Kaya FC–Iloilo and Tampines Rovers All Set for Explosive AFC Cup Clash at Rizal Memorial Stadium

Kaya FC–Iloilo (PHI) vs Tampines Rovers (SIN)
Wednesday, February 26 | 7pm Kickoff
Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila

After a hot start away from home in the 2020 AFC Cup, Kaya FC-Iloilo are looking to keep the momentum going on home soil, as they host Singapore’s Tampines Rovers at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, 26th of February, at 7PM.

Both teams are building on some fine performances, with the hosts winning their first assignment away to Shan United (2-0), while Tampines Rovers got off to a triumphant start against PSM Makassar (2-1) at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

“That’s the best way to start the season. The challenge is, can we maintain the consistency. It’s going to be a long year,” said Tampines Rovers head coach Gavin Lee.

Knowing that they will be facing tough opposition in Kaya FC-Iloilo, coach Lee mentioned that they have been busy studying their Filipino opponents. “We’re all excited to be here. We’re expecting a fierce contest,” he added.

Kaya FC-Iloilo head coach, Oliver Colina agreed the match would likely be a competitive affair, but he remains confident in Kaya’s ability to cope with the Rovers’ fluid passing game. “It’s very important to win. We prepared for this team. We’re ready for tomorrow’s game. We’re very confident,” he said.

Although the ongoing COVID-19 situation is far from ideal, Marwin Angeles is hopeful that the comforts of home will play a role in swinging the match in Kaya’s favor. “We hoped to play in Iloilo, but Rizal is still our home and it’s nice to play in front of our home crowd. It will boost, for sure, our confidence. We hope we can still get a good crowd for tomorrow’s game.”

With both clubs being on form and wanting to keep a clean slate in the tournament, Wednesday’s AFC Cup clash in Group H is expected to be a cracking contest.

In line with the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) advise due to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, spectators should expect a temperature check at the gates. Spectators with a temperature above 37.5°C will not be allowed to enter the stadium. Furthermore, fan zone activities have been canceled, and spectators are advised to wear their face masks at all times for their own safety.

The match will be aired live over 5 Plus and Fox Sports, and can be live streamed over ESPN5’s YouTube channel.

http://www.kayafc.com/news/kaya-fc-iloilo-and-tampines-rovers-all-set-for-explosive-afc-cup-clash-at-rizal-memorial-stadium/

AFC Cup: Stalemate keeps Ceres-Negros on top

By: Cedelf P. Tupas 

MANILA, Philippines–Philippines Football League champion Ceres-Negros battled Vietnamese
side Than Quang Ninh to a thrilling 2-2 draw Tuesday night in the 2020 AFC Cup at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Bienve Marañon’s penalty at the stroke of halftime cancelled out an earlier strike from Jeremie Lynch, before OJ Porteria handed the Busmen the advantage in the 62nd minute.

Unable to clear its lines, Ceres conceded in the 70th minute Nguyen Hai Huy lashed home from close range.

The result kept Ceres on top of Group G, after Bali United lost to Svey Rieng of Cambodia, 1-2, in Phnom Penh. The Busmen have four points from two matches with Bali in second, ahead of Svey Rieng on goal difference.

The Busmen were in control of proceedings until Lynch scored against the run of play as Hai Huy’s ball found the Jamaican striker in stride, before he rounded out Ceres goalkeeper Roland Muller.

Marañon made it 1-1 in first half stoppage time as he converted from the spot after getting fouled by Hai Huy.

The Busmen came out with renewed vigor after the restart with Marañon and Manny Ott missing gilt edged chances.

Porteria then finished off a quick counter after a nice ball from Marañon from midfield.

Ceres, however, failed to put the match to bed as Ott was denied by the crossbar on another quick counter. That opened the opportunity for the visitors to grab a point through Hai Huy’s precious goal.

 https://sports.inquirer.net/387156/afc-cup-stalemate-keeps-ceres-negros-on-top#ixzz6F0YtzuWQ

CERES-NEGROS COLLIDES WITH THAN QUANG NINH IN AFC CUP

Philippine champions Ceres-Negros FC continues its AFC Cup campaign when it faces Vietnam’s Than Quang Ninh on matchday two on February 25 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The Busmen opened their campaign last Febraury 11 when they beat Cambodian champions Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC 4-0 at home to get leadership in Group G. Takashi Odawara and Joshua Grommen scored the early goals in the first half Bienvenido Maranon completed a brace to complete the convincing win.

Their opponents however didn’t have the same fate as an early sending off of striker Andre Fagan in the first half resulted to a 1-4 defeat against Indonesian champions Bali United who had their way even after being a goal down.

Ceres-Negros is expecting the return of Super Herrera who was out of the first match after recovering from a minor injury while Quang Ninh, who is littered with current and former national team players, will only miss Fagan in their lineup.

Both teams haven’t met head to head but were both part of the 2017 edition where Ceres-Negros won the first ever ASEAN Zone title of the competition. Ceres-Negros however has not won three of their last matches against Vietnamese teams in the AFC Cup.

Ceres-Negros qualified to the AFC Cup after winning their 2rd PFL title while Quang Ning qualified as the 2nd Vietnamese squad after Hanoi FC was disqualified from an AFC license.

The initial match was set in Vietnam but was moved to the Philippines as sports events were not allowed by the government for the month of February. They will play the Vietnam leg instead on April 29.

The Feb 25 match will be shown live on 5 Plus and Fox Sports 2 channels while streams will be available on the ESPN5 YouTube and the Sports 5 Facebook page.

Due to the COV-19 virus, spectators attending the match will be asked to bring masks as sanitation liquids as a precautionary measure. Fans will be scanned for their temperature and persons having temperature of 37.8 degree Celsius and above will not be allowed to enter the stadium.

http://ceresfootball.com/ceres-negros-collides-quang-ninh-afc-cup/

PFL - Global FC roster

Butuan City - 11th Balangay Football Festival

Prepare your team for this summer
11th Balangay Football Festival 2020
May 16-17, 2020
Caraga State University, Brgy Ampayon Butuan City

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10159533253764498&set=a.10151612346329498&type=3&theater

PFL: Global Makati spends big, signs Bahadoran, 6 others

By

 Adrian Stewart Co

MANILA – Former Philippine Azkals mainstay Misagh Bahadoran spearheads the bunch of players signed and returning to Global Makati F.C. ahead of the 2020 Philippines Football League.

In an announcement made through various social media accounts, the Global Makati management announced the return of the winger after going on a hiatus due to an injury. The last club he played for was in Malaysia.

Youth international defender Jordan Jarvis, midfielder Andrew Esswin, Ziggy Ae, Nico Quintana and Ryan Jarvis are also set to play for Global.
Yannick Tuazon has also relocated to the Makati-based team after donning the Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo colors in 2019.
Global also announced the entry of their new reinforcements. They are forwards John Cofie and Jose Villareal, goalkeeper Alan Martin and defender Suleman Naeem.

The 26-year-old Inglewood, California-native Villareal was a homegrown player of the Los Angeles Galaxy, while the 27-year-old Cofie was a former youth player for one of the best football clubs in the world, Manchester United in England.

Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Naeem was a former youth player of another big football club, Liverpool, and the 31-year-old Glasgow-native Martin has a wide experience playing in the Scottish football systems.

Global Makati has recently made massive changes in its front office with Hong Kong Consortium Mazinyi Management LTD investing in the squad./PN

https://www.panaynews.net/pfl-global-makati-spends-big-signs-bahadoran-6-others/

Gayoso, SEA Games standouts join Azkals cadet squad

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

The Azkals Development Team (ADT) that will see action in the 2020 Philippines Football League season as a guest team is slowly taking shape following the commitment of several standouts from the Southeast Asian Games.

Among the notable recruits of the squad to be handled by Serbian coach Goran Milojevic is former UAAP MVP Jarvey Gayoso, who skipped his final year of eligibility at Ateneo.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said majority of the players from the SEA Games squad have also started training with the ADT.

Palami has also opened the door for former national team players, including Curt Dizon and Marvin Angeles, who are trying to get back into top form as they wait for offers from other clubs.

In recent weeks, Palami said several promising young players have joined training, including Lance Ocampo from the GOM Academy of former national player Darren Hartmann, and Sandro Reyes, who was once part of the FC Barcelona Escola, the flagship school of one of world’s biggest clubs.

“This is one of the answers to the clamor to improve our players before they get into the senior team,” Palami said.

Also committing to the ADT are SEA Games standouts like goalkeeper Anthony Pinthus, Edison Suerti and Mar Diano.

Read more: https://sports.inquirer.net/386024/gayoso-seag-standouts-join-azkals-cadet-squad#ixzz6E4FXAe1L

Kaya FC–Iloilo Down Myanmar Champions for Dream Start in AFC Cup 2020

AFC Cup 2020 | Group H
Shan United 0 – 2 Kaya FC–Iloilo
Thuwunna Stadium

12 February 2020; Yangon, Myanmar — Kaya FC–Iloilo banked on an inspired second half to take all three points against Myanmar Champions, Shan United, on Wednesday afternoon at the Thuwunna Stadium. Goals from captain Jovin Bedic, and substitute Eric Giganto did the damage as the match finished 2-0 in favor of the Philippine club.

“The first half we struggled a little bit, but we turned things around in the second half,” said Kaya head coach Oliver Colina. “We got what we came for. It doesn’t matter if it’s two-nil, one-nil, or whatever. We got the three points, and that was our objective coming here.”

Although Iloilo almost scored in just the third minute of play, the bright start wasn’t sustained in the opening half. Shan United took advantage and took control of the tempo, and in the 26th they almost broke through. Free on a rare one-on-one Mike Casas needed to pull off a fine save to keep the scores level heading into the break.

After canceling one another out in a cagey opening period, things began to open up as the second half wore on. With the introductions of Eric Giganto and Arnel Amita, Kaya started to find a bit more pace in their attack. With just over 15 minutes remaining, Amita was brought down inside the box, earning a vital penalty, which captain Jovin Bedic casually tucked away.

12 minutes later, Arnel was involved again as the Philippine side doubled their advantage. Amita picked off the ball near the halfway line, dashed into the box, and managed to poke the ball into the path of Giganto who first-timed the ball into the corner of the net.

“The penalty changed the game. We scored that goal and the momentum changed. Shan United remained composed, but with all due respect, we’re a strong team also. We just played our game, got our chance and we took it,” said Colina.

“The feeling is great, especially to score here in Myanmar. They’re a good team. We saw them play before in the Philippines. Credit to my teammates, they worked so hard over the 90 minutes. Me, I was just in the right place at the right time and I scored. Actually I’m not looking for the Man of the Match. My whole team did well. I give the credit to them,” said Eric Giganto after the game.

The 2-0 victory places Kaya FC–Iloilo momentarily atop of Group H, an ideal position ahead of their home match against Tampines Rovers on February 26, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

http://www.kayafc.com/match/11026-shan-united-v-kaya-fc%E2%80%93iloilo/