Happy New Year !

Happy New Year to all readers of Filipino Football blog !

Best wishes for Philippines football in 2014.

Rampaging Fullback : Quo vadis Pinoy football ?

Ryan Fenix, special to InterAksyon.com 

This past year saw the Philippines embark on a slow and steady rise in the FIFA World Rankings, rising from 147th place to finish at 127th place, the highest ranking ever for the Azkals.

Astonishingly, they would even outrank Suzuki Cup Champions Singapore (150th) and runners-up Thailand (146th), who would conceivably care less given the silverware in their trophy cabinets.

But really, how much has Philippine football progressed since the Miracle of Hanoi in 2010 and the glory year of 2011?

It can be remembered that once upon a time, there was talk that football would dislodge basketball as the number one sport in the country. The Azkals games were the hottest tickets in town, and Rizal Memorial Football Stadium would be packed to the rafters with nary an empty seat to be found.

Those were the good old days, it seems.

Today, despite rising to become Southeast Asia’s number one football team, it appears that Philippine football has lost momentum, at least from the general public’s point of view.

Could it be because of the lack of international tournaments in 2013?

The non-participation of the men’s Under-23 squad in the recently-concluded Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar has hurt Philippine football more than any Rufo Sanchez controversy. Bad news from a loss is still news; it still promotes the game. No news promotes apathy and indifference.

In a quiet year for international football, it was up to domestic football to step up to the plate.

The United Football League has taken up the cudgels in promoting football to the masses, providing league and cup action for the year. There was also the nationwide PFF Smart Championship won by Ceres-La Salle.

However, this is the million-peso question: Do the Philippine sports fans still care about football?

In this light, 2014 in many ways would represent a make-or-break year for Philippine football.

The UFL League will start in February, and it is hoped that more Filipino talent will come through the ranks, so that more local heroes would emerge.

Internationally, the AFC Challenge Cup in May awaits, with a ticket to the 2015 Asian Cup the reward for the winners. The importance of participating in the Asian Cup cannot be overstated.

The AFF Suzuki Cup in November would be another acid test for the country. After two consecutive semi-finals appearances, surely we should do one better if we are to back up our claim as the “best Southeast Asian team” according to FIFA.

The Azkals would do Philippine football a ton of good if we were to do well in these two major tournaments. It would give Philippine football the proverbial much needed shot in the arm. No pressure, guys.

The motivation should be to regain the momentum of football and sustain it.

The target should be inspiring more people to pick up football, the same way Gilas Pilipinas did for basketball in those 11 days in August 2013.

The goal is to make those James Yap fans realize that it is worth their while, and in their best interests, to become James Younghusband fans as well.

Ryan Fenix is InterAksyon.com’s resident football analyst. His football column Rampaging Fullbackappears exclusively on the site. He runs the football blog The Prawn Sandwich Brigade and covers football for Sports5. For more football discussion, follow him on Twitter.

Interaksyon

DNFA CHRISTMAS FOOTBALL FESTIVAL

DNFA CHRISTMAS FOOTBALL FESTIVAL
By: Renato E. Cosmod –DNFA President
                                        
                The DNFA Christmas Football Festival conducted on December 28, 2013 at the Energy Park, Apokon, Tagum City from 9:00AM to 6:00PM  was sponsored by the Tagum City Parents United Football Club (TCPU FC) in close coordination with the Tagum City Sports Office. This event was sanctioned by the Davao del Norte Futbol Association(DNFA) and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF). This Festival is part of our Grassroots Development Program which aims to instill to our young the ideals of teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship. The competition will also done to  test the skills of our kids all the while creating beautiful moments of friendship. The PFF shipped size 4 balls for use in the festival, while DNFA supplied the size 5 balls while TCPU  FC provided the trophies.
                A total of 72 teams participated in the one (1) day Festival. This includes five (5) teams from Cotabato City Tigers under Maguindanao Cotabato City FA, four teams under Mati Davao Oriental FA; Mati Davao Oriental FA (1 teams from Mati FC, 2 teams from Lupon United FC and Intangibles FC), Four teams from Compostela Valley FA and Five Teams from Agusan del Sur FA. Hereunder are the winners;

10 Under category:                                                          
                                 
Champion –Guardians Salvation FC                              
      Trento, Agusan del Sur                                                    
1st runner up –Tagum City Parents United FC                            
     Tagum City, Davao del Norte                                                  
2ndRunner up- Sto.Tomas FC                                      
     Sto Tomas, Davao del Norte                                              

14 Under category (Girls)                                                  
Champion- Tigers FC                                                          
    Cotabato City, Cotabato                                                      
1st Runner up- New Corella FC                                          
      New Corella, Davao del Norte                                            

13 Under category:                                                        
Champion- Tigers FC                                                      
    Cotabato City, Cotabato                                                        
1st Runner up- Blue Jaz FC                                          
     IGACOS, Davao del Norte                                                    
2nd  Runner up-  Tagum City Parents United FC      
 IGACOS, Davao del Norte            
                                                                                        
16 Under category:
Champion- Lupon  United FC
 Lupon, Davao Oriental
1st Runner up- Mawab   FC
Mawab, Compostela Valley Province
2nd Runner up-Tagum City Nat’ H.S.
 Tagum City, Davao del Norte

14 Under category (Boys):
 Champion- Kapalong bulldogs FC
Kapalong, Davao del Norte

 1st Runner up-Prosperidad Fc
Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur

18 Under category:
Champion- UM Tagum FC
Tagum City, Davao del Norte
1st Runner up- Tigers FC
Cotabato City, Cotabato
2nd Runner up-Arc  Angel Fc

Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur
Mens Open category:
Champion- Tigers FC –Cotabato City
1st Runner up- Intangibles FC – Lupon, Davao Oriental
2nd Runner up-Mati FC

Phl eyes hosting of AFC Challenge Cup

By Olmin Leyba

MANILA, Philippines - With the Philippines waiting in the wings, Maldives is doing its best to make sure it’s capable of hosting the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup in May.
Officials in Maldives said they would fast-track renovations of their facilities and finish them in time.
Maldives Minister of Youth and Sports Mohamed Maleeh Jameh told www.maldivessoccer.com that work on the two proposed venues – the national stadium in Male and the Seenu Atoll Hithadhoo zone stadium in Addu City – would begin next month and should be completed by March 2014.
Delays in the renovations had put Maldives’ hosting in jeopardy and prompted the AFC executive committee to consider moving the Challenge Cup to the Philippines.
An AFC delegation inspected the progress in Maldives last week but the Asian body has yet to provide details of its latest findings or recommendations.
“We are confident that we will have the chance to host the Challenge Cup and we will be ready for that,” Maleeh was quoted by the website.

The minister added that Maldives will be hosting the draw ceremony for the eight-nation final round “as scheduled” in mid-February.
“I’m extremely confident that we can pull this off. For the sake of the youth, we will do everything we can to host the tournament in Maldives,” he said.
The Philippine Football Federation is seeking to bring the Challenge Cup to the Philippines to boost the Azkals’ chances of winning the crown and its corresponding qualification slot in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
It is eyeing the Rizal Memorial Stadium, which is also undergoing renovation and installation of an artificial turf, as site. Representatives from the AFC had already inspected the site last month in case there’s a need for an alternate venue.
Rizal Memorial is expected to be ready to host any event by March 2014.

philstar

Ateneo lady booters seize UAAP top spot

ATENEO de Manila is enjoying its best season in UAAP women’s football, boosted by a 1-0 victory over defending champion Far Eastern University at the close of 2013 hostilities last week.

The Lady Eagles, who have yet to win a UAAP crown, lead Season 76 with five points on a 2-2-0 win-draw-loss record.

The Ateneo-FEU clash last Nov. 27 was halted in the 56th minute because of heavy rains. It was re-played on Dec. 20 at FEU-Diliman pitch.

FEU, the champion in three of the last six seasons, has beaten De La Salle and University of Santo Tomas  before losing to Ateneo.

The Lady Tamaraws share second place with the Tigresses with seven points each on identical 2-1-1 records.

FEU, however, has a superior goal difference (+5) over UST (+1) to earn a twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four.

De La Salle is in fourth place with 4 points on a 1-1-2 record.

University of the Philippines, which scored a 1-1 draw with FEU to highlight its first round campaign, has not tasted victory in 13 matches dating back to Season 74 and rounds out the field (0-1-3).

Hostilities resume on Jan. 12 at Ateneo’s Moro Lorenzo Field with FEU taking on UP at 1 p.m. UST will face La Salle at 3 p.m.

In men’s play, the FEU Tamaraws are on top with a perfect 18 points. They completed a six-game sweep of the first round with a 3-1 beating of the De La Salle Green Archers.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/137691/ateneo-lady-booters-seize-uaap-top-spot#ixzz2owDOLlx9

Philippines hosting AFC Challenge Cup ?

FAMaldives

@FA_Maldives

This is not an Official tweeter Account of FAM. but these tweets comes from FAM.. We are inside FAM!!

"FAM has been informed that AFC challenge cup will not be held in Maldives in 2014"


14' AFC Challenge Cup scheduled to be held in the Maldives will be moved to another country, likely Philippines, following ongoing problems.

https://twitter.com/mcintinhos

PFF official Joson named among new Asian Football Confederation match commissioners

• From: Karlo Sacamos

RICHARD “Ebong” Joson, the Philippine Football Federation marketing and communications head, has been named one of the new match commissioners of the Asian Football Confederation.

Joson earned the position after taking the four-day test earlier this month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PFF international relations head Maj Año also took part in the program but unfortunately missed the cut.

The PFF, through president Nonong Araneta and general secretary Ed Gastanes, endorsed Joson and Año for the program.

Out of 68 applicants, 10 percent passed. The recent passers and existing members will retake the test after two years — a rule enforced only this year.

“It’s such an honor,” Joson told Spin.ph on Saturday. “And I have sir Nonong and attorney Ed to thank, and everyone who has taught me in my three years in the PFF.”

A match commissioner’s duty is basically to oversee technical matters during AFC-sanctioned matches and tournaments.

“It’s crucial that the PFF got an MC in,” Joson said. “It speaks of how far we have moved forward as a footballing nation and as a member association to AFC and Fifa.”

Joson is the fifth active Filipino commissioner in the AFC, joining Dave Peñano, Cathy Rivilla, Miguel David, and Christy Ramos.

spin

Cebu - 1st Liloan Sports and Football Club tournament

Posted by Nimrod Quinones
The Liloan Sports and Football Club is hosting a special event this Sunday – a Penalty Tournament.
This is a charity event for the youth of the Liloan SFC.  The competition will be held at the field of the Liloan Elementary School.
Each team is allowed to field only six to 10 players including the goalkeeper.
Entry fee is pegged at P250 per team (6 players –five kickers and one goalie), but an additional P50 will be collected for each additional player as long as there are not more than ten players for a team.
Manfred Schuwerk, one of the organizers, said that the tournament follows the format of a penalty shootout.  Each team fields five kickers and if in case the score is tied after the five kickers, there will be a sudden-death until the tenth kicker for each team.
If the teams are still tied after the tenth kicker, the match will be decided by the tossing of coins.
A team earns three points for each win by the number of goals, two for each win by the toss of a coin, one for a loss by the toss of a coin, and zero for a loss via goals.
Tournament registration is held every Wednesday and Friday during practices at the Liloan Football Field.  Deadline is on December 27.
The elimination round follows the round robin format.  Teams will draw lots for their assignments. If there are more than ten teams, the participants will be divided by bracket.
For the semifinal and the finals, there will be a sudden-death shootout until a team emerges as winner.
There will be a trophy at stake for the champion and half of the total amount that will be collected from entry fees will be given back as cash prizes.
The organizers will also feature penalty shooting by some prominent members of the community.—Nimrod NL Quiñones

Full Point Cebu Sports News

Cagayan De Oro - 9th Rosevale School Football Cup

https://www.facebook.com/rosevalesports.dep

YouTube- Hans On - Anto Gonzales

YouTube - Hans On - Chieffy Caligdong

FTW: Malditas in the SEA Games

Philippine chances of hosting Challenge Cup now dim as Maldives starts renovation of stadiums

• From: Karlo Sacamos

IT appears Maldives will host the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup after all.

The island nation seemed to have made the mid-December schedule set by the AFC for the start of renovation work of their stadiums. Mohamed Maleeh Jamaal, the country’s minister of youth and sports, said they will begin construction work in the first week of January.

“We are confident that we will have the chance to host the Challenge Cup and we are ready for that,” Jamaal told Maldivesoccer.com.

The Philippines was earlier thrust as a backup host of the prestigious tournament that stakes a lone ticket to the 2015 Asian Cup after the AFC gave Maldives an ultimatum to start required renovation work on its venues on December 15.

That would have given the Azkals the advantage of playing in front of the home crowd in the eight-nation competition.

Now, the renovation on the two Maldives stadiums proposed to host the Challenge Cup is expected to be finished by the end of March, two months before the competition.

Maldives is already set to also host the Challenge Cup draw in the middle of February.

spin

Fil-am Malditas not getting home for Christmas ?

Seems that many fil-am Malditas are not getting home for Christmas because tickets beeing paid by stolen credit cards ?

"The credit card Ernie used was reported stolen. So I have no ticket and the agent said I'll have to purchase my own."

Monika Lee : https://twitter.com/m_lee18

AFF to Organize ASEAN All-Stars Charity Match

NAYPYITAW (21 Dec 2013) – The Asean Football Federation (AFF) Council today decided to organize an Asean All-Stars Charity Football Match to help raise funds in the wake of the typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines recently.
The AFF Council, which met in Naypyitaw today, revealed that the match will be held in the city of Bacolod in the Philippines at a date to be confirmed.
The match will likely be between the Asean All-Stars team and the Philippines national team. The All-Stars name for last year was named during the AFF Awards earlier this year.
The AFF have previously assisted the Philippines after the Typhoon Bopha by contributing towards the adopt-a-school programme. Under the programme, the AFF covered the construction costs for four elementary schools in the municipalities of Laak and Montevista. The AFF Council was today briefed on the latest updates involving the four projects.
The AFF Council meeting today chaired by HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah, President of the AFF, also decided that Laos will be the host for the qualifying rounds for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2014. The tentative dates for the event are Oct 13-19.
The hosts for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2016 will be Myanmar and the Philippines. Cambodia will host the 2016 qualifying competition.
The AFF Council also decided on the host venues and tentative dates for AFF events next year. The events are as follows:
·        AFF Under-16 Preparatory Tournament to be held in Indonesia in September 2014.
·        AFF Women’s Championship will be held in Thailand in August 2014.
·        AFF Futsal Championship will be held in Malaysia from Sept 17-28, 2014
·        The host for the AFF Under-19 Preparatory Tournament to be decided later
The AFF Council today congratulated Myanmar Football Federation (MFF) President, U Zaw Zaw, and the MFF officials for their excellent management of the SEA Games football competition. The MFF has managed four competitions – men’s and women’s football and men’ and women’s futsal tournaments.
The next AFF Council meeting will be held in the city of Medan in Indonesia in March next year.

aseanfootball

PH tabs 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup hosting rights

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

NAYPYITAW—The Philippines has been awarded the hosting rights of one of the final group stages of the prestigious Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup in 2016, marking another milestone for the sport in the country.

The AFF made the decision Saturday during its regular Council Meeting attended by Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta and PFF general secretary Edwin Gastanes here.

“We have been awarded the hosting rights for the 2016 Suzuki Cup,” Gastanes told the Inquirer. “We will be hosting the Suzuki Cup together with Burma (Myanmar).”

The Philippines managed to host only one match of the regional football showpiece last year when the Azkals advanced to the home-and-away semifinals.

The Suzuki Cup semifinal game against Singapore was played at Rizal Memorial Stadium, which is currently undergoing renovation that includes the installation of a Fifa-standard artificial pitch.

The PFF is eyeing the RMS as a possible venue for the Suzuki Cup, along with the soon-to-be-completed Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

“It’s a big honor for us in the PFF to get the hosting,” said Araneta. “We will leave no stone unturned to make sure that we will have a successful hosting.”

The Philippines is also in the running to host the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in May after the AFC raised doubts over Maldives’ capability to stage the event because of the state of its playing venues.

The AFC has already inspected the RMS, even as the confederation set a December deadline for work to start on the venues in the Maldives.

“We just have to be ready,” said Gastanes, who expressed hope that the RMS will be finished a couple of months before the staging of the Challenge Cup in the event that the AFC awards the hosting job to the country.

The Azkals finished the year on an all-time high Fifa ranking of No. 127, owing to the run of good results the past two years and Araneta said hosting tournaments in the country can only help in boosting the status of the team and the development of the sport in the country.

“The hosting really goes a long way in our efforts to promote the game in the country,” said Araneta.

inquirer.net

Ceres retains national club championship with victory over Global FC

• From: Karlo Sacamos

PROVING its title run last year was no fluke, Ceres-La Salle beat Global FC, 1-0, in the second leg of the Philippine Football Federation-Smart National Club Championship Finals on Saturday at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

The champions from Bacolod put up another valiant stand against the United Football League powerhouse for a 3-1 aggregate score.

Only needing a scoreless draw to the defend the title, the Negros Occidental representatives still left the outcome without a doubt, getting a late goal from substitute J. Baguioro to score a sweep of the two-legged series.

It was another heartbreaking finish for Global, the Leyte FA representative which suffered an early exit in the UFL Cup last month and wound up as bridesmaid in the UFL League earlier this year that forced the squad to relinquish the title.

However, Global, despite losing, 1-2, in the first leg last Thursday, only needed a 1-0 win to dethrone Ceres on away goals.

And the Dan Palami-owned squad took the fight to the defending champions early, conjuring numerous chances courtesy of national team standouts Angel Guirado, Mark Hartmann, Jeff Christiaens, and Sudanese striker Izzo El-Habib.

Instead, it was little-known Baguioro who came up with biggest play down stretch for the wards of Ali Go as he unlocked the Global defense seven minutes before second-half stoppage time.

Ceres even had a chance to score an early goal with a penalty kick that just hit the crossbar in the 31 minutes into the game.

spin

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Global 0-1 Ceres Fc , Ceres champions !

PFF Smart National Club Championship , Panaad Stadium in Bacolod

Cres Fc won first leg 2-1 against Global Fc

Second leg final




Global XI vs Ceres: Sadia (GK), Starosta (C), De Jong, Christiaens, Barbaso, Hartmann, MW Angeles, Altiche, Guirado, Bahadoran, Elhabib

Global substitutes: Macayan, Cocomas, Nayon, Pongos, Guisso, Sanchez
Ceres Fc : Casas , Tacusalme Camelo, Beloya,Yoon, Sim , Panhay , Oladipo ,Unabia, Treyes , Marasigan and Soriano

31 min Ceres miss a penalty kick

0-0 HT
72 mins Rufo Sanchez in , Ben Starosta out
83 mins 0-1 J Baguioro Ceres Fc !
0-1 FT

Ceres seeks to finish off Global FC in PFF-Smart National Club Championship

• From: Karlo Sacamos

CERES-La Salle seeks to finish off a trailing Global FC side as they battle for all the marbles in the Philippine Football Federation-Smart National Club Championship on Saturday at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

After gaining a head start with a 2-1 victory in the first leg last Thursday, the defending champions from Bacolod try to avoid a letup in the second leg as they hope for the same result against the United Football League powerhouse.

A scoreless draw is all Ceres needed in the 3 p.m. encounter to hoist its second successive trophy and solidify its status as the country’s top football club.

But Global, with a handful of national team members in its fold, is still firmly in the running to dethrone the defending champions as the Dan Palami-owned side only needs a 1-0 win to snatch away the title and cap the year on a bright note.

Such a scenario would knot the aggregate score at 2-2, forcing the away-goals rule to take effect that makes Angel Guirado’s “away” goal in the first leg equivalent to two goals.

Global was adjudged the “away” team in the first leg.

Apart from the Azkals in the roster, Rufo Sanchez, who has been banned for one year in the UFL, banners Global as he tries to take advantage of his chance to play outside the league.

On the other hand, moonlighting Global booter Joshua Beloya and Jayson Panhay, the goal scorers for Ceres in the first leg, tries to reprise their roles for coach Ali Go.

spin

Azkals news - 2014

Azkals news 2014


- A Saudi Arabia tournament against club sides in January is cancelled

- 4 nations tournament in Pakistan in February seem confirmed , they will be in Pakistan from Feb 20 to 28,  opponents except Pakistan is not confirmed yet

-  they are scheduled to play a friendy on FIFA match day March 5 , the only FIFA match day before AFC Challenge Cup starts in mid May

- AFC been visiting Maldives who is scheduled to host AFC Challenge Cup, Philippines is alternative host if AFC is not satisfied with Maldives preparations

Ceres moves a step closer of defending PFF-Smart National Club Championship crown

CERES-La Salle moved a step closer of sustaining supremacy in club football in the country as it survived Global FC, 2-1, in the first leg of the Philippine Football Federation-Smart National Club Championship Finals on Thursday at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

The defending champions from Bacolod leaned on a goal each from Joshua Beloya and Jason Panhay as they gained the morale-boosting victory over the United Football League powerhouse.

A scoreless draw in the second leg on Saturday at the same venue will be enough for Ceres to capture its second successive crown in the tournament that seeks to determine the top football club in the Philippines.

Cheered on by a noisy, partisan crowd, Panhay broke through the Global defense a minute before first-half stoppage time, when he scored on the counterattack to give his team the lead.

Angel Guirado equalized for Global nine minutes after the restart, slotting home a Rufo Sanchez cross near the penalty box.

But Beloya, who occasionally plays on loan for Global in the UFL, emerged the villain this time as he struck the winner eight minutes later.

Global has a chance to win the title if the Azkals-laden club can score a 1-0 victory in the second leg, courtesy of the away-goals rule, with the lone goal of Global in the first leg equivalent to two points.  

In the first leg, Ceres was designated as the home team, while Global was the away squad.

The away-goals rule, though, will only take effect if the aggregate score after the second leg ends up tied.

spin

Azkals notch new all-time high in world rankings at 127th

• From: Karlo Sacamos

THE Philippine men’s football team capped off another banner year with yet another achievement as it recorded a new all-time high in terms of world ranking.

The Azkals continued their rise to international relevance when they notched six places up to 127th in the latest International Football Federation (Fifa) rankings released Thursday.

The feat came after the Filipino booters retained the Philippine Peace Cup title two months ago and clinched a return trip to the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup main tournament by topping the qualifiers earlier this year.

The significant jump in the rankings by the Azkals, who hardly saw action in November and December, can be attributed to the tournament results of the past few months and those of the past four years.

The Azkals remain the No. 1 team in Southeast Asia, followed by Myanmar, which is three spots behind after moving 10 places up to 130th, and Vietnam, which also made a huge 14-place leap to 144th in the world.

spin

Air Force confirms participation in upcoming League

• From: Karlo Sacamos

PHILIPPINE Air Force on Thursday confirmed its participation in the upcoming UFL League kicking off on January 11, ending weeks of speculation over the team’s status after it weighed the possibility of taking a leave of absence.

“Sali kami,” Airmen coach Edzel Bracamonte told Spin.ph in a text message.

The Airmen earlier hinted on skipping the five-month league due to the basic military training intended for the newly enlisted Airmen that would’ve left the Armed Forces squad with a depleted roster.

But the said training, according to Bracamonte, has since been postponed, allowing them to keep an intact lineup led by skipper Ian Araneta, Jez Tonog, and rookie sensation Jimmy Vergara.

The Airmen are coming off a fairytale run in the season-opening UFL Cup where the only all-Filipino squad in the tournament toppled favored teams Kaya and Union Internacionale Manila in the knockout stage to reach the Final Four before losing to eventual bridesmaid Pachanga-DIliman.

The feat lessened the sorrow of finishing at the bottom of the 10-team standings in league play earlier this year that relegated them to Division 2.

But the team with two league titles and two Cup titles under their belt will now have to ply their trade in second division where they will meet fellow military club Navy and contenders UIM, Agila, and Cimarron.

“We’ll just see,” Bracamonte said. “You cannot underestimate teams in the second division.”

spin

PFF Smart National Club Championship- Finals , Ceres Fc win first leg 2-1 vs Global Fc

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Finals

First leg Thursday,3 pm at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod

Ceres Fc 2-1 Global Fc

Panhay, Beloya scored for Ceres, Guirado for Global

Second leg , Saturday , 3 pm at Panaad Stadium , Bacolod

FC Barcelona Escola Camp returns to the Philippines and opens today its second camp.

MANILA, Philippines (December 18, 2013) – FC Barcelona Escola Camp returns to the
Philippines and opens today its second camp. This is a five-day football camp from December 18
until December 22, 2013 at the world-class turf of Emperador Stadium at McKinley Hill, Taguig
City. Young footballers have another opportunity to train within the unique context provided by the
philosophy, methodology and values that define FC Barcelona.

On this momentous occasion, just as with the first FC Barcelona Escola camp held last April,
FCBEscola coaches, Jose Moratalla and Isaac Guerrero, continues with the development of
FCBEscola’s program in the Philippines.

“Philippine football’s resurgence and growth has proven to be a milestone. We are pleased that
FC Barcelona’s philosophy, training, and methodology will be passed on to more children as well
as local coaches,” said Michael Reyes, Co-Head Organizer of the FCB Escola Camp Philippines
and Team Socceroo FC’s Operations Director. “This is a great opportunity to our children and the
youth.”

more link

Global, Ceres destroy semis foes

Global FC and Ceres-La Salle FC destroyed their respective semifinal opponents to forge a title showdown in the Philippine Football Federation-SMART National Club Championships Tuesday at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

United Football League powerhouse Global, representing the Leyte Football Association, steamrolled Flame United FC of Cavite with a 9-nil aggregate win in the two-legged semifinals.

Reigning national club champion Ceres of Negros Occidental drubbed Benguet State University, 16-1, in their own semifinal series.

Before the semifinals, Global and Ceres also pulled off lopsided victories in their earlier matches before reaching the championship round.

Global was initially ruled out of the tournament after the PFF disqualified the Leyte FA for fielding the UFL squad in the tournament. But the club was later allowed to join the competition.

The tournament also provided an opportunity for Global to play star striker Rufo Sanchez, who received a one-year ban by the UFL following a dispute for his rights. He scored three goals during the squad’s blowout victory in the semifinals.

Ceres, led by national team member Joshua Beloya, earned a shot to defend its title after beating more favored UFL squads during its Cinderella run to the crown in the tournament’s last edition.

Global and Ceres will dispute the national club crown in the two-legged finals on Thursday and Saturday at the Panaad Stadium.

interaksyon

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Semifinals Second leg Tuesday

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Semifinals Second leg Tuesday

Panaad Stadium

1 pm : Benguet State University Fc ( Baguio-Benguet) 0-11 Ceres Fc (NOFA)

3 pm : Flame United Cherifer Fc (Cavite) 0-5 Global Fc (Leyte)

28 min 0-1 Izzeldin Ehabib
41 min 0-2 Ben Starosta
57 min 0-3 Angel Guirado
71 min 0-4 Rufo Sanchez
73 min 0-5 Rufo Sanchez

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Semifinals First leg Sunday

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Semifinals First leg Sunday

Panaad Stadium, Bacolod


1 pm Global Fc (Leyte) 4-0 Flame United Cherifer FC (Cavite)

GLOBAL FC XI vs Flame United: Sadia, Barbaso, De Jong, Starosta, Christiaens, MV Angeles, MW Angeles, Bahadoran, Hartmann, Guirado, Sanchez.

31 min 1-0 Rufo Sanchez
58 min 2-0 Angel Guirado
67 min 3-0 Mark Hartmann
70 min 4-0 Mark Hartmann


3 pm Ceres Fc 5-1 Benguet State University Fc (Baguio-Benguet)

7 min 1-0 J Baguioro
15 min 1-1 Rolly Basilio
25 min 2-1 J Baguioro
49 min 3-1 Okunaiya Oladipo
51 min 4-1 Jayson Panhay
85 min 5-1 Okunaiay Oladipo


Second leg of semifinal is played Tuesday

Baguio books last PFF-Smart semis berth

BAGUIO Football Association’s Benguet State U walloped Zamboanga FA’s Alia FC, 5-1, and got help from Global FC’s rout of Columbia FC to book the last ticket to the semifinals of the Philippine Football Federation-Smart National Club Championship at Bago City Sports Complex.

Alvina Aoas, Jr. and Kachelei Levy combined for all their team’s five goals, giving the Cordillera-based booters the No. 2 seed in Group A and a tough showdown with Group B No. 1 Ceres-La Salle Bacolod of host Negros Occidental FA, the reigning champion.

BSU actually wound up in a three-way logjam at second spot after the group stages with Palawan FC and Columbia FC with six match points each but the former emerged with the highest goal differential of -2 against the -4 and -7 by the latter two that was used to shatter the tiebreak.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/135455/baguio-books-last-pff-smart-semis-berth#ixzz2nTyMM2tm

YouTube : SEA Games Women - Vietnam 7-0 Philippines

Malditas just have no answer against Vietnam as Pinay booters bow out of contention

• From: Reuben Terrado

DEFENDING champion Vietnam blanked the Philippines, 7-0, to put an end to the Malditas’ bid of bagging a medal in the 27th Southeast Asian Games women’s football tournament in Mandalay, Myanmar.

The Malditas couldn’t muster a goal in the match against their powerhouse counterpart as they ended their campaign on a disappointing note.

Vietnam bagged the gold medal the last time women's football was held in the SEA Games in 2009.

The Filipina booters, who earlier lost to host Myanmar, 0-2, failed to meet up expectations after being the lone football team allowed to compete by the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission Task Force in the biennial meet.

The Under-23 Azkals men’s team and the futsal squads were not allowed to compete in the SEA Games following the Task Force’s criteria that only gold or potential gold winners will be allowed to see action in the event.

spin

Fifa to provide US$1M grant for rehab of football facilities destroyed by Yolanda

• From: Karlo Sacamos

ADD the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) to the long list of organizations that have promised to help in the wake of super typhoon Yolanda.

The world governing body for football has pledged to the Philippine Football Federation a special grant that could reach up to US$1 million in efforts to rebuild football infrastructure and facilities in areas affected by the catastrophic tropical storm that hit the country last month.

The Fifa communicated the good news to the PFF through a letter signed by Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke last December 9.

"We are deeply moved by this generous support of Fifa that shows their solidarity and sympathy with our nation. We are thankful to Fifa officials especially to president Sepp Blatter," PFF president Mariano 'Nonong' Araneta said.

The PFF is expected to send Fifa a detailed request in the next few weeks to determine how much exactly is needed for the rebuilding efforts.

"This is a big boost not only for football in the region, but also to Philippine football as a whole,” PFF general secretary Ed Gastanes said. “We are looking at rehabilitating and constructing football facilities in provinces severely hit by super typhoon Yolanda.”

spin

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Friday's matches

FINAL QUALIFYING ROUND

GROUP A

BAGO CITY SPORTS COMPLEX

MATCH DAY 5 (DECEMBER 13, 2013)

MATCH #15 1:00PM BAGUIO FA 5-1 ZAMBOANGA FA

15 min 1-0 Alvin Jr Aoas
18 min 2-0 Kachelie Levy
26 min 2-1 Jake Tulawe
37 min 3-1 Alvin Jr Aoas
3-1 HT
64 min 4-1 Kachelie Levy
79 min 5-1 Alvin Jr Aoas

MATCH #16 3:00PM DAVAO FA 0-8  LEYTE FA

12 min 1-0 Mark Hartmann
18 min 2-0 Rufo Sanchez
23 min 3-0 Angel Guirado
27 min 4-0Angel Guirado
4-0 HT
57 min 5-0 Rufo Sanchez
66 min 6-0 Jeffrey Christiaens
71 min 7-0 Marvin Angeles
88 min 8-0 Marwin Angeles

Malditas try to keep hopes alive as they take on AFF champion Vietnam

NAY PYI TAW – The Philippines marches back to battle, eager to redeem itself and claim the most important victory in the 27th Southeast Asian Games women's football competitions.

The Malditas clash with reigning Asean Football Federation champion Vietnam for a win that will improve their chances of advancing to the semifinals. Vietnam also won the 2009 SEA Games, but the 2011 meet in Indonesia did not include a women's tournament.

Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. on Friday at the Mandalar Thiri Stadium in Mandalay, a city nearly three hours away via land travel from this newly-established Burmese capital.

Despite parading a powerful roster beefed by several US-based standouts, the Malditas still failed to live up to their lofty billing as they succumbed to Myanmar, 0-2, in their first match.

Officials didn't come forward to admit the team's lapses. Instead, they pointed at the noisy home crowd and several questionable calls as main reasons for their downfall.

And against the Vietnamese – a powerful team that ranks 28th in the latest Fifa ranking –the Malditas could have a more difficult time.

"Vietnam plays more like Myanmar and Thailand," said Malditas' team manager Filbert Alquiros. "They have the same style and employ the same strategies. But I think it will be an even match. It all depends on the bounce of the ball come gametime."

The Malditas need to prevail over the Vietnamese to remain in contention. They, however, also have to pray that the Vietnamese lose to the Burmese in their game on Sunday to formally clinch one of the two semifinal slots in Group A.

Should the Malditas prevail, but Vietnam also wins over Myanmar, there will be a three-way tie to be broken by the quotient system.

"It's something beyond our control," Alquiros said. "We'll just do our best (against Vietnam) and hope for the best. The girls are in high spirits. Everybody’s raring to go."

spin

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Thursday's matches

FINAL QUALIFYING ROUND

GROUP A
BAGO CITY SPORTS COMPLEX


MATCH DAY 4 (DECEMBER 12, 2013)

MATCH #13 1:00 PM ZAMBOANGA FA 1-5 DAVAO FA

8 min 0-1 Jomar Acedo
44 min 0-2 Edwin Jr Giganto
65 min 0-3 Joven Benitez
83 min 1-3 Nassal Alawaddin
85 min 1-4 Jeric Tamay
88 min 1-5 Edwin Jr Giganto

MATCH #14 3:00PM PALAWAN FA 4-1 BAGUIO FA

37 min 1-0 Adornis Torres
51 min 2-0 Samuel jr Mendoza
72 min 3-0 Adornis Torres
75 min 4-0 Marole VI Bungay
80 min 4-1 Kachelei Levy

Ceres, Global trounce rivals, pace Smart nat’l football

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Ceres-La Salle of host Negros Occidental Football Association and Global FC of Leyte FA hammered out victories to seize the solo lead in their respective groups in the PFF-Smart National Club Championship in two separate venues in Bacolod and Bago City.
The back-to-back title-seeking Ceres booters needed just a three-goal first half and a solid defense in the second to beat Cavite FA’s Flame United Cherifer FC, 3-0, at the St. La Salle-Bacolod Gym and grab the solo lead in Group B with two victories.
Global, a United Football League powerhouse, dominated a listless Palawan FA, 11-0, as Fil-Brit Mark Hartmann struck for five goals and Fil-Spanish Angel Guirado scored three as the Global booters took charge in Group A at the Bago City Sports Complex.
After Joshua Beloya opened up the scoring right on the fourth minute and Cavite’s Cristituto’s own goal on the 13th, Jayson Panhay delivered on the 28th to give the host team a three-goal cushion that it held by holding the fort on the other end.
It was Panhay’s third goal and Beloya’s second after the duo combined for three in a 7-0 demolition of Bukidnon FA’s Del Monte FC the day before.
A day after unleashing a four-goal haul in an 8-1 thrashing of Baguio FA’s Benguet State U, Hartmann went on an attack mode again, scoring Global’s first four goals that Guirado followed with two straight to steer the team to a 6-0 lead at halftime.

Then Guirado opened up the second half with another goal and after Aaron Altiche followed it up with a rocket himself, Hartmann completed his spectacular day with a fifth goal that took the fight out of Palawan.
Super subs Izzeldin Elhabib of Sudan and Fil-German Jeffrey Christaiens accounted for Global’s other goals.
BSU bounced back from its harrowing opening day loss by crushing Davao FA’s Columbia FC, 4-0.
Del Monte FC likewise bounced back from a poor start by Naga-Camsur FA’s CBSUA FC, 6-3, on the strength of Jan Philipp Dalaota’s hat-trick.
Ahead by just a goal, 3-2, after the first half, Dalaota, Ade John Bordeos, who wound up with a double, and Michael Barola delivered the crushing blows to put down CBSUA, which was led by Jim Oliver’s brace.
At the end of the day, Global and Ceres paced their respective brackets with six match points apiece while Del Monte and BSU got on board at second with three match points apiece in this event bankrolled by Smart and sanctioned by the Phl Football Federation.

philstar