Stephan Schrock is eager to lead the Azkals Development Team to a victory when they clash with Maharlika Manila FC in the Philippines Football League today at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
After missing PFL action for a season, the 35-year-old former Philippine Azkals skipper is fired up to lead the young squad to a first taste of victory in their second game set at 4 p.m.
ADT has yet to gain a point after a narrow 1-0 opening loss to Kaya FC-Iloilo on 7 August.
Defending champion United City FC, Kaya and Stallion Laguna FC currently lead the table with six full points, while the rest of the field remains winless.
As a veteran, the four-time PFL champion wants to impose his leadership early this season.
“Every game is important in terms of the result and development of these young standouts. They are picking up slowly but surely what we wanna see,” Schrock told Daily Tribune.
“Well, the youngsters are full of energy and hungry for success.”
During their last encounter in the Copa Paulino Alcantara earlier this year, ADT hammered a masterful 3-1 win over Maharlika in the preliminaries.
Things, however, didn’t go well as the young Azkals decided to withdraw from the tournament in preparation for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.
But ADT is determined to make things happen this time.
Schrock will parade alongside mainstays and Azkals youngsters Oliver Bias, Dennis Chung, Jaime Rosquillo and newcomer Julian Schwarzer.
“They want to improve daily, go all out and show that they belong to the very top in the long run of ADT and later also the Azkals,” Schrock said.