t like foreigners, I don’t want those players playing for the team.” Dooley called Schrock a liar saying “everything is not true” and that his accusations had the power to destroy the Askals.
