Limpag: Crazy Sanogo teaches Global a bitter lesson

Thursday, May 16, 2013

WHEN coach Brian Reid pointed to Ed Sacapaño to start warming in the first half of Global FC’s final match against Dordoi, a smattering of applause broke in the crowd, who witnessed how the errors of the bungling Mousa Sanogo led to back-to-back goals for the Kyrgystan champion.

Mike T. Limpag
Fair Play
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He supposedly played for the third division in France but I’ve seen third-choice keepers in high school who could hold on to the ball better.
But what made Sanogo’s stint memorable was that crazy stunt he pulled in the second half, when he dribbled up field and joined the attack in Dordoi’s box. Worse, he took all the time in the world getting back to his box, as if he was in for an afternoon stroll in the park, not a do-or-die game for the Filipino club champion.
That was when Ed got to play, and not a few say that he should have played from the first game, and that instead of a keeper, Global’s other foreign player should have been a striker. (Only two foreigners are allowed in the AFC President’s Cup.)
When Ed got in, the crowd applauded and that shows a lot. I think that was the first
time I saw a substitution for a keeper who wasn’t injured.
Of course, there are two lessons for Global FC here. One, not to tinker with the lineup a day before the tournament, and two, never trust the guy/gal again who recommended Sanogo. Blind auditions work for The Voice, but not for football clubs.
The other foreign players in the club, those who missed the President’s Cup because of the rule, are invested in the team, they’d give their all and not pull a crazy stunt.
For Sanogo, it was just a job. Nothing more. Perhaps, right now, he’s enjoying a drink and telling his friends, “You know one time, I slept drunk and the next thing I know I’m in the plane headed to Cebu!”
Cedelf Tupas was talking about the possibility of Sanogo being an impostor and he could be right. Boxing is rife with players like that, those who come with impressive credentials but turn out to be a waiter who can’t take a punch (Gerry Penalosa’s foe) or one who’s only a namesake of the real one (Boom-Boom Bautista’s foe).
I hope that’s the last time someone who’s good on paper gets the starting job over someone who’s been there with the team, doing the job.
It’s time, too, for the UFL to consider a cap on the foreign players in each club.
Take the case of Global, because of the rule, they had to fly in Juani Guirado from Spain, sign Jason de Jong and Ed Sacapano on loan.
Though it doesn’t have to be as harsh as the two-foreign player limit, a cap would be nice. And oh, make sure they don’t sign up the Sanogos.
(www.cebufootball.blogspot.com)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 16, 2013.

Phl football lags behind in int’l club meet

By Olmin Leyba

CEBU CITY, Philippines  – Hours after Global FC absorbed a stinging setback from Kyrgyz club Dordoi FC and bombed out of the AFC President’s Cup, the team joined its ardent supporters collectively known as “Global Force” for a post-tourney celebration.

It was, in no way, meant to overlook the numbing defeat Global had suffered and the sad realization that it’s far from belonging among the big boys of “emerging” Asia just yet. Rather, it’s about celebrating the historic appearance of a Pinoy club in the competition, and what this brings to Phl football.

“There’s the realization that we (still) have much to achieve, much to learn when it comes to international competitions for clubs, especially with the limitation of foreign players (to two per club),” said team owner Dan Palami.

Global ended up third in the four-nation Group B qualifiers, compiling three points on a 5-0 triumph over Yeedzin of Bhutan against back-to-back losses to KRL of Pakistan (0-2) and eventual group winner Dordoi (1-6). Dordoi and KRL took the group’s top two spots and advanced to the final round in September.

“For me, looking at the positive side of it, the biggest realization was that club football in the Phl is here to stay. With all the support we’ve been getting from Global Force in Cebu, Manila, Leyte, Iloilo and everywhere else, this is actually the first time that I’ve seen the culture of a club as they do it outside the Phl and how it can be (here). 

“And this is a good sign not only for Global FC but for all the clubs who have the desire, the vision to go international. They should continue aiming for that. Global opened the doors for an international club tournament here and I think this won’t be the last time we will be here and I’m sure the next time, we will do better,” he said.

Global botched its last chance to advance after squandering a 1-0 lead against a Dordoi side that benefited from the four-goal explosion of Mirlan Murzaev and Global’s shaky goalkeeping and defending.

“I don’t think we’re that far behind (in terms of competitive level). The scoreline might look like it was a lopsided match but we were actually in the thick of the game, except that we’re caught in the counters and that’s where we’re weak and also with second ball coming off from our back-four, that’s where we had problem,” Palami said.

“Having said that, while our defense wasn’t as strong as we wanted it to be, we were actually able to create good opportunities against teams we’re playing here. So that, for me, was positive going to the next tournament we’ll be joining,” he added.

Dordoi, according to the Global honcho, is a de facto Kyrgyzstan national team, having a bunch of national mainstays. KRL, for its part, was a finalist last year.

“It’s a pretty heavy group and nevertheless it allowed us to gauge ourselves and see where we are in the international level and I think from this tournament, there could only be big improvements for the club,” said Palami.

Global returns to the UFL and is raring to see action in its next international foray, the 2013 Singapore Cup, where they will play S-League side Warriors FC on June 1. 

Notes: Majority of the crowd at the Cebu City Sports Center chanted “Ed-sa, Ed-sa” in an effort to convince Global coach Brian Reid to send in Ed Sacapaño (on loan from Army) in place of Ivorian keeper Moussa Sanogo. The audience was displeased with the way the six-foot Sanogo manned the post, often going out of line and showing butter-fingers in collecting the ball. There was even once instance when he did the bizarre and joined the attack. Reid dispatched Sacapano at the 61st. According to Palami, Reid “had some qualms putting the 5-foot-9 Sacapaño against a team that’s on the average is taller than him.” “When you’re a keeper, certainly size has its advantage.” Well, that was not the case in that fateful match. Palami also admitted that they weren’t able to “properly scout” Sanogo, a late replacement to Global’s injured keeper Roland Sadia.

philstar

Global XI blows AFC bid

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CEBU CITY—The campaign of Filipino side Global in the AFC President’s Cup came to a devastating end Sunday night, but the reigning United Football League champions, proud and defiant, believed it will not be the last time they will be vying for honors at the continental stage.

Two-time champion Dordoi Bishkek dealt Global a humbling 6-1 defeat in their last Group B match at Cebu City Sports Center, sending the Kyrgyzstan side to the final round of the tournament in December along with KRL of Pakistan.

With only three points from three matches, Global—the first Filipino side to compete in the tournament—finished third and got the boot together with winless Yeedzin of Bhutan.

“This will not be the last time we will play here and the next time we play here, I think we will be so much better, having learned lessons from this tournament,” said Global owner Dan Palami.

Facing what practically was the Kyrgyzstan national side in Dordoi, which has 17 internationalists in their squad, Global did get off to a magical start with Carli de Murga firing home the opener from the edge of the area in the ninth minute.

Unlike in its 0-2 loss to KRL, Global looked much more threatening going forward with attackers quicker with their movements and incisive with their passing.

“I don’t think we are that far away from this level,” said Palami.

All the work on the attack went for naught for Global as Dordoi, aided by the shaky goalkeeping of Global recruit Moussa Sanogo, settled down and finished the match with all guns blazing.

Sanogo, an Ivorian keeper picked ahead by coach Brian Reid over Ed Sacapano in all three matches, was caught out of position several times and couldn’t cope with what should be routine catches in his area.

And as if his shortcomings in defending the post were not enough, Sanogo had the 4,500-strong crowd as well as his teammates in disbelief when he dribbled all the way to the final third in the second half, leaving his goal exposed. Sacapano replaced him minutes later.

By the time Sanogo had left, Global was already down 1-3.

“One thing I am sure of is that this is his last game for Global,” said Reid of Sanogo, who had solid credentials coming in but turned out to be a dud.

inquirer.net

Four-star Mirlan slams AFC President's Cup door on outclassed Global

By Karlo Sacamos

GLOBAL'S inaugural international foray came to a halt on Sunday night as it bowed to Dordoi Bishkek, 1-6, at the close of the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup group stage at the Cebu City Sports Complex.

The reigning United Football League champions, the first Philippine club to be invited in the continental competition featuring squads from emerging Asian football nations, failed to protect an early lead as they witnessed Kyrgyzstani star Murzaev Mirlan put on a clinic to the dismay of the partisan Filipino crowd.

Dordoi thus joined Pakistan’s KRL, which walloped Yeedzin, 8-0, earlier, as the two clubs to reach the finals in September after finishing the group stage with seven points apiece.

It was a heartbreaker for the Philippine side, which had been in a great position to clinch an early finals berth after scoring a 5-0 rout of Yeedzin in the tournament opener last Wednesday.

But after suffering two straight losses against perennial contenders, Global finished the tournament in third place with three points.

Eager to make the home crowd proud, Global started strong and was immediately rewarded nine minutes into the game when Carli de Murga found the back of the net in a play that started from a Jeffrey Christiaens corner.

But the celebration was short-lived as Mirlan retaliated with his own strike five minutes later after a miscommunication by Global defender Ben Starosta and goalkeeper Moussa Sanogo, who proved to be an unsteady presence the rest of the way as the squad’s last line of defense.

After he converted a penalty strike in the 25th, Mirlan scored two more goals in the second half to finish with four.

spin.ph

AFC President`s Cup in Cebu , Global lose 1-6 !

AFC President`s Cup in Cebu


KRL (Pakistan)  8-0 Yeezdin (Bhutan)


KRL won 8-0 and qualified for finals




Global Fc 1-6 Dordoi (Kyrgyzstan) 

Global FC XI vs Dordoi: Sanogo, Starosta, Bahadoran, De Murga, Reichelt, Guirado, MW Angeles, Christiaens, Beloya, Barbaso, De Jong

Can Global make it?

By Cheska D. Geli

Saturday, May 11, 2013

AFTER a sorry loss last Friday, Global FC will be in for a tough finale tonight as it takes on Dordoi FC for a spot in the final stage of the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup at the Cebu City Sports Center.
In the first game, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) FC of Pakistan will try to bag the top spot as it faces the winless Yeedzin FC.
Global is currently third in the group with 3 points after beating Yeedzin, 5-0, last Wednesday and a 2-0 loss to KRL last Friday. A win today against Dordoi, which leads the group on goal difference with four points, would see the United Football League champion make it as the second qualifier in the group even if KRL routs Yeedzin as expected.
If it beats Dordoi, Global would be at six points with two wins and a loss, which would be good enough for second place even with a win by KRL.
However, it’s going to be a tall order for the Dan Palami-owned squad as it will be taking on a Dordoi FC squad whose confidence has been boosted by its 9-0 win against Yeedzin last Friday. Global only managed five goals against the same team, while Dordoi held KRL to a 1-1 draw last Wednesday.
Global FC will also have to deal with Dordoi’s top striker Murzaev Mirlan, who banged in five of his team’s nine goals against Yeedzin.
Against KRL, Global struggled against the compact defense of the Pakistani club and Patrick Reichelt, Joshua Beloya and Misagh Bahadoran struggled to get their shots.
However, Global FC coach Brian Reid said they will still go all out today against Dordoi.
“We will still stick to our game plan,” said Reid.
Dordoi, which only needs a draw to advance, won’t change its preparations.
“It does not matter if they are the host because whether host or guest team, it will still be the same preparations,” said Dordoi head coach Sergey Dvoryankov.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 12, 2013.

Pakistani side KRL deals Global bid huge blow

By Karlo Sacamos


KRL spoiled Global’s bid to gain early entry to the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup final round, stunning the Filipinos with a 2-0 win in Day Two of the group stage on Friday night at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
The Pakistani side scored a goal apiece in either side of halftime to secure the win that gained for the squad a tie with the day’s earlier winner, Dordoi Bishkek, with four points.
Dordoi, Kyrgyzstan’s representative in the tournament featuring squads from emerging Asian football nations, has the lead on goal difference, though, after scoring a 9-0 win against Yeedzin earlier.
With the loss, the hosts slid to third place with three points.
Only the top two teams will clinch berths to the finals, leaving the Philippine side with the task of winning its final game on Sunday against Dordoi to advance.
"Not the result that we hoped for... Sorry for disappointing you guys. The road has just become more difficult, but far from insurmountable," Global team owner Dan Palami posted on his Twitter account.

spin

AFC President´s Cup in Philippines , Global lose to Pakistani team

Today

Dordoi (Kyrgyzstan) 9-0 Yeezdin (Bhutan)


Global Fc  0-2 KRL (Pakistan) , 7.30 pm

Sanogo, Starosta, Bahadoran, De Murga, Reichelt, Guirado, Wolf, Mw Angeles, Christiaens, Barbaso, De Jong.

Substitutes : Pascual, Ochoterena, Altiche, Sacapano, MV Angeles, Beloya, Maravilla, Dalman

update :

12 min 0-1 Memhmood (KRL )
29 min Christiaens (Global FC ) yellow card
31 min Reichelt (Global Fc ) yellow card
34 min Wolf out , Beloya in
45 mins De Jong (Global Fc) yellow card
0-1 HT
76 mins 0-2 KRL
84 mins De Jong out , Marvin Angeles in
84 mins Misagh out , Altiche in
0-2 FT

Pumped-up Global FC seeks big win vs Pakistan

By Olmin Leyba

CEBU CITY , Philippines – A fired-up Global FC of the Philippines seeks to close in on a spot in the AFC President’s Cup’s final round stage as it targets the full three points tonight against dangerous Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) of Pakistan in Day 2 of the Group B qualifiers here.
Global, the first Filipino to compete in the tourney for clubs from “emerging” Asian nations, hits the pitch of the Cebu City Sports Center at 7:30 p.m., determined to make a fitting followup to its 5-0 blanking of Yeedzin FC of Bhutan two nights before.
“That game against KRL will be very tough. It will be critical to our campaign. If we get the three points, that would actually give us a berth in final group stage,” said Global owner Dan Palami.
A second straight win will give Global six points with a guaranteed position in Top 2 of the group qualifiers and a corresponding ticket to the main tournament, regardless of the outcome of its last match against Dordoi on Sunday.
Energized by 2,500-strong supporters, Global started its maiden game like a well-oiled machine, creating numerous scoring opportunities and connecting on four of them inside the first 20 minutes. Although the relentless pressure and attack somehow slowed down in the final 45, Global’s “Boys in Yellow” had already made enough of a cushion to secure the triumph.
“We are very delighted to start the tournament in the right manner. To score five goals and keep a clean sheet is (something) I can’t imagine. (But) It’s only the first step and I hope we can recover for the next game,” said Global coach Brian Reid, who described his wards’ performance in the first 20-30 minutes as “probably the best I have seen.”


We only won one game and there are tough matches to come. Both KRL and Dordoi will be a tough test. Hopefully we get a good performance against KRL (tonight),” he added.
Palami said there were lessons to learn from their win over Yeedzin, which could actually have seen a more lopsided scoreline.
“It’s important we focus on the next game and that we play consistent. We have a very good first 30 minutes and then we somehow forgot it was a 90-minute game and that some of players relaxed. But overall, it was a good first match for us. We didn’t have the learning curve to contend with so we look forward to the next games against two strong teams,” Palami said.
KRL forced fancied Dordoi of Kyrgyzstan to a 1-1 draw in the opener, sending a warning to Global and the rest that it’s not to be stifled with.
“From the game earlier between KRL and Dordoi, they are two strong teams. KRL was the finalist of the latest President’s Cup competition. We should never underestimate them and from what I saw they were the better team in the second half against Dordoi,” Palami said.

philstar

YouTube : Global FC's 5th Goal vs Yeezdin FC

Yeedzin 0-5 Global

Cebu: Global FC impressed on the first ever AFC President’s Cup outing for a team from the Philippines on Wednesday when the UFL (United Football League) champions eased to a 5-0 victory over Bhutan’s Yeedzin.

Five players got their names on the scoresheet with the historic first goal from a Filipino team coming from Patrick Reichelt with just five minutes at the Cebu Sports Centre played before Martinez de Murga quickly followed up the Germany-born Philippines international winger’s seminal strike four minutes later.
Brian Reid’s side were in blistering form and on the quarter-of-the-hour mark Ben Starosta, an England-born former Poland U-20 international, made it 3-0 before Misagh Bahadoran, a Philippines national team and national futsal team player who has an Iranian father, added a fourth for the aptly-named Global five minutes later.
Yeedzin tightened up defensively following Global’s explosive start and after scoring four times in the first 20 minutes the Bhutanese champions restricted their Philippines’ counterparts to just a 64th minute Janver Angeles goal but by that stage the match was all but over as a contest.
The victory took Global to the top of the Group B standings after the first round of matches following a surprise 1-1 draw between KRL of Pakistan and six-time AFC President’s Cup finalists Dordoi.

afc.com

Five-star Global off to a flyer in President's Cup

By Karlo Sacamos


GLOBAL opened its Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup campaign on an impressive note, scoring a clinical 5-0 victory over Yeedzin to grab the early lead at the Cebu City Sports Complex.
Hardly looking like newbies in the international arena, the defending United Football League champions never looked back after establishing an early lead before an appreciative home crowd.
With KRL holding two-time champion Dordoi Bishkek to a 1-1 draw earlier, Global now sits atop the standings with three points.
A win for Global against KRL of Pakistan on Friday will assure the Philippine representatives one of the top two spots in Group B, eventually booking them a ticket to the finals in September.
National team members Patrick Reichelt, Carli de Murga, Misagh Bahadoran, Marwin Angeles all found the back of the net while Polish utility booter Ben Starosta rounded out the scoring for Global, which also drew notable showings from Jeffrey Christiaens and Jason de Jong.
Christiaens assisted on two goals, while De Jong stood out in the midfield.

spin 

Intense action on

By Cheska D. Geli

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

AN intense game opener is expected today in the launching of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup Group B stage with Powerhouse Dordoi FC of Kyrgyzstan taking on rising KRL FC of Pakistan at 4:30 p.m. followed by Yeedzin of Bhutan against host team Global FC, 7:30 p.m., at the Cebu City Sports Center.
In this tournament, Dordoi FC is considered as the team to beat with six final appearances in the tournament—two of which they won.
It was a finalist in the last 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2010 series and hold the title in the 2006 and 2007.
The team is confident coming into the tournament as it started preparing for this tournament since December.
“We follow a strict program that’s why the players’ spirits and expectations are also high and we will do our best to win the cup,” said Dordoi FC senior coach Sergey Dvoryankov.
The club is not a run off the mill team as 17 of its players are members of their national team including the coach.
Despite playing only one match together in the Kyrgyzstan league, the team’s
experience in the tournament and other major competitions still give them a a lofty billing.
“Our reputation is high that’s why we have to do our best,” said Dvoryankov.
This year, they will have to deal with last year’s finalists KRL FC of Pakistan, which is just as hungry for a title as Kyrgyzstan.
“We had a good camp and our preparation is okay. The players are motivated especially after playing in the final round for the first time last year,” said KRL FC head coach Tariq Lutfi.
Seven of its players are also in the national team.
Meanwhile, Yeedzin FC of Bhutan will be playing home team Global FC in their debut of the AFC President’s Cup.
Yeedzin FC, consisting of university students and office goers aged 16 to 28 is a young team with no professional players in their side but teamwork will be their key to all their matches.
“We didn’t get much time to prepare because some of our players are students from different schools, we couldn’t practice together, only one to two weeks,” said Yeedzin booter Yeshey Dorji. He however said the team has been improving every year.
The team considers the humidity to be a huge challenge as they are used to training below 15 degrees Celsius.
As for Global FC who is on its debut season, a good performance will be highlighted by home crowd support.
“We’ll just concentrate on giving a good performance and the players have come to play as a country and not only as a team,” said Global FC head coach Brian Reid.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 08, 2013.

Global starts AFC President’s Cup finals bid

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer


CEBU CITY—Making the AFC President’s Cup is a milestone in itself for Global. But with players known for pulling off surprising feats in big tournaments, Global likes its chances despite its status as a newcomer in the club equivalent of the AFC Challenge Cup where the national team has flourished in the past two years.
With nine Azkals who have big tournament experience bannering their campaign, Global hopes to achieve another first for Philippine football by qualifying for the finals.
The United Football League battle Bhutan’s Yeedzin at 7:30 p.m. at Cebu City Sports Complex here. Dordoi Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan, which has won the tournament twice, and KRL of Pakistan collide at 4:30 p.m.
The top two sides after a round robin play for the title in October.
Global has nine players who are also part of the national team, including starters Carli de Murga and Juani Guirado, goalkeeper Ed Sacapano and midfielders Patrick Reichelt, Misagh Bahadoran, Jeffrey Christiaens, Marwin Angeles, Jason de Jong and Denis Wolf.

Homecourt edge’

By Cheska D. Geli

Saturday, May 4, 2013

SCOTTISH head coach Brian Reid of Global FC relies on home crowd 
support to back the team in its maiden appearance in the Asian Football 
Confederation 
President’s Cup on May 8, 10 and 12 at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The coach and his team arrived in Cebu last Friday and were treated to a 
welcome dinner by the Cebu Football Association.

“The bigger the crowd, the more it will inspire the players. I hope that’s the 
case here,” said Reid, a former professional player himself.

The coach said they want a few days before the game to get used to the 
pitch and get afeel of the natural grass.

Global is used to playing on artificial turf in the United Football League 
in Manila.

Although this is already Reid’s second visit in Cebu, 
he still hasn’t seen the field at 
the Sports Center because his previous visit was for a 
Holy Week vacation.

“I was elated when I learned that Cebu will be hosting the President’s Cup.
 I heard that people in Cebu are very enthusiastic about football. It would help 
that a good number of people will support the team,” said Reid.

But the head coach admitted that he is challenged by the AFC regulation 
of allowingonly two foreign players in the lineup.

“It’s a tough decision for the coach to choose the players but at the end of 
the day, my job is to put up the best team,” he said.

He said the two foreign players will be midfielder Ben Starosta from England 
and Ivory Coast keeper Moussa Sagono.

The squad was supposed to play a friendly match against Cebu Queen City 
United but he called off the match, saying the squad has limited players and he 
can’t risk injuries.

The biggest test is we have a number of foreign players and we have to 
change that. Change is always a gamble and it’s never ideal but we have to make 
do with what we can, 
rise to the occasion and perform well,” said Reid.

Global FC will take on defending champion Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi FC, 
which has 17 national team players including the manager and the coach, 
Yeedezin FC of Bhutan and KRL C of Pakistan.

“We just have to believe in ourselves and use our home advantage. 
We need to get organized and disciplined,” said Reid.

Global FC has tapped Filipino international Juani Guirado to shore up its 
defense in the tournament, which starts Wednesday at the spruced up Cebu City 
Sports Center.

It will mark the first time that a Philippine club is competing in the tournament 
or teams from “emerging football nations in Asia” and Global hopes to make the 
most out of the 
chance with a creditable performance.

“Our President’s Cup campaign isn’t just about Global,” said Global owner 
Dan Palami. “It’s also a milestone for all football clubs in the Philippines – 
a door that opens Asia 
to Filipino clubs.”

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 05, 2013.

Locals take centerstage as Global arrives in Cebu for President's Cup quest

By Karlo Sacamos

A GLOBAL side bannered by local players begins its quest for international glory when it arrives in Cebu on Friday for the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup from May 8 to 12.

The defending United Football League champions, the first Philippine football club to take part in the tournament featuring squads from emerging Asian nations, concludes its buildup in the Queen City of the South with only two foreigners in the fold – as per tournament rules.

New recruit Moussa Sagono and Ben Starosta are set to be the foreign reinforcements of the squad, according to team owner Dan Palami.

Sagono, who saw action in the top flight of the Ivory Coast league, is expected to replace fellow Ivorian and injured first-choice goalkeeper Roland Sadia, while Pole Starosta is set to be part of the back four.

They will join locals Marwin and Marvin Angeles, Misagh Bahadoran, Jerry Barbaso, Jeffrey Christiaens, Carli de Murga, Niño Ochoterena, Patrick Reichelt, and Denis Wolf, as well as on loan compatriots Ed Sacapaño, Jason de Jong, and Joshua Beloya.

Reliable Filipino-Spanish defender Juani Guirado is also expected to fly in and supply another needed boost for the squad, which is drawn in Group B with two-time champion Dordoi Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan, as well as Yeedzin of Bhutan, and Pakistan’s KRL.

Global coach Brian Reid admitted he will be missing the services of the rest of the squad’s foreign standouts in Izzo El-Habib, Ange Guisso, Koray Gunduzoglu, skipper Yu Hoshide, Val Kama, Sadia, and Delon Patrick Yao.

“I’m not obviously satisfied with that (team’s makeup) because I’d like to take everybody,” the Scottish mentor said. “It’s disappointing because we’ve got some good foreign players and I feel sorry for them they can’t be a part (of the tournament).”

“It’s a difficult situation for myself as a coach to get the right ones to go. It’s never a perfect solution,” he added. “It’s trying to get the right balance and you hope to utilize players who can play two or three positions so we can be more flexible because we’re going in with a very limited-sized squad.”

spin

AFC President’s Cup tickets now on sale

By Cheska D. GeliSaturday, May 4, 2013

TICKETS for the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup next 
week are now available at any SM Ticket branches nationwide.

The Cebu Football Association announced this after getting the 
approval of the AFC Committee.

Same as last November’s friendly match against Singapore, 
the group will still follow the 
color-coded tickets just like in the Sinulog and tickets will be 
numbered for the comfort of the spectators.

The VIP tickets are priced at P1,000, the red, blue and white 
area tickets will cost P500, and the pink, yellow and green at P100.

One ticket is good for one game day, which will have two scheduled 
matches.

Dordoi FC of Kyrgyzstan and KRL FC of Pakistan will officially 
open thematches onMay 8 at the Cebu City Sports Center 
followed by host Global FC and Yeedzin FC of Bhutan.

CFA offers a season pass promo where any spectator 
who buys wo tickets will get the third ticket for free.

Global FC is set to play a friendly match against Cebu’s very 
own Queen City United today at CCSC.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 04, 2013

Limpag: New faces in Global FC

Saturday, May 4, 2013

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.

Mike T. Limpag

Fair Play

View profile

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.

Etoundi’s gone, replaced by Roland Sadia, 
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.

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.

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?

’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.

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.

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.

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?”

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.

The AFC President’s Cup is a rare opportunity for local fans to see
 international club football, so, grab that chance.

(www.cebufootball.blogspot.com)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 04, 2013.

Global FC arrives today

By Cheska D. Geli


Friday, May 3, 2013

UNITED Football League champion Global FC is set to arrive today for its initial foray in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup next week at the Cebu City Sports Center.

The team, which won the UFL title last year and currently sits at third place with 28 points going into the game against Green Archers United last night, will be in for a tough challenge.

The Dan Palami owned team will be taking on Dordoi FC of Kyrgyzstan, Yazdeen FC of Bhutan and KRL FC of Pakistan. The rest of the teams will arrive in Cebu this Sunday.

Dordoi FC is a six-time finalist and the defending champion, while Yazdeen FC and KRL FC are mainstays in the President’s Cup.

To boost its campaign, Global FC has acquired national team regulars Eduard Sacapano and Jason De Jong on loan from Philippine Army and Stallions FC, respectively.

They also signed Joshua Beloya and Turkish booter Koray Gunduzoglo.


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 03, 2013.

Cebu gets Asian Football Confederation’s nod

By Cheska D. Geli

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

THE Cebu Football Association (CFA) finally received the blessings of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Committee in the country’s debut hosting of an international inter-club tournament in Cebu City next week.
AFC representatives came here last week to check on the preparations and were impressed with how the CFA is handling everything.
The 2013 AFC President’s Cup Group B will be held at the Cebu City Sports Center on May 8, 10 and 12 with clubs Dordoi FC of Kyrgyzstan, Yeedzin of Bhutan, KRL FC of Pakistan and Global FC of the Philippines competing. Group A matches will be played in Nepal, while Group C will be in Cambodia.


CFA has been preparing for this hosting and tried to overcome the challenges that came with it.
With only a week left to polish all the preparations, CFA still has to think about the field, lights and tickets.
The successful turnout of the Face-off: Lions vs. Azkals friendly had helped the local body to gain the trust of AFC committee, which sent representatives to conduct an inspection two weeks ago.
The preparation hit a snag when a stage was set up and took half of the field that the CFA was trying to rehabilitate.
CFA officials said yesterday they were able to solve this.
It left holes in the field after it was removed and the group took the immediate move to plant new grass on each holes left by the frame that were dug deep down on the field.
The stadium lights powered by generator sets were also improved. The Philippine Football Federation sent 20 sets of 1,500-watt lights on top of the 20 sets that the CFA provided themselves.
“If Singapore had impressive lighting, this will be more impressive,” said CFA President Ricky Dakay.
Tickets will still be sold at SM Tickets and will still follow the Sinulog color format. Seated tickets are priced at P1,000 for the VIP, P500 for the red, blue and white areas and P100 for the pink, yellow and green or the general admissions area.
One ticket is good for one game day, which has two scheduled matches.
In offering the public with affordable ticket prices, they will have the season pass promo which is a buy two, take one offer.
The release dates for the tickets have not been announced yet as it waits for the go signal from the AFC.
Head for Security Nimrod Quiñones advised the spectators not to bring umbrellas, deadly weapons, bottled drinks and cannisters on game day for the safety of everyone.
Meanwhile, it will be a tough tournament for Global as it faces Dordoi and KRL, which made it to the final stage last year.
The two guest teams will open the single round robin matches on May 8 at 4:30 p.m. followed by Global FC and Yeedzin FC at 6:30 p.m.
On May 10, it will Dordoi FC against Yeedzin FC followed by Global FC and KRL FC and on May 12, it will Yeedzin FC FC taking on KRL FC and Global will challenged Dordoi FC.
Organizers would like to stress that unlike the previous friendly matches they hosted, this is a tournmaent which means all games will be bearing and all match-ups will be crucial.
“The key to the success of this tournament depends on the full support of the Cebu Football community,” said Ricky Dakay.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 01, 2013.