Takashi Odawara leaves United City, signs with Maldives club

 By

Lorenzo del Carmen

Japanese midfielder Takasha Odawara has become the latest athlete to leave reigning Philippines Football League champions, United City.

The pro club announced Saturday that the 28-year-old has departed the team for Maziya Sports & Recreation Club.

“UCFC is announcing the departure of Takashi Odawara and would like to thank him for his contributions in helping us win the 2020 PFL Championship,” read the statement.

“We will miss you but wish you and your family well with your new club, Maziya S&RC from the Dhivehi Premier League in Maldives.”

Odawara first landed on Philippine shores back in 2015 when he signed with JP Voltes to compete in the defunct United Football League. Following his stint with JPV, he then moved to Davao Aguilas in 2018.

His most successful time in local football, though, came a year later as he transferred to Ceres-Negros, with whom he won the 2019 PFL and Copa Paulino Alcantara titles.

With Ceres-Negros changing its identity to United City following the takeover of MMC Sportz Marketing LLC from longtime benefactor Leo Rey Yanson, Odawara stayed with the new management and was part of the squad that won the 2020 PFL crown during its bubble tournament at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.

This development is another blow to United City as it gears up to compete in the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage this April where they will be up against China’s Beijing Guoan, Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale and the winner between South Korea’s Daegu FC and Thailand’s Chiangrai United.

Also leaving the team were Robert Lopez Mendy (who signed with Preah Khan Reach), Manny Ott (Melaka United), Dennis Villanueva (Nakhon Ratchasima), and OJ Porteria (Ratchaburi).

Stephan Schrock has yet to announce a decision on his future.

https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/takashi-odawara-leaves-united-city-signs-with-maldives-club/202323

Azkals manager Scott Cooper given contract extension by PFF

 by REUBEN TERRADO

SCOTT Cooper has agreed to a contract extension with the Philippine Azkals following an agreement with the Philippine Football Federation.

Terms were not disclosed but the Azkals have big plans with Cooper in charge as the country eyes a return trip to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

Cooper has been with the Azkals for the last two years as the senior advisor, but took the head coaching position during the qualifiers for the 2022 Fifa World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

“I think the team has improved under him and we look forward to him taking the team to another level,” said PFF president Mariano ‘Nonong’ Araneta.

The Azkals are in third place in Group A behind Syria and China in the qualification table for the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup. The Philippines had a scoreless draw with China and a 0-1 defeat to Syria last year.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said the bigger goal for the squad is coming up with a strong bid to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

“We trust that coach Scott can take the team into where we want it to be,” said Palami. “It is just unfortunate that the COVID-19 pandemic stopped our momentum, but we have set what we feel our realistic goals for the team in the future.”

Despite the pandemic, the Englishman, who had notable stints as manager for clubs in Thailand and Indonesia, has been busy reaching out to the national team players.

Cooper has also been keeping an eye on future talents, with the launch of the Azkals Development Team. Jarvey Gayoso, Mar Diano, and Lance Ocampo are among the players making a mark with the ADT.

“When I first came here, I saw the massive potential of the Azkals,” said Cooper. “During this pandemic, we’ve been setting goals and putting plans in place to achieve those goals. I can honestly say that we can still get better and I am committed to lead this team as it continues to make its mark in Asian and world football.”

https://www.spin.ph/football/fifa/scott-cooper-agrees-to-contract-extension-with-philippine-azkals-a795-20200922

2 teams to join PFL

 

By

 Ian Suyu

Two new teams are on the verge of joining the Philippine Football League (PFL) in its fifth season in May.

PFL commissioner Coco Torre confirmed that Loyola FC and Laos FC are currently in the process of working on their license to operate as a team and compete in the country’s top-flight football league this year.

“Two teams have already sent their letter of intention — Loyola and Laos. Actually, Laos is already fixing its licensure requirements,” Torre said.

“We have also scheduled a meeting with Loyola next week. Of course, we want to have a longer commitment.”

Loyola FC is no longer considered as a new face in the local circuit after competing in the United Football League (UFL) in the past.

In fact, it is one of the founding clubs of the PFL in 2017, but left the league the following year.

Laos FC, on the other hand, is also no stranger to local football as it saw action in the UFL Division 2 in 2015.

But due to the success of the bubble season at the Philippine Football Center in Carmona, Cavite last October, the league drew significant attention from sponsors and potential team owners.

Last year, the PFL welcomed the application of Maharlika Manila FC of former national team star Anton del Rosario as well as the Azkals Development Team of noted football manager Dan Palami.

With the looming participation of the Loyola FC and Laos FC, Torres said he sees a major boost to their stability as one of the professional leagues in the country.

“What’s great is that even during this pandemic, we still see progress and interest from many teams. We will be seeing a very stable and growing league,” Torre said.

“We have to be patient in adding teams because we are still in this time of uncertainty.”

https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2021/02/12/2-teams-to-join-pfl/amp/?__twitter_impression=true&fbclid=IwAR35xgoVi5B1qChefNr05AGgK9zU5SC1438eyRymVIIpASLghHNIJdKzRE4

Fans to Expect Changes to Kaya’s Lineup this Offseason

 Kaya FC-Iloilo General Manager Paul Tolentino hinted at a roster shake up ahead of the fast approaching start of the 2021 season.

“There will be a couple [of] changes. Who they are and what they are, we’re still working on right now,” he said. “We still have a decent core of our players that will stick around. In the next few weeks, maybe months, we’ll be able to share little by little who these new players are going to be and which players are going to be staying around as well.”

Having only played eight matches in the entirety of 2020, Kaya are eager to return to a more busy schedule. The team went undefeated in all competitions under Yu Hoshide’s guidance, but narrowly missed out on a first Philippines Football League Title. Although there was no silverware at the end of his first year in charge, the Japanese coach’s bold style of play yielded enough promising moments to suggest that with more time, the team could turn a new and exciting corner.

With the club’s first taste of Champions League football set for April 7, when they take on Australia’s Brisbane Roar in the Preliminary Round, the players to be signed and retained will be participating in Kaya’s first ever run in Asia’s premier competition.

“It’s always been the goal and the target since I took the Kaya job to qualify for the AFC Champions League,” said Tolentino “I’m really excited for the guys. I want them to get a taste of that level of competition and I feel confident that our guys will compete to the best of their ability and give Brisbane Roar a real challenge.”

https://www.kayafc.com/news/fans-to-expect-changes-to-kayas-lineup-this-offseason/?fbclid=IwAR1ieThK8oEDsAzJK0ASaeYkiF61D3cUSPXucU0jo5IYUkBogeGyW8TmN84