As we aim to bolster our ranks and get us closer to another historic International Football feat, we look into the possible options that our very own Azkals might be looking at. Here are some names that we know have been catching our attention.
Jesse Curran
Position: Midfield
Height: 6’ 0”
Age: 23 (July 16, 1996)
Playing for: Udon Thani F.C. (Thai Division 1 League, Thailand 2nd Tier)
Curran signed with Central Coast Mariners to play in the Australia’s National Youth League in 2013. He received the club's National Youth League Player of the Year award in 2014.
In March 2015, Curran signed a two-year deal with Scottish Premiership club Dundee and made his senior debut for the club on October 4, 2015, coming on as a first-half substitute in a win over Motherwell.
In November 2015, Curran joined Montrose on a one-month emergency loan deal, playing in three matches before returning to Dundee. In March 2017, Curran joined Scottish League One side East Fife on another emergency loan deal. He signed a new contract with Dundee after returning to the club in May 2017.
Curran signed a new one-year deal with Dundee in June 2018, and featured regularly in the starting eleven in the 2018–19 season. He scored his first goal for the side in a 4–0 win over Hamilton Academical in December 2018.
After his contract expired, Curran signed a deal with Thai side Muangthong United at the beginning of 2020. But due to the club being unable to register him as an ASEAN player, he went on loan to Thai League 2 side Udon Thani on February 7, scoring his first goal for the club on February 21 against Navy FC.
He has already made an unofficial appearance for the Azkals, coming in as a substitute during the Azkals' friendly 3-1 win over Chaint Hornbill.
Nico De Vera
Position: Defender
Height: 5' 5"
Age: 23 (July 23, 1996)
Playing for: Portland Timbers 2 (USL Championship, USA 2nd Tier)
De Vera started in the youth academy of Portland Timbers in 2013, and made his professional debut in 2013 for the Timbers reserves at age 15. He also played for the University of Akron between 2014 and 2017, appearing in 60 matches and scoring one goal and recording seven assists.
While in college, De Vera also appeared for Premier Development League side Portland Timbers U23s.
He played in the 2018 USL season with New York Red Bulls II, where he appeared in 27 matches (22 starts). He was then drafted by the New York Red Bulls in the second round (31st overall) of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.
He is now currently plying his trade with Portland Timbers 2.
Raphael Obermair
Position: Defender
Height: 6’ 0”
Age: 24 (April 1, 1996)
Playing for: Carl Zeiss Jena (3. Liga, Germany 3rd Tier)
Obermair started his youth at TSV 1860 Rosenheim where in 2014, he was promoted to the first team. He made a total of 84 games scoring 4 goals in his two-years with the team.
In 2016, Obermair joined Bayern Munich's second team. And in 2018, Obermair signed a two-year deal with Austrian Bundesliga club Sturm Graz.
He’s been with his current club, Carl Zeiss Jena, since 7 August 2019.
Michael Kempter
Position: Defender
Height: 5’ 11”
Age: 25 (January 12, 1995)
Playing for: FC Zürich (Raiffeisen Super League, Switzerland 1st Tier)
Kempter went to Zürich youth academy and made his senior debut on 24 April 2016 in a 3–0 away defeat to Young Boys, coming on in the 81st minute as a substitute.
He scored his first competitive goal for the club on April 10, 2017 in a 5–2 away victory in the league over Le Mont.
In June 2017, Kempter suffered injury which put him out of action until March 2018. A month after returning, he got injured again and had to undergo surgery.
On 1 February 2019, Kempter was relegated to the U-21 squad.
He has already played for the Swiss U-20, but is still eligible to play for the Azkals.
Gerrit Holtmann
Position: Midfield
Height: 6’ 0”
Age: 25 (March 25, 1995)
Playing for: SC Paderborn 07 (Loan from: 1. FSV Mainz 05 II) (2. Bundesliga, Germany 2nd Tier)
Holtmann had played for several smaller clubs in Bremerhaven before joining Werder Bremen's youth academy.
In 2013 he joined JFV Bremerhaven followed by the reserve side of Eintracht Braunschweig in the Regionalliga Nord in 2014.
In the 2014–15 2. Bundesliga season, he made his professional debut for Eintracht's senior side in a match against FC Erzgebirge Aue.
In June 2016, Holtmann moved to FSV Mainz 05, scoring his first league goal for Mainz in 2017 against FC Augsburg.
On June 27, 2019, he joined SC Paderborn on loan for the 2019–20 season.
He has already made his U20 debut for Germany, but is still eligible to play for the Azkals.
Our national team already has a pool full of talented players. But with the competition getting fierce the higher we climb, we can use all of the talent that we can get. Not to mention the Azkals Development Team that will be participating in our nation’s top flight. We have plenty of things to look forward to.
The future is certainly looking bright
Comments