GLOBAL FC got its spot in the AFC President’s Cup after winning the United
Football League last year, but that lineup won’t be the one playing in Group B of the
tournament that will be
held in Cebu next week.
Football League last year, but that lineup won’t be the one playing in Group B of the
tournament that will be
held in Cebu next week.
It’s going to be a totally different team.
You see, in the UFL there’s no limit on the number of
foreign players
a team can field, and last year, Global won the league with a
slew of talented Africans
like the Elhabbib brothers and the talented but quirky
keeper, Jerome Etoundi, among others.
foreign players
a team can field, and last year, Global won the league with a
slew of talented Africans
like the Elhabbib brothers and the talented but quirky
keeper, Jerome Etoundi, among others.
Etoundi’s gone, replaced by Roland Sadia,
but he won’t be
playing in Cebu,
and neither would their top scorer, Izzo Elhabbib.
but he won’t be
playing in Cebu,
and neither would their top scorer, Izzo Elhabbib.
You see, the AFC Cup--a club competition for emerging
nations in Asia--has rules designed to level the playing field in the countries
where this club belong. A rich club in an emerging nation can buy all the players
they want to get an advantage over the rest but that won’t do in the
AFC President’s Cup, which limits a club to only two foreign-born
players.
nations in Asia--has rules designed to level the playing field in the countries
where this club belong. A rich club in an emerging nation can buy all the players
they want to get an advantage over the rest but that won’t do in the
AFC President’s Cup, which limits a club to only two foreign-born
players.
That’s why for the past few weeks, Dan Palami has been busy beefing
up its roster with Pinoys for the AFC President’s Cup. He added Ed Sacapano
from the Philippine Army, Jason de Jong from the Stallions and Joshua Beloya
from Ceres.
Juani Guirado, who played last year but returned to Spain,
will also return for a brief 'spell with the club.
up its roster with Pinoys for the AFC President’s Cup. He added Ed Sacapano
from the Philippine Army, Jason de Jong from the Stallions and Joshua Beloya
from Ceres.
Juani Guirado, who played last year but returned to Spain,
will also return for a brief 'spell with the club.
Of course, all of these changes make you wonder, would Global FC have
won the league last year with only two foreigners in their lineup,
against teams who also have a lot of foreigners?
won the league last year with only two foreigners in their lineup,
against teams who also have a lot of foreigners?
’m actually in favor of the AFC President’s Cup regulation on putting a cap on foreign
players as it means local players would get a lot of opportunities, but the UFL, for now,
doesn’t have that rule though there are plans to put a limit. Whether it would be as
low as two per team--to align itself with AFC President’s Cup regulations, remains to
be seen because I don’t think there are a lot of talented locals out there who are still in
their prime.
players as it means local players would get a lot of opportunities, but the UFL, for now,
doesn’t have that rule though there are plans to put a limit. Whether it would be as
low as two per team--to align itself with AFC President’s Cup regulations, remains to
be seen because I don’t think there are a lot of talented locals out there who are still in
their prime.
This is but just one of the challenges the UFL will have to address.
The Philippine Air Force, one of the elite teams a few years ago but has since been
reduced to scraps in the UFL, lamented about why local fans support clubs
with lots of foreigners, instead of clubs like them. Their coach has, a few times,
lamented on thedisparity of talent with the clubs who have foreign players and them.
reduced to scraps in the UFL, lamented about why local fans support clubs
with lots of foreigners, instead of clubs like them. Their coach has, a few times,
lamented on thedisparity of talent with the clubs who have foreign players and them.
Though I agree that there should be a limit on foreigners,
I don’t take it against fans who support these clubs. Besides, the football teams
from the Armed Forces of the
Philippines–Army, Navy and Air Force–haven’t actually shown they deserve
support with the way they play.
I don’t take it against fans who support these clubs. Besides, the football teams
from the Armed Forces of the
Philippines–Army, Navy and Air Force–haven’t actually shown they deserve
support with the way they play.
Every time I tell a veteran player about how an AFP team got into another
physical match,
they’d always say, “What do you expect?”
physical match,
they’d always say, “What do you expect?”
P.S. Tickets for the AFC President’s Cup are now available at SM Tickets.
Prices are P100,P500 and P1,000 for each match day,
but if you buy two, you get a third one for free.
Prices are P100,P500 and P1,000 for each match day,
but if you buy two, you get a third one for free.
The AFC President’s Cup is a rare opportunity for local fans to see
international club football, so, grab that chance.
international club football, so, grab that chance.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 04, 2013.
"Juani Guirado, who played last year but returned to Spain,
ReplyDeletewill also return for a brief 'spell with the club."
Is he eligle to play ? He has been playing for Spanish club recently and transfer window is not open now ?
"AFC President’s Cup, which limits a club to only two foreign-born
ReplyDeleteplayers."
If that is correct Global cant field Reichelt , Wolf , Beloya , Jason de Jong , Juani Guirado, Angeles Brothers and Carli De Murga ?
Nah, I think it refers to the nationality of the players only or else a lot of clubs would have huge problems. Still I can't rap my mind around why they won't let Sacapaño play and are leaving Izzo, their best goalscorer, out.
DeleteReally hope they get beaten badly!
Dont understand why they signed Sacapano if he is not going to play In AFC Presidents Cup. If he is good enough for Azkals he should be good enough for Global ?
DeleteAnd if he played Izzo could be the second foreigner
Sacapano is local.
ReplyDeleteFat bastard Patlami only believe in foreign born players.
With this type of person in our country football we should not even bother to have a local league
Reichelt , Wolf , Beloya , Jason de Jong , Juani Guirado, Angeles Brothers and Carli De Murga are all Filipino citizens therefore are eligible to play.
ReplyDeleteThere may be an issue on Juani Guirado though as he is registered with Racing Lermeño. Based on the tournament regulations a player can only be contracted, registered and/or playing with ONE club regardless of where the club is based. There is no transfer window till January so I do not know how Juani can be eligible to play for Global.
On Sacapano, Global acquired his services because the AFC President’s Cup requires all club teams to register a minimum of 3 Goalkeepers.
AFC probably know about Guirado, but who knows. Id really like to know what they have to say about this matter. Palami doesnt always do things by the book, and he always gets away with it.
DeleteNo one likes cheaters.
Who can i contact regarding this issue?
I actually already tried sending the AFC an email regarding Global's illegal use of players (Jeffrey Christiaens, 2011 UFL Cup & Juani Guirado 2012 League which they won and got entrance to the President's Cup).
DeleteUnfortunately, no fucking reply and no fucking action taken. Which probably means they brushed my email aside. The only other way is to try to contact the PFF about it. However, I'm sure the same thing will just happen. Fucking bullshit! Global FC shouldn't even be in the AFC President's Cup!! Palami really is a CUNT!!!!!!!!11
PFF stands for Palamis Football Federation. He controls the PFF, and nothing happens without his approval.
DeleteMaybe someone can ask Mike Limpag? He seems to be close Palami, and as an journalist, this should be interesting for him. But again, he has probably thought of this himself, but brushed it off like others.
One other thing is to contact Guirados club and ask them if there is an agreement between the clubs.
Contacting the PFF may just turn out to be a futile exercise as PFF knows what is happening but tolerates it anyway. Try FIFA, they may not reply but at least they are informed and may make some inquires with PFF.
ReplyDeletethis actually a good thing, a first, a Filipino team, who gives a shit who plays.
ReplyDeleteIf it isn't done by the rules and if said team shouldn't even be in the cup in the first place because they are illegally fielding players then we honestly don't deserve it yet. Kaya deserves to be in this competition way more than Global, heck even Stallions and Loyola do and they weren't robbed of any title. It's enough that both teams are already inthe Singapore Cup. But we hopefully won't have to put up with thus farce uf Stallion wins the league. Still it has to be played by the book or else it's simply amateurism.
Delete