Gould hopes for 2nd chance with the Azkals

This report came out in Sun.Star Cebu on May 24

FORMER national team member Chad Gould expressed his willingness to play anytime for the Azkals after he fully recovers from his mosquito bite infection that forced him to end his comeback early.

Gould, who has scored six times in 13 games for the team, had surgery on his left leg last week after the infection got worse and is on antibiotics for the next seven days.


He is also expected to rest for the next two weeks, forcing him to miss training, where he topped the fitness test.

�I�m off the team now, but I�m always available if they call me,� said Gould.

Coach Michael Weiss is expected to name the 23-man team that he will bring for a two-week camp in Germany this week and because of his injury, Gould is no longer in contention.

Gould, whose mother Antoinette Alesna Gould is from Boljoon, was able to train for almost two weeks and was reunited with former teammates Aly Borromeo, Anton Del Rosario, Chris Greatwich, Chieffy Caligdong and Ian Araneta. He was impressed with how the team has improved since he last played with them in January 2010 in a tournament in Taiwan.

Though he was in England, he said he was following the team�s achievements and was watching the games over the Internet during the Suzuki Cup, where the Philippines had its best showing.

Palami

�The team is so professional now. There are better players and it�s more organized,� said Gould, who first joined the national team in 2004 together with Greatwich. �I was so happy to see them win but sad because I wasn�t there.�

He also commended Dan Palami�s efforts and said that the team manager has done a good
job in keeping the team together.

Though he is off the team, Gould is rooting for another comebacking player who also traces his roots to Cebu, Leigh Gunn.

�He debuted for the national team as an 18-year-old in 1999, so he�s one of the veteran players,� Gould said. �I really hope he gets in the team because he really deserves it.�

For the meantime, Gould will reschedule his trip back to London next week and continue his work as a musician, performing in gigs three to four times a week. He will also work on being a solo artist when he gets back.

He also plays for the English beach football team and has scored eight goals in 12 matches. Though he gave up a trip with the team to a tournament in Mauritius to join the Azkals, he is hoping he can join the team in another tournament in Holland this July.

However, if he gets a call from the Azkals, he�s willing to rejoin the Philippine national team anytime.