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Football: Gerrit Holtmann to debut for Azkals in March friendlies

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Bochum" s="" Gerrit="" Holtmann="" celebrates="" with="" teammates="" after="" scoring="" for="" a="" lead="" during="" the="" German="" Bundesliga="" soccer="" match="" between="" VfL="" Bochum="" and="" FC="" Bayern="" Munich="" in="" February="" Ronald="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/03/14/football_gerrit-holtmann_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>Bochum&#x27;s Gerrit Holtmann (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring for a 4-1 lead during the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Bochum and FC Bayern Munich in Bochum, Germany, 12 February 2022. Ronald Wittek, EPA-EFE.</figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino-German striker Gerrit Holtmann is expected to make his highly-anticipated debut for the Philippine Azkals later this month.</p><p>According to team manager Dan Palami, Holtmann will join the national team in the upcoming FIFA window, where the Azkals will play in a tri-nation tournament in Singapore.</p><p>&quot;He has already responded and has already made arrangements for his flights going to Singapore,&quot; Palami said in a recent press conference.</p><p>Holtmann, 26, has a Filipino mother, making him eligible to play for the Philippines. He was originally called up for the joint FIFA World Cup/AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in June 2021, but could not complete the necessary paperwork in time to join the team.</p><p>It appears that everything has been worked out as the striker is finally set to feature for the Philippines in the tournament against Singapore and Malaysia, set for the March 21-29 international window.</p><p>&quot;It is very seldom that a player of that quality has enthusiastically expressed interest to play for us,&quot; Palami said of Holtmann. &quot;It took a while, and [coach] Scott Cooper had been working on him for the last two years to convince him, and finally, he agreed.&quot;</p><p>Holtmann currently plays for VfL Bochum in the Bundesliga, the top flight of German football. He has been with the club since August 2020, scoring five goals in 18 appearances.</p><p>The Fil-German made headlines when he won the Bundesliga&#x27;s <a href="https://www.vfl-bochum.de/en/news/overview/pro/holtmann-wins-goal-of-the-year-2021/">Goal of the Year award</a> for 2021 after his stunning solo effort against Mainz 05 in August that year.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XSxhWnAlz6Y?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>&quot;I think for football-loving fans who follow other leagues like the Bundesliga, we know how Gerrit has been making waves in that league, and it&#x27;s important that we cap him immediately before Germany comes knocking on his door,&quot; Palami stressed.</p><p>Aside from Holtmann, also tipped to make their debuts in the March friendlies are Fil-Spanish defender Diego Bardanca and Enrique Linares, according to Palami.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;ll get to assess them, plus the other players who have been with us for a while. We will be using this particular tournament to determine the squad that we&#x27;ll be using for the Asian Cup qualifiers in Mongolia this June. That&#x27;s going to be the main objective of these friendlies,&quot; said Palami.</p>

Filipino-German striker Gerrit Holtmann is expected to make his highly-anticipated debut for the Philippine Azkals later this month.

Football: Gerrit Holtmann to debut for Azkals in March friendlies

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Football: Gerrit Holtmann to debut for Azkals in March friendlies

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 14, 2022 02:53 PM PHT

Read More:

football

Philippine Azkals

Gerrit Holtmann

Dan Palami

VfL Bochum

Bundesliga

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