AFTER battling Spanish Third Division team CF Madrid this Saturday, the Philippine Azkals get another chance to play against a top squad, this time a visiting professional football team from Incheon, South Korea.
The match is set at Jan. 21 at the Rizal Memorial football pitch and will raise funds for the victims of Typhoon ‘Sendong’ that left thousands dead and thousands more homeless in Northern Mindanao.
The Azkals, who battled the David Beckham-led Los Angeles Galaxy in a friendly match last month, will use the latest match as part of their preparations for the AFC Challenge Cup slated on March 9-13 in Nepal.
The match with the visiting Koreans, organized by the Dragon Promotions led by professional billiards player Charlie Williams in partnership with ABS-CBN, will be aired on television.
"During these sad times, this event is bringing forth our Korean communities living here together along with their Filipino neighbors for a common cause to help," said Peter Musngi, vice president of ABS-CBN.
"Even though it is a tragic situation, out of this, we hope to bring our two cultures closer together. This would be a hopeful beginning of the New Year. Though our language is different and our countries are thousands of miles apart, we have so much in common culturally in values. I hope this football game will be the spark that leads to more involvement from the Koreans who have made the Philippines their home."
While Filipinos have yet to play in the World Cup, the South Koreans are among the most consistent Asian squads, having represented Asia eight times in the finals, thanks to their well-organized football program.
According to an email sent by Williams, the South Korean side will be bolstered by a slew of World Cup veterans.
"We are really excited about our first venture into a new sport. Football is the sport of the world, and we are amazed at the growth of it in the Philippines. It literally feels like an overnight sensation due to the diligent work of the Philippine Football Federation and the vast support of ABS-CBN," said Cindy Lee, CEO of Dragon Promotions.
Source : malaya
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