Philippines squad list vs UAE

The Philippine Football Federation has called up the following twenty players for the friendly match against the United Arab Emirates on November 9, 2013, 10:30pm at the Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

1. AGUINALDO, AMANI MANUEL SANTOS
2. ANGELES, MARWIN JANVER MALINAY
3. BAHADORAN, MISAGH MEDINA
4. BARBASO, JERRY I SARDUA
5. CALIGDONG, EMELIO ASADA
6. CHRISTIAENS, JEFFFREY MALLEN
7. DE JONG, JASON NICOLAS MARIA
8. DEYTO, PATRICK PHILLIP BRAVO
9. GIER, ROBERT JAMES DAZO
10. GREATWICH, CHRISTOPHER ROBERT BARBON
11. GUIRADO, ANGEL ALDEGUER
12. GUIRADO, JUAN LUIS ALDEGUER
13. HARTMANN, MARK ANDREW
14. JONSSON, RAY ANTHONY PEPITO
15. LUCENA, JERRY RUBEN
16. PORTERIA, JOSE ELMER
17. REICHELT, PATRICK ALCALA
18. SACAPANO, EDUARD ORTALLA
19. YOUNGHUSBAND, JAMES JOSEPH PLACER
20. YOUNGHUSBAND, PHILIP JAMES PLACER

azkalsfootballteam



Azkals leaving on Tuesday Nov 5 for UAE.

No mercy Sparks whip hapless Blue Guards, 33-0

• From: Karlo Sacamos

LOYOLA Meralco massacred Blue Guards, 33-0, on Wednesday night in the United Football League Cup at the Emperador Stadium in Mckinley Hill in one of the most lopsided games in recent memory.
Showing no mercy against an amateur guest team that has an average age of 46, the Sparks flaunted their offensive might to remain unbeaten in three games in Group E and secure their place in the knockout stage of the season-opening tournament.
Phil Younghusband shone brightest with eight goals, Chad Gould was second best with seven, while James Younghusband and Matthew Hartmann chipped in five each for the Sparks, who scored a goal in roughly every three minutes.
Lee Joo Young registered a hat-trick, Jake Morallo had a brace, while Samuel Bonney, Boyet Canedo, and Simon Greatwich completed the scoring parade with one goal each.
It was the most dominant win by a team since the Blue Guards suffered a 17-0 beating at the hands of groupmate Green Archers.
The Sparks, who have yet to concede a goal in the competition following 16-0 and 9-0 decisions against Dolphins United and Philippine Navy, respectively, wrap up their group stage campaign against the Archers on November 7.
The Blue Guards ended their campaign without a win in four games, where they allowed a total of 69 goals against a lone scored goal.

spin

The Global conundrum (Let's give them hell for 90 minutes)

By Mike Limpag

IT seems, the issue of who has the right to represent which FA in a national tournament has never been resolved.  Then, it was case of players who play in the elimination round of one FA, representing another FA in the regional finals, and yet another FA in the national finals.


Worse, clubs who lose in the regional elims would just jump ship and represent another FA in the national finals.

The latest issue is Global FC, and, I have to say, all the parties involved--the PFF, CFA, Leyte and Global--come out the loser in this fiasco.

Leyte FA was first disqualified from the Smart Club Championships for fielding Global, now, Global is one win away from the second round of the Smart Club championships.  Why is that so? The loser in this scenario? Global.

When Cebu faced Hijos of Samar last October, the winner was supposed to advance to the next round as Global was already eliminated, but what most don't know is that even before the match started, Leyte FA has already written the PFF regarding its disqualification.

Cebu won, 8-1, and was set to play in the next round, announced to be in Bacolod on Nov. 6-10 and suddenly, Global comes in the picture. Loser, PFF.

To be honest, I thought the fact that the PFF let the Cebu vs. Hijos match push through meant it denied Leyte FA's appeal. And I was only reminded of that appeal when Global suddenly came in the picture and it was announced it was to face Hijos and Cebu in the Smart Club regionals. Talk about acting on something urgent very late. Loser, PFF.

Then Global routs Hijos, 23-0, and you have someone like Jason de Jong tweeting, "What the f*** was that?"  That, Jason, was a fuckin football match that wasn’t supposed to happen. Loser, Global.

Cebu, as expected, isn't taking the surprise lightly  and is questioning Global's sudden re-entry. Loser, Cebu.

And of course, for those who only knew of Global's disqualification and to suddenly read about Global's re-entry, can't help but think, "Is the PFF tilting the odds in favor of Leyte FA, which has Dan Palami as the head?" Loser, Global.

Like I said, nobody wins in this latest fiasco.

More Cebu Football 

UFL Cup - Wednesday

UFL Cup Wednesday

7 pm Blue Guards Fc 0-33 Loyola Fc

Goal scorers:
Samuel Bonney 1'
Philip Younghusband 2' 11' 19' 28' 62' 69' 80' 90'
Matthew Hartmann 8' 17' 18' 46' 55'
James Younghusband 13' 22' 26' 56' 78'
Robert Canedo 15'
Joo Young Lee 16' 33' 41'
Chad Gould 48' 57' 66' 68' 79' 82' 87'
Jake Morallo 54' 64'
Simon Greatwich 85'

9 pm Navy Fc 0-5 Green Archers United

FT: Phil. Navy FC 0-5 Green Archers United FC 

Goal scorers:
Reynald Villareal 14'
Floriano Pasilan Jr. 23' 30'
Jesse Martindale 84'
Robert Lopez Mendy 90+1'

UFL Cup - Tuesday

UFL Cup - Tuesday

FT: Ceres - La Salle FC 2 - 1 Pachanga Diliman FC Goal Scorers: Jin Ho Kim - 34' Jalsor Soriano - 41' Ariel Zerrudo Jr. - 57'

FT: Laos FC 3 - 3 Phil. Army FC

Goal Scorers:
Mohammad Ghasemi - 9', 17'
Patrik James Franksson - 23'

Nestorio Margarse Jr. - 49' (PK)
Jeoffrey Lobaton - 52'
Romano Vestal - 68'

Final Standings Group A :

1. Ceres Fc 9 points
2. PAchanga Diliman 7 points
3. MAnila Jeepney Fc 7 points
4. Army Fc 4 points
5. Laos Fc 1 point


Ceres Fc , Manila Jeepney and Pachanga Diliman qualified for finals.

UFL Cup - Sunday

2 pm : Dolphins United vs Blue Guards Fc

FT (official): Dolphins United F.C. 11-1 Blue Guards FC 

Goal Scorers:
Abdou Moussa Obono 1', 8', 44'
Anthony Delante 17'
Jerome Cuyos 25', 71'
John Caballero 47'
Enow Lewis 64'
Jerad Baron 77'
Bryan Baleos 89

Roger Sulit 32'
Georg Bragas (own goal) 81'

4 pm : Loyola Fc 9-0 Navy Fc

FT: Loyola FC 9 - NIL Phil. Navy FC

Goalscorers:
Chad Gould 23'
Phil Younghusband 48', 49', 59', 67', 72', 76'
Robert Canedo 64' 
Jake Morallo 88'

6 pm : Bright Star Fc vs Stallion

FT: Bright Star FC 1 - 3 Stallion FC Goalscorers: Vaseeba Toure 43' Ruben Doctora Jr. 9' Bo Bae Park 20' Jeremy Hohn 89'


8 pm : Agila vs Philippine Air Force Fc


FT: Agila FC 0 - 3 Phil. Air Force FC Goalscorers: Ian Araneta 5' Neckson Leonora 15' Randy Bela-ong 86'

UFL Cup - Saturday

UFL Cup Saturday


6 pm  Ceres Fc vs Army Fc


Phil. Army FC
Starting XI: Becite, Bedua, Betita, Brillantes, Cilez, Dela Cruz, Gempisaw Jr., Roel Gener (C), Margarse Jr., Pelayo & Troyo (GK)

Ceres - La Salle FC
Starting XI: Casas (GK), Kim, Olaniyi, Marasigan, Okunaiya, Panhay, Park, Poderoso Jr., Carlo Tacusalme, Camelo Tacusalme & Yaogo

FT: Phil. Army FC 1 - 0 Ceres La Salle FC Goal Scorer: Meliton Pelayo - 38'

8 pm Manila Jeepney Fc vs Pachanga Diliman Fc



FT: Pachanga Diliman FC 1 - 1 Manila Jeepney FC

Goal Scorers:
Nate Burkey - 21' (Pachanga Diliman FC)
Sean Iliff - 75' (Manila Jeepney FC)

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Visayas qualifiers , Global Fc 23-0 Hijos Fc

Saturday in Tacloban

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Visayas Qualifiers

Global Fc (Leyte) vs Hijos Fc  (Northern Samar)  3 pm

PFF has allowed Rufo Sanchez to play for Global Fc


Cebu Queen City United won 8-1 against Hijos Fc.

----------------------------------------------------

GLOBAL XI: Sadia (GK), Barbaso, Starosta, De Jong, Ochotorena, Christiaens, Altiche, Angeles, Macayan, Hartmann, Sanchez

1-0 Sanchez
2-0 Sanchez
3-0 Christiaens
4-0 Altiche
5-0 Hartmann
6-0 Hartmann
7-0 Marwin Angels
8-0 Sanchez
8-0 HT
9-0 Hartmann
10-0 Macayan (PK)
11-0 Hartmann
12-0 Elhabbib
13-0 Hartmann
14-0 Elhabbib
15-0 Elhabbib
16-0 De Jong
17-0 Marwin Angeles
18-0 Hartmann
19-0 Elhabbib
20-0 Hartmann
21-0 Nayon
22-0 Sanchez
23-0 Sanchez
23-0 FT

Global seeing action in PFF-Smart Club Championship

Add the PFF-Smart Club Championship to Global FC's already-stacked schedule this year.

Global will represent the Leyte Football Association, marking the first time they will represent the province in a national competition.

Although Global sees action in the UFL, the club is actually a registered member of Leyte FA headed by club owner Dan Palami.

The People's Club participated in the last two editions of the competition, winning the title in the inaugural season in 2011. Global reached the quarterfinals in the previous edition, where it lost to eventual winners Ceres FC last January.

Global are grouped in Group E for the regional group stage qualifying rounds where they are grouped with Cebu FA's Cebu Queen City United FC and Northern Samar FA's Hijos FC.

Global will face Hijos FC on Saturday in Tacloban, and will meet Cebu Queen City United FC either on October 29 or 30, to determine which team will advance to the final qualifying round.

Global FC website


Leyte was previously disqualified , and Cebu and Northern Samar played qualifiers earlier this month. Now they have to play another qualifier...



From Watchmen Daily Journal Sept 30

With the 2013 Smart-PFF Club Championships Group E set to kick off Wednesday, the Leyte Football Association was stripped out of the competition after organizers found violation on the team.

In a communication from PFF, Dick Empirado, chairman of the PFF Competitions Committee and a member of the PFF Board of Governors, wrote that upon the deadline of submission of all club entries participating in this tournament, Leyte FA submitted as its club participant-members and officials from the Global Football Club (Global FC).

On  inquiry  of  the  PFF Competitions  Department  in  its  official capacity  as administrator  of the PFF-Smart  National Club Championships  2013, the department reported to the PFF Competitions Committee that the Global Football Club (Global FC) is officially registered  as a  regular member of the National  Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA) and not with Leyte FA.

Thus, upon proper inquiry and deliberation of the PFF Competitions Committee, they have concluded that two (2) violations have been clearly committed by Leyte FA. First, by submitting the players and officials and/or the Global FC as its official club entry who is a regular member of the NCRFA and second, no provincial elimination report was submitted that would justify its official representative to the competition.

Watchmen Daily Link

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Mindanao qualifiers - Updated results

Group J : Misamis Oriental -Ozamiz FA, Zamboanga City FA, Zamboanga del Norte - Dipolog FA and Zamboanga del Sur- Pagadian FA

Date : October  25-27
Venue : Jose Rizal Memorial State University Sports Complex, Dapitan City
Host : Zamboanga del Norte - Dipolog Football Association

October 25
Dipolog United 5-0 Royals Fc (Pagadian)
Zamboanga City 10-1 Misamis Oriental-Ozamiz

October 26
Dipolog United 3-2 Zamboanga City
Misamis Oriental-Ozamiz 4-4  Royals Fc (Pagadian)

October 27
8 am Dipolog United 3-4 Misamis Oriental-Ozamiz
10 am Royals Fc 1-3 Zamboanga City


Aliya United  Fc from Zamboanga City qualified for finals !

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Luzon Qualifiers

PFF Smart National Club Championship Qualifiers


Masbate withdrew from this group

Group C in Naga City

Wednesday :

Camarines Sur -Naga City 0-1 Legazpi Albay
Camarines Norte 0-0 Sorsogon

Thursday :

Camarines Norte FA 3-1 Legazpi Albay FA

Camarines Sur- Naga City FA 6-0 Sorsogon FA

Friday :

Camarines Sur  Naga City 2-1 Camarines Norte
Legazpi Albay 5-0 Sorsogon

Camarines Sur - Naga City qualified for finals.

UFL Cup - Thursday

UFL Cup - Thursday - Emperador Stadium

7 pm : General Trias International vs Team Socceroo

FT: General Trias International FC 2 - 0 Team Socceroo FC Shin Seok Jeon 4' -(pk) Cristituto Pino - 36'

9 pm : Global Fc vs Forza Fc

FT: Global FC 4 - 0 Forza FC Goal scorers: Izzeldin Elhabib 14' 50' 52' Mark Hartmann 23'

AFF Futsal - Philippines 2-17 Malaysia

AFF Futsal Championship

Philippines 2-17 Malaysia

Simpron and Pasilan scored for Philippines




GROUP A CURRENT STANDINGS (updated)

No	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Thailand	4	4	0	0	36	4	+32	12
2	Vietnam	4	3	0	1	18	10	+8	9
3	Malaysia	4	2	0	2	26	10	+16	6
4	Philippines	4	1	0	3	9	50	-41	3
5	Brunei	4	0	0	4	10	25	-15	0

UFL Cup - Wednesday

UFL Cup Wednesday


7 pm Kaya Fc 3-0 Cimarron Fc

Kaya FC

Starting XI:
Scott Baginski, Kenshiro Michaels Daniels, Danilo De Jong, Christopher Greatwich, Fabien Lewis, Andrew Liauw Soen-Tjoen, Edward Mallari, Emmanuel Mbata Ameachi, Nicholas O'Donnell (gk), Masanari Omura(c) Antonio Ugarte

Subs:
Matias Alvarez, Jovin Bedic, Mitchell Davidson, Anton Del Rosario, Dominic Del Rosario, Saba Garmaroudi, Toshiya Hosoe, Jose Porteria, Janrick Soriano


Cimarron FC

Starting XI:
Albert Francisco, Matthew Jaucian, Yong Lee, Jerome Leung, Jon Maanlunas, Michael Liao, Enrico Misa(c), John Rubio, Mehdi Soltani, Jason Soong, Eric Yosse 

Sub:
Solomon Valerio Yves De-Luis

FT: Kaya FC 3 - 0 Cimarron FC Goal scorers: Mitchell Davidson 40' Kenshiro Michael 45+1' Christopher Greatwich 70'


9 pm Manila All-Japan vs Union Internacional Manila

Manila All Japan FC

Starting XI:
Ryo Kono, Renando Mantua, Lendon Marcojos, Yusuke Nakagawa, Brein Okeyui, Deney Salazar, Naoya Shiratori, Mark Sorongon(gk), Yuki Tanaka(c), Russel Vena, Akio Zenki


Starting XI:
Mahmoud Ali, Raymund Buensuceso, Hamed Hajimahdi, Muhamed Hassan, Everett Jacobs, Shayan Jafari Dastjerdi, Majid Mahdavi,, Rory Mansbridge(c), Fidelis Nnabuife, Jose Pascual(gk), Jeremy Theuer

FT:
Manila All-Japan FC 1- 4 Union Internacional Manila FC 

Goal scorers:
Manila All-Japan FC:
Eiji Sugisaki 79'

UIMFC:
Fidelis Nnabuife 7' 53'
Muhamed Hassan 57' 77'

UFL Cup - Tuesday

UFL Cup - Tuesday at Emperador Stadium


Group E

FT: Dolphins United FC 0 - 4 Green Archers United FC

Goal Scorers:
Gab Olowoyeye - 2' 
John Melliza - 13'
Cheiffy Caligdong - 17'
Jesse Martindale - 55'


FT: Blue Guards FC 0 - 10 Phil. Navy FC

Goal Scorers:
Richard Leyble - 14' (PK)
Arnaldo Montana - 42'
Friday Okoro - 45', 57' (PK)
Rachy Gunda - 53'
Mohamed Diallo - 60', 73'
Arnold Carino - 66'
Gary Viliran - 88'
OWN GOAL - Noel Reyes - 34' ( Blue Guards FC)

AFF Futsal : Vietnam 10-1 Philippines

Vietnam won 10-1 against Philippines in a AFF Futsal Championship match today.

Pasilan scored for Philippines.

Brunei lost 1-8 to Thailand today.

Queen City United stuns Stallion, 4-1

By Edri K. Aznar

CEBU Queen City United (CQCU) toppled defending champion Stallion FC ,4-1, 
to keep the lead in Group C of the UFL Cup at the Emperador Stadium yesterday.

“Yes (it is our most impressive game). Stallion FC is the defending champion. 

We can now be called giant-killers. Hopefully we can sustain our momentum. 

We have to be consistent and we have to step up,” coach Mario Ceniza told 
Sun.Star Cebu.

CQCU beat Philippine Air Force (PAF), 3-0, and then had a subpar 2-2 draw with
 Bright Star FC.

CQCU still holds the top spot with seven points, while Stallion FC, 
the reigning UFL Cup titleholders that was hampered by personnel changes
 dropped to third place. PAF moved up to second after a 3-1 victory over 
Bright Star FC.

“We contained them. We penetrated their defense because of our midfield,”
 he said. “Right from the start we really dominated.”

Following a hotly contested first half, Ahmed Camara hit an amazing
 volley from a cross in the 50th minute to get CQCU going.

Three minutes after going into the game as a substitute, Pintho Kabulo 
made his presence felt with a goal in the 73rd for a 2-0 lead for
 the Cebuanos and Junard 
Aguilar hit the back of the net with a header in the 76th minute.

Benjamin Gordon scored for Stallion FC in the 86th minute
 from a penalty but Aguilar immediately answered with a goal 
in the next play.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 21, 2013.

AFF FUTSAL: Thais Power Past Philippines

BANGKOK (20 Oct 2013) – The question which should be answered by the end of the second match day in Group B is whether, can anyone stop hosts Thailand?
The ASEAN powerhouse, the runners-up at the last AFC Futsal Championship last year, did not even have to break much of a sweat as they sauntered past the Philippines 20-1 in their first match of the group.
“There are some players who are new and we need to break them into the squad,” said Thai coach Vic Hermans after the game. “There were some jitters today and this is obviously something that we need to work on.”
Jitters or otherwise, the Thais had classy player Suphawut Thueanklang to rely on when he opened the floodgates with the first goal of the game in the third minute off  a play back from Jirawat Sornwichian.
After that first goal, the Philippines were just there to watch how real ‘Futsal’ is being played without the use of much power but rather the reliance on sublime technique.
Supawhut went on to score five more goals (12^th, 22^nd, 25^th, 33^rd and 33^rd minute) as Kritsada Wongkaeo (5^th, 21^st, 24^th, 29^th, 30^th, 31^st and 34^th), Jirawat (4^th, 11^th, 30^th and 34^th), Kongkhla Lakka (25^th), Nawin Rattanawongswas (17^th) and Sittisak Atirat (9^th).
But the Philippines still managed to give some semblance of a fight back with their only goal of the game in the 35^th minute.
“For us, the score line was not important,” said Baltazar Avelino, the coach of the Philippines. “It was an experience for us to play against a world-class team like Thailand. What more when we get the chance to score against them. It was an honour to play this game.”

aseanfootball

UFL Cup Sunday - Updated results

UFL Cup Sunday


2 pm Philippine Air Force 3-1 Bright Star FC

Phil. Air Force FC
Starting XI: Albor Jr., Araneta, Ballo-Allo Jr., Bayona, Bebanco, Braga, Dolloso (gk), Gustillo, Leonora, Tonog & Vergara Jr.

Brightstar FC Starting XI: Bayan Jr., Cerdena, Delos Santos, Diarra, Kiyek, Martinez, Orlandez, Santiago, Sissako, Toure & Wleh

FT: Phil. Air Force FC 3 - 1 Brightstar FC

Goal Scorers:

Phil. Air Force FC
Ian Araneta - 9' (PK), 74'
Rodolf Bebanco - 33'

Brightstar FC
Jayson Delos Santos - 53'
------------------------------------------------
4 pm Stallion vs Cebu Queen City United

Stallion Sta. Lucia FC Starting XI: Alquiros, Clarino, Doctora Jr., Hohn, Italia, Lozano, Marenco (gk), Nierras, Park, Torres & Zamora

Cebu Queen City United FC
Starting XI: Aguilar, Apurado, Baunsit, Booth, Cahilig, Camara, Cubelo, Diallo, Jones, Villarico & Villarata

FT: Stallion Sta. Lucia FC 1 - 4 Cebu Queen City United FC

Goal Scorers:
Cebu Queen City United FC
Ahmed Camara - 50'
Pintho Kabulo - 72'
Junard Aguilar - 76', 86'
Stallion Sta. Lucia FC 
Benjamine Gordon - 86' (PK)

6 pm Manila Jeepney vs Philippine Army

Manila Jeepney FC Starting XI: Arceo, Ayi, Conmigo, Floresta, Golez, Iliff, Regis Jr., Shadideh, Tuason, Valeroso & Villion

Phil. Army FC Starting XI: Becite, Brillantes, Cain, Cilez, Dela Cruz, Gempisaw Jr., Gener Roel, Gener Ronel, Margarse Jr., Pelayo & Troyo

FT: Manila Jeepney FC 2 - 0 Phil. Army FC Goal Scorers: Sean Iliff - 60', 78'


8 pm Ceres Fc vs  Laos Fc

Ceres - La Salle FC Starting XI: Beloya, Casas, Kim, Olaniyi, Marasigan, Okunaiya, Panhay, Park, Sim, Tacusalme Camelo & Tacusalme Carlo

Laos FC Starting XI: Atienza, Ayuban, Buenaflor, Dalman, Diaz, Emeson, Franksson, Gumela, Ubiam, Villaespin & Villarino
FT: Ceres La Salle FC 6 - 0 Laos FC

Goal Scorers: 
Jayson Panhay - 17', 36'
Jin Ho Kim - 19', 87' 
Joshua Beloya - 39'
Angelo Marasigan - 79'

AFF Futsal Sunday - Thailand 20-1 Philippines

AFF Futsal Championship Sunday

Thailand  vs Philippines , 2 pm


Thailand 7-0 Philippines , HT

Thailand 20-1 Philippines FT

Simpron scored for Philippines

Brunei lost 4-8 to Malaysia in the second match in this group today.

AFF FUTSAL: Philippines Grab Lead in Group B

BANGKOK (19 Oct 2013) – The Philippines took the lead in Group B when they disposed of Brunei 5-3 in the last match of the evening as Vietnam edged Malaysia 2-1 in an earlier tie of the AFF Futsal Championship 2013.

It was as pulsating a match as could be between the Philippines and Brunei with both teams eager to win the points. And while it was Brunei who pushed hard earlier on, it was the Philippines who grabbed the lead through Arnie Pasanibo in the 13^th minute.

The score at the end of the first half was 1-0 to the Philippines.

Pasilan Floriano was quick to double Philippines’s lead just a minute after the restart before Brunei got their scoring act together to score their first goal of the game in the 22^nd minute through Maziri Maidin.

Then it was three quick goals for the Philippines with Pasilan nailing a double (26^th and 36^thminute) and another from Jovanie Simpron (36^th minute.

Brunei staged a late revival through Mohamad Arif Haji Eisa in the 36^th minute as Maziri then completed a brace with a second strike two minutes later.

“We created a lot of chances but it was just too bad that we could not score,” said Brunei coach Mohd Yunos Mohd Yusof.

In the meantime, Vietnam beat Malaysia 2-1 in an earlier match in the group.

aseanfootball

Palami wants to breach Top 100 barrier after Azkals' latest milestone

• From: Karlo Sacamos

HARDLY satisfied with the Azkals’ latest achievement, Philippine men’s football team manager Dan Palami is setting his sights on the next frontier.

After the team notched a new all-time high in Fifa ranking of 137th on Friday, the 43-year-old sports advocate and businessman who has bankrolled the Azkals since 2010, wants to breach the next barrier.

“I want to reach the top one hundred,” Palami said in a chat with scribes after trade launch ofSpin.ph Thursday night at Urbn Bar and Kitchen. “Alam mo naman ako, I want to set the bar high.”

The latest jump in ranking allowed the Azkals to overtake Thailand as the top team in Southeast Asia. The computation took into consideration the results of the last three years, but has yet to take in the results of the Philippine Peace Cup, which the Filipino booters defended.

Philippine Football Federation general secretary Ed Gastanes expressed delight about the team’s latest milestone, but rued the irony that the Azkals may be the top team in the region, and yet the Under-23 team will not participate in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games.

“It is ironic because as we have made clear several times before, seven players of the U-23 are members of the Azkals and with the addition of the budding local football stalwarts, our U-23 is a competitive team for the SEA Games,” Gastanes said in a chat with Spin.ph at the PFF office a day later.

“Unfortunately, POC (Philippine Olympic Committe) officials saw it differently,” the lawyer added.

Moving forward, Gastanes believes Palami’s new aim is achievable.

“That is always a good target,” Gastanes said. “I can go along with that target because if we continue to play and continue to win then that is not a far target.”

To achieve it, the Filipino booters not only have to keep winning, they also have to beat strong opponents.

And that’s exactly why they’ll face 71st-ranked United Arab Emirates on November 9 and fellow Middle East squad India (154th) on Nov. 15 in two Fifa international friendlies.

The PFF also wants to take advantage of the Fifa match date of Nov. 19 as they are eyeing another higher-ranked foe in New Caledonia (126th), which was one of the countries invited to participate in the Peace Cup, but declined due to conflict in schedule.

“In the next few days, we’ll try to find an opponent for the Azkals in the Philippines, but we cannot announce until it is sure,” Gastanes said.

spin