Philippines Under-23 to face Singapore Under-23 in charity game

The Philippines Under-23 will face Singapore Under-23 on Sunday, December 1 at Hougang Stadium in what is considered as a charity game for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda that damaged most of Central Philippines earlier this month.

"It's certainly for a good cause, all the proceeds will go to the Typhoon victims," said Coach Brian Reid. "That is first and foremost, the most important."

This will be the second time that the Philippines will face Singapore in an Under-23 match with the first meeting, a 1-0 win for the Lions last June.

With only the second international friendly for the Under-23 side, Reid still wants his players to represent their country.

"As a football game, you want to represent your country properly. It's the most important thing."

Despite unable to compete in the 2013 South East Asian Games in Myanmar, Reid notes that this will be a good springboard for the team ahead for future competitions.

"When you represent your country, you want to perform at a good level in preparation for the next competitions," said Reid.

Philippines U23 Squad:
GK: O'Donnell, Pascual
DF: Aguinaldo, Aguisanda, Segunial, Octavio
MF: Uy, Marasigan, De Jong, Calvo, Hartmann, MV Angeles
FW: Porteria, Pusing

Singapore U23 Squad:
GK: Mahbud, Khali, Iskandar, Buhari
DF: Hamzah, Yunos, Mohana, Sujad, Hameed, Hudzaifi, Baharudin, Rahman
MF: Kumar, Quak, Harun, Rahman, Arifin, Abdullah, Shafiq, Nazari, Ng
FW: Suhaimi, Ramli, Zainal, Ayob, Farhan, Ghani, Hussain

azkalsfootballteam.com

Azkals battle S’pore side in charity tiff

By Olmin Leyba

MANILA, Philippines - Singapore will provide the Philippine Under-23 football team a venue to strut its stuff in place of its missed stint in the 27th Southeast Asian Games as the Lions organize an international friendly to be held for the benefit of victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

The SEAG-bound Singapore U-23 Young Lions will host the “dormant” U23 Azkals on Sunday, 5 p.m., at Hougang Stadium in Singapore.

According to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), proceeds of ticket sales (SG $20 for admission seats and SG $100 for VIP seats) will be turned over to the Singapore Red Cross to aid its relief efforts following the monster storm that hit the Philippines.. Donation boxes will also be placed in the Stadium as part of the fund-raiser.

“We are deeply saddened by the tragedy that has struck the Philippines, and the FAS would like to help with the relief efforts in whichever way we can,” FAS president Zainudin Nordin said.

“Sports is a strong unifying force and we hope that all our fans would come together as One Singapore not only to show our support for the Under-23 Team, but more importantly to show our solidarity with our neighbors in times of distress. Your generous donations will go a long way in helping the victims re-build their lives,” he added.

Singapore U23 is in the final stages of its preparations for the SEAG. On the other hand, the U23 Azkals are stuck in limbo after failing to get the clearance from the Philippine Olympic Committee to compete in Myanmar. The Pinoy booters had only played one previous international match, a June friendly against the Young Lions in Singapore, which ended in a 1-0 win for the Singaporeans.

philstar

U-23 Azkals to play Singapore in charity friendly for Yolanda victims

• From: Karlo Sacamos

The Philippine Under-23 men’s football team is set to gain valuable international exposure for a good cause.
Unable to get to green light to represent the country in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games, the U-23 team will instead play their Singaporean counterparts in a charity friendly on December 1 in the opponents’ turf for the benefit of the victims of super-typhoon Yolanda.
Philippine Football Federation communications head Ebong Joson confirmed the news, although he has yet to say where exactly the proceeds will go.
Global coach Brian Reid will call the shots for the national team, which is expected to have standouts Amani Aguinaldo, Marwin Angeles, Jeff Christiaens, Jason de Jong, Patrick Deyto, Mark Hartmann, and OJ Porteria, among others, in the fold.
The U-23 Azkals last met the U-23 Lions last June when they surrendered a fighting 0-1 decision at the Hougang Stadium.

spin.ph

Azkals included by mistake

By Peter Atencio

Because of a snafu in communication between the two countries, organizers in Myanmar have included the Philippine Azkals’ under-23 men’s football team in the draw of lots of the 27th Southeast Asian Games men’s football tournament.

Chef de mission Jeff Tamayo said this after finding out about the results of the draw in Naypyitaw.

The inclusion of the Philippines in the draw has generated varied reactions from fans online and through social media and twitter.

“Nag-update na kami sa kanila na hindi kasali ang Philippines sa men’s football. But, their response has been slow when it comes to integrating information from participating countries,” remarked Tamayo.

The Azkals have been drawn with defending champions Malaysia in Group A. Also in the same bracket are Vietnam, Brunei and Laos

But according to organizers in a report published in Goal.com, the Azkals have been included in the initial list of participants by number.

Host Myanmar has been drawn into Group ,B together with Thailand, Indonesia, Timor Leste and Cambodia.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta learned of the draw and the confusion regarding the Azkals’ non-participation yesterday.

Manila Standard Today

2013 SEA Games - Women`s draw

BREAKING NEWS: the SEA Games Women's football draw is out...

Group A: Myanmar,Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam

Group B: Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Timor Leste

SEA GAMES 2013: Philippines in group A !

NAYPYITAW (6 Nov 2013) – Hosts Myanmar are in Group B of the men’s football at the SEA Games 2013 following the official draw of the event this morning in Naypyitaw.
The other teams in Group B which will play all their matches at the Youth Training Centre in Yangon are Thailand, Indonesia, Timor Leste and Cambodia.
Two-times champion Malaysia are in Group A where they will be up against p Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines and Laos.

SEA GAMES 2013
MEN’S FOOTBALL

GROUP A - Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, Laos
GROUP B - Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Timor Leste, Cambodia


aseanfootball

PFF president fears sponsors' pullout after unkind SEAG cut for U-23 Azkals

THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF) fears it will lose some of its private-sector sponsors after the national Under-23 men’s team failed to get the green light from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in its bid to represent the country in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games.

Despite its willingness to spend for the whole trip of both the men’s team as well as the women’s team – which made the SEA Games cut, the PFF’s request was turned down by the POC which cited the much-criticized criteria that the U-23 Azkals are not gold-medal contenders in the Myanmar Games.

“Instead of giving incentives to associations that have sponsors, I think it’s a 'decentive,'" PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said.

The POC, according to Araneta, explained that it was just trying to be fair to other national sports associations that have no sponsors to fund their team's trips.

But in so doing, the POC has done a disservice to NSAs which have the funds to send their teams to Myanmar, Araneta pointed out.

“Sabi nila kawawa naman daw yung (NSAs na) walang sponsors. Ang mangyayari ngayon, kawawa na rin kami kasi we will lose, for sure, some of our sponsors like Suzuki,” Araneta said.  

The Japanese car brand has bankrolled the last two editions of PFF’s national U-23 tournament, spending P11 million, according to Araneta, in the last staging alone earlier this year.

“I won’t be surprised if they won’t sponsor us anymore. Kasi bakit pa? Wala namang incentive to put up a team for the Under-23, so why put up a tournament for the Under-23?”

“If that’s the sports officials’ intention — to even the playing field — then they have been successful in achieving this,” Araneta added sarcastically.

Araneta said one of the PFF’s sponsors was, in fact, SEA Games host Myanmar which offered to shoulder the Philippine team's expenses if it won’t get any funding from the country.

The PFF's bid to send a team to the SEA Games, according to Araneta, was even backed by Asean Football Federation president Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah of Malaysia who wrote a letter earlier this month to POC president Peping Cojuangco to appeal the national side’s inclusion in Myanmar.

Araneta said the Sultan was instrumental in the AFF’s US$100,000 donation to the victims of Typhoon Pablo last February.

“Mabuti pa nga sila na taga-labas nakakaintindi.”

spin

CASE CLOSED : U23 AZKALS AND THE 2013 SEA GAMES

POC-PSC Task Force SEA Games has officially removed U23 Azkals from the Philippine delegation to the 2013 SEA Games to be held in Myanmar.

 The decision of the task force is highly commendable. It shows that performance truly trumps influence. Despite the numerous appeals of PFF and the write-ups of Azkals-friendly sports writers, the dismal performance of the squad in recent years created the greatest impact among the members of the task force. Thus, the decision not to include the squad in the regional tournament.

What PFF and some fans refuse to see and acknowledge is the shame that the U23 Azkals brought to the country in the last SEA Games. Aside from finishing dead-last, the U23 Azkals gave considerable shame to the country with their off-the-pitch behavior. For the first time in Philippine sports history, a team captain of a national squad abandoned his team in the middle of an international tournament. Several members of the team too engaged in behavior so unbecoming of national athletes. Hotel personnel, POC and PSC officials only know too well what some of the players did during the last SEA Games.

While I am for the development of football in the country, I too am particular with the leaders and players behind the sport. It is probably time to determine whether these leaders or players truly deserve the country's support.

The City Buzz

Athletes on SEA Games bubble pass initial screening

by Karlo Sacamos

THE teams in limbo seem to have moved a step closer to heaven.
The Southeast Asian Games Task Force on Thursday said no players or teams were subtracted from the initial list of “entry by name” recommended to Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia in a meeting on Wednesday.
“Wala,” SEA Games delegation chef de mission Jeff Tamayo told Spin.ph over the phone late Thursday. “(But) it’s going to be a lean and mean machine na potential gold-medal (getters). Sinisigurado rin natin na hindi tayo malalaglag.”
Tamayo said the real “judgment day” for teams and athletes on the bubble - among them the Under-23 Azkals and the women's football team - is on November 1, when the task force holds a meeting to determine the final lineup to the regional biennial competition.
The meeting on Wednesday was basically about updating the country’s sports leaders on the preparations of the squads, particularly the ongoing medical and physical conditioning tests.
“We’re protecting the games, meaning we’re doing all we can to help the athletes (in their preparations),” Tamayo said.
“If they cannot pass it, I’m sorry, sabi niya (Cojuangco),” he added.
Tamayo said they plan to hold these types of meetings “regularly” now as the SEA Games draws nearer.
Tamayo is set to fly to Myanmar on Friday for a meeting with fellow heads of delegation.

spin

Under-23 Azkals, Malditas included in initial SEA Games list, says PH Chef De Mission

By Karlo Sacamos

THE Philippine Southeast Asian Games Task Force on Monday confirmed it has submitted the registration and accreditation documents of both the Under-23 men’s and women’s football teams to the organizing committee in Myanmar.
But SEA Games Chief of Mission Jeff Tamayo clarified their inclusions are “not yet” final, pending a final deliberation before the deadline of submission of the final list of entry on November 15.
The deadline of submission of registration and accreditation forms was on Sunday.
Tamayo said the men and women teams were part of the initial “entry by name” list it submitted.
“Initial lang ‘to. But once pinasok sa entry by name, you cannot add anymore. But you can subtract,” Tamayo told Spin.ph over the phone.
“Nakapasok sila. Pinasok natin,” Tamayo said of the football teams. “But the Task Force, we’re also watching on the teams’ performance in the next few months.”
Tamayo said the final decision on how big the contingent will be include those of Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia and Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco.
“But yung mga potential gold (winners) and `yung mga pwedeng i-reconsider, nandyan na yan (sa list). Submitted lahat sa entry be names.”

spin.ph

PFF holds breath as Under-23 Azkals inch closer to making SEAG-bound team

By Karlo Sacamos

IT seems the Under-23 Azkals have one foot in the door regarding their bid to become part of the Philippine delegation to the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.

The Philippine Football Federation confirmed that the task force screening the members of the PH delegation has accepted the registration and accreditation documents for both the men’s and the women’s team submitted by the PFF in a meeting last September 5.

But PFF general secretary Edwin Gastanes said the acceptance was not a guarantee of inclusion of the U-23 Azkals, who will be led by Mark Hartmann and Marwin Angeles and have been steadfast in training despite being under a cloud of uncertainty.

The deadline of submission of documents - sports entry by name and application for accreditation – to the Philippine Olympic Committee was last Friday.

“We have submitted the forms, and the task force has received the forms. But any announcement should come from the task force,” Gastanes told Spin.ph over the phone.

Gastanes hopes to hear from the task force by September 15, the deadline of submission of documents to the SEA Games Organizing Committee in Myanmar.

“The magic date is September 15,” Gastanes said. “I will not hazard the idea that accepted na yung U-23 because that should be announced by the POC and anything can still happen before the submission date.” 

spin.ph

No conflict expected between UFL clubs and Philippine U-23 Azkals

Karlo Sacamos

EXPECT no conflict between clubs of United Football League and the Philippine Under-23 men’s football team as far players are concerned in the inaugural preseason tournament that kicks off on Saturday at the Emperador Stadium in Mckinley Hill.

Although UFL is not mandating it, the country’s premier football league is strongly encouraging clubs to allow its players who are also part of the U-23 team to play for the national squad that’s preparing for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.

“The recommendation from the UFL is that teams will have to release their players to the U-23 team except when they play against each other,” UFL board member Monchu Garcia said on Friday in the press launch of the preseason. “After all, it is a UFL competition.”

The U-23 Azkals, which serves as the guest squad in the month-long tournament ahead of the UFL Cup, is bracketed in Group C, along with Stallion, Kaya, Forza, and Philippine Navy, teams that have few standouts in the national squad.

Global’s Mark Hartmann confirmed he will play for the U-23 Azkals.

One player, though, in Kaya’s OJ Porteria could miss some games for the U-23 team in the group stage where the striker is set to play for his mother club.

Garcia acts as team manager of Green Archers United, where U-23 standouts Patrick Deyto, Boyboy Fernandez, and Ronnie Aguisanda ply their trade.

The three Archers will play for both the U-23 Azkals and the Archers, until further assessment in case they meet in the later stages.

“We’ll have to evaluate the schedule then,” Garcia said.

spin.ph

Malditas coach not losing hope on Under-23 Azkals' inclusion in SEAG team

By Karlo Sacamos

THE Philippine women’s football team’s recent inclusion in the country’s Southeast Asian Games delegation is a welcome development to all Pinoy football advocates.

Understandably, it can be more fulfilling if the men’s counterparts are allowed to join.

That’s why Malditas coach Ernie Nierras is not losing hope on the inclusion of the 23-Under Azkals in the downsized contingent bound for the biennial meet.

“Syempre gusto rin naming makapasok ang Under-23 because they are very strong,” Nierras said in a chat with Spin.ph on Tuesday after the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

While the 23-Under Azkals are still waiting for the go-signal from the task force, Nierras can help the squad in his own way.

Reigning United Football League champion Stallion, which Nierras also handles, is among the squads that the 23-Under Azkals will face in the inaugural UFL preseason tournament that unfolds on Saturday at the Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill.

“Hopefully makatulong kami sa development nila,” Nierras said.

The Under-23 Azkals were invited by the UFL as a guest team in the month-long competition, where they are bracketed in Group C with Kaya, Stallion, and Division 2 sides Forza and Philippine Navy.

Global FC leads the cast in Group A, which also has Green Archers United and Division 2 squads Union Internacionale Manila, Laos, and Manila All-Japan.

Group B will be composed of Loyola Meralco, Nomads, Army, and Division 2 teams Cimarron and Dolphins United.

The squads face their group-mates in a single-round format with the top two sides advancing to the next round where they will again be separated into three groups in another round-robin competition. The top two squads then move on to the semifinals, with the winners of the knockout matches facing each other in the finals.

spin.ph

Men’s Football left out, but still hoping

By Nick Giongco and Jonas Terrado

Published: August 30, 2013

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is still not convinced that football’s under-23 men’s team is good enough for the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar in December after the team was left out in the list of competitors for the biennial meet.
POC chairman Tom Carrasco said yesterday that while the POC has approved the participation of the women’s football team also known as the Malditas, their men’s counterparts are on the outside looking in.
“We will look at the composition of their lineup,” said Carrasco, who expects to get an idea of what the roster might look like when the POC meets with a big group of national sports association heads next week.
The POC has so far approved the inclusion of 152 athletes and is on standby whether an additional 100-plus will also be taken in pending the results of their performances in various overseas meets in the coming months.
Myanmar has given all countries until the second week of November to make changes to their respective lineups although the 10-member nations have been requested to come up with their entry-by-name lineup by the second week of September.
The Philippine Football Federation, hoping to boost its team’s chances, had offered to pay for the trip. But the POC appears to be resolute in its policy of sending only medal hopefuls to the meet.
“The only thing that we want is an accreditation (to play in the SEAG),” said PFF president Mariano Araneta, adding that Myanmar is looking forward to having a Philippine men’s team in the event’s most popular sports.
Despite the uncertainty of participation, Araneta said the under-23 team continues its prepration and buildup.
It is slated to play as a guest team in the UFL Cup and will also train in Japan and Bahrain.
In SEAG football, only players 23 years old and under are allowed to play, disqualifying the Azkals, the country’s very competitive football team.
The POC sees no chance for the Philippine team against Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, countries that regularly maintain an active under-23 squad.
But the PFF believes that even without its main men on the lineup, the Azkals- under-23 can bang with them as it has drastically improved the past two years with the infusion of new and fresh talent from the United Football League and collegiate clubs.


Manila Bulletin

Azkals U23 2-2 PachangaDiliman

Azkals U23 drew PachangaDiliman 2-2 in a friendly today

Renewed optimism for football teams after talk with SEAG Task Force

By Karlo Sacamos

THE Philippine Football Federation has expressed optimism that the Under-23 men’s and women’s football teams will finally be included in the country’s delegation to the upcoming Southeast Asian Games following its meeting with the SEA Games task force on Wednesday.
PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta and general secretary Edwin Gastanes came out with a “light heart” after presenting their arguments before the task force led by Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Tom Carrasco and the delegation’s chief of mission Jeff Tamayo.
“I think as a whole, the meeting went well. They asked some questions and we were able to answer them,” Gastanes told Spin.ph in a phone conversation. “We will await the decision, but if only for the fact that we were given the opportunity to present our arguments before them is a good sign for us.”
Gastanes expects the task force to come up with a recommendation to the POC in one week, although he said the prospects look dim for the futsal teams as they were not part of the “entry by number” submitted by the task force to the organizing committee in Myanmar for the 27th edition of the regional biennial meet.
The deadline of submission of “entry by names” is September 6, according to Gastanes.
Gastanes emphasized that the teams were formed earlier than usual. Unlike two years ago when the teams were formed only three months before the tournament, the teams were formed eight months before this year, giving the coaching staff sufficient time to prepare.
Also asked about recent track record of the teams, the PFF gave the task force their roster and playing history, noting that “many members of the A-team that became champion in last year’s Peace Cup, 10 of them, are still in the U-23.”
Gastanes said dragonboat was the next national sports association that presented its cause to the task force in one of the meeting rooms of the Philippine Sports Commission at the Rizal Memorial Complex.

spin.ph

POC keeps door open on PFF’s SEA Games bid

By Nick Giongco

Published: July 19, 2013

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) said the under-23 team 
that the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) plans to form for the 
2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar might end up beingbeaten 
black and blue by the opposition, but he is not totally discounting the
possibility that a team might be sent.
“Eh kung biglang na-murder?” said POC president Jose
 ‘Peping’ Cojuangco yesterday, hinting of the strong possibility 
of it being overpowered by the regional powerhouses,
 countries that regularly maintain a solid 
under-23 team specifically meant for the SEAG wars.
Cojuangco said he doesn’t like to see football suffering the 
same fate of the much-ballyhooed Philippine Volcanoes 
rugby team, which got massacred in their campaign abroad.
“I wonder who’s going to get inspired,” said Cojuangco, 
sounding off that while he recognizes football’s rise, 
he doesn’t want the public to 
end up broken-hearted.
“It’s not because we haven’t decided yet doesn’t mean 
they’re not going,” said Cojuangco.
Cojuangco said the PFF has to convince the SEAG 
Task Force that it can 
bring home the gold medal by detailing its chances against 
their rivals while brushing off the idea that this year’s SEAG
 will be an opportunity to gain experience.
“Kung pupunta tayo para lamang mag-practice, malaking 
kalokohan yan.”
The last time the PFF sent an under-23 team to the SEAG, 
it failed to get past the elimination round, something 
the POC and PSC vividly remember.
“Football is not yet out. But they have to prove they 
have a chance of winning the gold. I want to see who 
they’re going up against. 
How can you win when you don’t know who you’d be playing 
against?”
POC first vice-president Joey Romasanta said it would 
be an uphill 
climb for the PFF because the “under-23 doesn’t 
have a track to speak of.”
Romasanta had earlier urged the PFF to find a SEAG-caliber 
tournament overseas where it can strut its stuff.
Besides, the deadline for the submission of names for the 
SEAG won’t happen until late October.

Manila Bulletin

Missing SEA Games will be a "disaster" for U-23 Azkals

Jing Jamlang, special to InterAKTV

“It’ll be a disaster if we don’t let these guys go to the SEA Games.”

UFL All-Stars coach Ernie Nierras kept his words short and sweet. Clearly impressed with the level of play from the U-23 Azkals in last night’s charity match, Stallion’s double-winning head honcho, was full of praise of his opposition.

“The movement was very good. They’re very confident. For a young team like this to be able to hold their own, you can see the quality within the team,” said Nierras.

The game may have ended in a 1-1 draw, but the young national team, without established stars like the Angeles brothers, Jeffrey Christaens, OJ Porteria, and Jason de Jong, impressed with an unmistakable air of welcomed brashness. This was a team that believed in themselves.

Considered underdogs going into the match, the U-23 Azkals threw out any ideas of a one-sided affair early, settling into the game immediately.

Surprisingly calm and creative in possession, the largely homegrown group looked right at home against established internationals such as Chieffy Caligdong, Chris Greatwich, Anton Del Rosario and Misagh Bahadoran.

Equally, if not more authoritative in defense, Brian Reid’s boys looked extremely organized and well prepared. From those that witnessed the match, it seems the general consensus is that the U-23 Azkals have all the tools to be a real force in the region.

“This is going to be a very strong team,” Nierras agreed. “And they’re not even complete yet.”

Jing Jamlang covers football for InterAKTV and announces matches for AKTV on IBC. He served as an assistant technical director for the UFL during its maiden season. In his column Off the Upright, he gives his take on various football issues. Follow him on Twitter for more football discussion.

interaksyon

Under-23 Azkals battle UFL All-Stars to draw

Karl Decena, InterAKTV

The Philippine national men’s Under-23 football team battled a selection from the United Football League to a 1-1 draw in a benefit match Sunday night at the Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill in Taguig.
The UFL All-Stars, coached by Ernie Nierras ofLeague and Cup champion Stallion Sta. Lucia, drew first blood after Global FC striker Izzo Elhabib scored at the 63rd minute.
But the U-23 Azkals, in its first outing under new coach Brian Reid from Global, answered right away on a counterattack, with San Beda’s David Fornea nailing the equalizing goal at the 65th minute.
The benefit match capped off the UFL season, with Philippine Army winning over Union Internacional Manila in the last official fixture played earlier to keep its spot in Division One.

Proceeds of the match will be for the benefit of the U-23 Azkals.


interaksyon

Under-23 Azkals out to prove SEAG point in game against UFL stars

By Karlo Sacamos

THE United Football League has organized a fundraising exhibition match between the 23-under Azkals and the UFL All-Stars on Sunday at the Emperador Stadium in Mckinley Hill, Taguig.

With the country’s sports leaders saying the football team “must prove they are a quality team” before it can be considered as part of the contingent for the Southeast Asian Games, the UFL has decided to put up the exhibition match to gauge the 23-under squad’s capability.

It will be the 23-under Azkals' first match as a unit on home soil. They began preparations last month with a friendly against their Singaporean counterparts. The match ended in a 1-0 loss.

There has yet been a formal announcement, but the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission have strongly hinted in past weeks of plans to exclude men’s football, as well as its women’s and futsal counterparts, from the delegation.

“We put up this match because we feel the U-23 Azkals have something to prove,” UFL marketing manager Coco Torre said on Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at Shakey’s Malate along with media officer Jing Jamlang.

“We thought of supporting them by exposing their quality through pitting them against the UFL’s best players and through monetary as well through the ticket sales, which will be for the benefit of the team,” he added.

Bannered by Mark Hartmann, Joshua Beloya, Patrick Deyto, Ronnie Aguisanda, and Nathan Alquiros, the 23-under Azkals of Scottish coach Brian Reid of Global are expected to face stiff competition against a more experienced side, composed of the league’s top local and foreign booters.

The UFL All Stars, assembled only on Monday, features former national team members in Chieffy Caligdong and Tating Pasilan of Green Archers United, Ruben Doctora of newly crowned champion Stallion, Misagh Bahadoran and Jerry Barbaso of Global, Ref Cuaresma and Chad Gould of Loyola Meralco, Chris Greatwich and Anton del Rosario of Kaya, Pachanga-Diliman’s Anto Gonzales, and Philippine Army’s Roel Gener and Boogie Margarse.

The Stallions’ Hector Zaghi and Gui Hazegawa, Izzo El-Habib and Val Kama of Global, and Emmanuel Mbata of PSG are the foreigners in the roster, handled by the Stallions’ Ernie Nierras.

The match, set to kick off at 8 p.m., will be preceded by the second leg of the promotion/relegation playoff between Division 1 ninth-placer Army and Division 2 runner-up Union Internacionale Manila.

The Troopers hold a two-goal lead after a come-from-behind 5-3 win in the first leg on Sunday.  

The complete rosters:

23-under Azkals

Amani Aguinaldo, Ronnie Aguisanda, Nathan Alquiros, Fitch Arboleda, Joshua Beloya, Paolo Bugas, Patrick Deyto, Neil Dorimon, Raymark Fernandez, David Fornea, Mark Hartmann, Carlo Liay, Angelo Marasigan, Niño Ochoterena, Nathan Octavio, Nick O’Donnell, Deo Seguinal, Jeremy Theuer, Jinggoy Valmayor

UFL All-Stars

Antonio Albor, Misagh Bahadoran, Jerry Barbaso, Chieffy Caligdong, Ref Cuaresma, Anton del Rosario, Ruben Doctora, Izzo El-Habib, Shirmar Felongco, Roel Gener, Anto Gonzales, Chad Gould, Chris Greatwich, Matthew Hartmann, Gui Hazegawa, Bervic Italia, Val Kama, Boogie Margarse, Emmanuel Mbata, Jake Morallo, Matthew Nierras, Tating Pasilan, Hector Zaghi

spin.ph