Limpag: A treat for Cebu football fans

By Mike T. Limpag

Fair Play

Sunday, April 22, 2012

IF PLANS push through, Cebu football fans could be in for a treat with a mini tournament involving England’s Loxwood FC, Global, Laos, Stallion FC and Queen City United in Cebu from June 21 to June 29.

Kuni Ledesma and Phil Awcock, the representatives of Loxwood FC, first met Queen City’s Glenn Quisido, Raffy Musni and Stanley Villacin last January to discuss the planned tour in Cebu.

And since then, Kuni, who is a Pinoy working in UK, has been married to his laptop firing e-mails here and there to get the tour going. He’s also lost a few hours of sleep as he had to synch his calls with the best time for calls here in the

Philippines.

I think Loxwood will be the first foreign club to play here since a group of Brazilian missionaries/footballers dropped by in the late 90s.

Loxwood FC won’t be preaching the gospel in-between games, but they are going to spread the word of football to kids in Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City as I suggested that they put up a free clinic for kids as one of their activities.

Loxwood is more than willing and the ever dynamic chairmen of the sports commissions of Cebu City and Lapu-Lapu City—Edward Hayco and Harry Radaza—have both given their assurance that they will be willing to work with Loxwood.

Aside from that, Glenn and Stanley of Queen City have given their assurance that they will make Loxwood’s tour a success and when these men give their word, it’s as good as gold. Glenn, who now sits at the Cebu Football Association board, also promised the CFA will support the football clinics, both in Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City.

June, by the way, is a perfect date for the tour. Aside from it being the end of the UFL season, it’s also the time the rehabilitation of the Cebu City Sports Center football field will be completed. Right now, the CCSC field looks like a guy with a midlife crisis but by June, I’m sure it’s going to feature a full, lush green field.

But, of course, it won’t be near UK standards and Phil and Kuni have been told not to expect pristine pitches.

Though the dates are set, I don’t think they have finalized which clubs to invite, so fans of Kaya FC, and those who want to see a Pachanga vs. Cebu match in Cebu, may still get their wish.

So, thanks to the Loxwood FC tour, Cebuano fans can get their UFL fix without leaving Cebu.

PFF. I think it’s about time the PFF seriously consider hiring full-time public relations personnel, one who could inform everybody on developments of the federation and not just the Azkals.

Consider what is happening now—we have the Suzuki Cup Under 23 competitions, a national selection for the girls U13 in Bacolod, a futsal competition, preparation for the Under 22, preparations for Smart Club championships and coaching seminars.

And the football beat reporters aren’t exactly churning out quality stories about these events, and they seem to be as overwhelmed as the PFF regarding footie development.

In the Internet age, I think a PFF website is more than overdue. Heck, the Azkals have one running for months now, I hope the PFF puts up its own, soon because unlike a couple of years ago, the federation now has the funds for it, and they have more than enough content for a site.

(www.cebufootball.blogspot.com)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on April 23, 2012.

UFL - Sunday`s matches

April 22, 2012
1:00 pm		Diliman Victory Liner FC 5-0				Forza FC		Alabang Country Club (ACC)
2:00 pm		Team Socceroo FC          5-1		-		Lions Meltique Beef FC		University of Makati (UMak)
3:00 pm		Manila All-Japan FC       1-1		-		Cebu Queen City United FC		Alabang Country Club (ACC)
4:00 pm		Nomads Auction Manila  0-1		-		Pasargad FC		University of Makati (UMak)
6:00 pm		Phil. Army Fritz & Macziol  FC		0--3		Global FC		University of Makati (UMak)

Phil strikes as Meralco slips past Archers

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHIL Younghusband struck eight minutes from time as Loyola Meralco slipped past Green Archers United, 3-2, last night to reclaim top spot in the United Football League.

The Sparks squandered a two-goal lead, before Younghusband delivered the game-winner to keep the Sparks unbeaten in their last eight matches.

It was Younghusband’s 13th goal of the season. More importantly, the Sparks passed Global in the standings by jacking up their tally to 25 points.

“We made it difficult on ourselves, but it was a challenge playing in this heat,” said Younghusband after the match that saw teams play in temperatures as high as 35 degrees Celsius.

Kaya stayed in third spot while dimming Air Force Phoenix’s title hopes with a 3-1 victory.

The Airmen drew first blood through Chieffy Caligdong, but Kaya rallied with goals from Eric Dagroh and Lexton Moy in the first half and Nicolas Bolzico in second half stoppage time.

The win puts Kaya level on points with Global, which has a better goal difference.

Visiting teams thwart Cebu clubs in Bro Cup

By Cheska D. Geli

Saturday, April 21, 2012
VISITING teams prevailed on the second day but a few home teams also bagged titles in the 1st BRO National Football Festival yesterday at the Aboitiz Sports Field.
Dumaguete’s Anthony FC pulled the biggest upset against the Don Bosco Technological Center Palarong Pambansa-bound team in the Boys 17 via shootout, 3-2.
After both keepers saved two kicks, DBTC conceded one goal from Anthony FC to give up the title.

CMU Bukidnon also salvaged the Boys 14 title against Mandaue Technical Institute, 3-1.
Home teams University of San Carlos and DBTC also claimed titles in the competition.

USC nabbed the Girls 19 championship against Cebu International School, 1-0, through the goal of Angeli Ruete, who sneaked past a defender for the lone goal of the match.
DBTC Cviraa defeated DB Silver Hawk, 3-0, to win the Boys 12 title and Don Bosco 5 beat DB 2002 in the Boys 10, 2-0.

Hiroshi FC bagged the Executive-35 title against Sabado Gang FC of Cagayan de Oro, 3-0, while Canduman kids edged Sacred Heart Ateneo, 1-0, to win the Boys 8 championship

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on April 22, 2012.

AFF Futsal - Malaysia 4-1 Philippines

BANGKOK (21 April 2012) – Malaysia came alive after the break to hit four goals past the Philippines and hang on to the lead in Group A of the AFF Futsal Championship at the Bangkok Thonburi Stadium here today. Today’s hard-earned 4-1 win was Malaysia’s second after whipping Cambodia 8-0 yesterday.
In the first half the Malaysians had a number of shots at goal but were unable to make them count. The Filipinos had a brilliant chance to snatch the lead in the seventh minute when a defensive fumble saw a quick thinking Ahmad Fawzul Hadzir bring down skipper Misagh Medina Bahadoran just outside the semi-circle. Misagh however failed to translate the freekick into a goal.

In the last four minutes of the first half, Ahmad Fawzul and Muhammad Fariq Mohammad both missed opportunities to score.

Malaysia emerged stronger after the break and before long were celebrating their first goal. Muizzudin Mohd Haris easily slipped the ball in after being set-up by Mohd Asmie in the 24th minute.

Just past the half hour mark, Zubaidee Alwee charged in from the left and rifled his shot past the goalkeeper. With six minutes to go, Qaiser Heshaam Abdul Kadir let loose a stiff shot that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced across the goal line.

The Filipinos had several chances themselves but Misagh and Sajad Allan Aquino Khodarahmi failed to hit the target. But with time running out, Misagh managed to waltz through the Malaysian defence to score. But any hopes of a late comeback were ended when Ahmad Fawzul placed it beyond goalkeeper Daryoush Rey Zandi.


aseanfootball.org

UFL - Saturday`s matches- Loyola and Kaya win

UFL Div 1 :
Kaya 3-1 Air Force FC 
Goals : Dagroh , Moy and Bolzico for Kaya . Chieffy for Air Force FC


Loyola 3-2 Green Archers United 
Goals : Jeong , Mark Hartmann and Phil Younghusband for Loyola. Christian Pasilan Jr 2 goals for Green Archers United FC


UFL Div 2 :
Laos 3-1 Sunken Garden 


Union Internacional Manila 1-0 Agila


Pachanga 1-0 Dolphins 
Goal : Farah


Standings Div1 :


Loyola +23  , 25 points
Global + 15 , 24 points
Kaya + 7,  24 points


All teams have played 10 matches


Standings Div 2 :


Pachanga + 65 , 37 points
Diliman  + 35, 32 points
Cebu Queen City + 31, 25 points


Pachanga has played 13 matches, one more than Diliman and Cebu Queen City

PFF U23 - Weekend matches - NOFA and Butuan win

PFF Suzuki U23 Games this weekend...

April 21, Saturday, 2pm

NOFA(Bacolod) 6-0 Negros Oriental at Panaad football stadium in Bacolod

Butuan 3-0 Cagayan De Oro -Misamis Oriental at Butuan City Sports Complex

Zamboanga Del Sur- Pagadian vs Zamboanga Del Norte Dipolog at Pagadian Sports Complex

Cam Norte 0-1 Masbate at Eco Athletic Field in Daet

Maguindanao-Cotabato City 10-0 Sultan Kudarat at MSU Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao

April 22, Sunday, 2pm
Cam Sur 2-1 Legaspi-Albay at Central Bicol State University
Davao Del Norte 2-3 Compostela Valley at Tagum Energy Park
Misamis Occidental-Ozamis City vs Zamboanga Del Norte-DIpolog at Ozamis City National High School
Surigao 0-3 Cagayan De Oro-Misamis Oriental at the Surigao Sports Complex
Quezon 1-4 Laguna at the Mauban Football Field

April 23, Monday,2pm
Iloilo 3-2 Negros Oriental at the CPU Football Field


Visayas Standings :

NOFA  5 matches 25-2  , 15 points
Iloilo 4 matches       7-5, 6 points
Cebu 4 matches     7-8 , 4 points
NORFA 4 matches 5-15 , 1 point
Leyte 3 matches 2-16 , 0 point


North Luzon

NCR  3 matches , 2-0 , 7 points
Baguio 3 matches , 5-4 , 4 points
Rizal 3 matches , 17-4 , 3 points
Tarlac 3 matches 3-19 , 3 points


South Luzon

Laguna 4 matches , 18-1,  12 points
Quezon 4 matches, 11-5 , 6 points
Oriental Mindoro 4 matches 1-18 , 0 points


Northern Mindanao
CMOFA 6 matches , 11-9 , 10 points
Butuan 5 matches  10-8, 8 points
Bukidnon 6 matches, 11-10 , 7 points
Iligan 2 matches , 3-2 , 4 points
Surigao 3 matches, 3-9 , 0 points

Powerhouse DBTC nabs three titles in Bro Cup

By Cheska D. Geli Saturday, April 21, 2012

POWERHOUSE Don Bosco Technological College showed its class once again as it collared three titles in the Boys 9, 13 and 15 in the opening day of 1st BRO National Football Festival at the Aboitiz Football Field yesterday. The junior booters of DBTC faced Sacred Heart School Ateneo de Cebu in a tight match in the Boys 15 finals that went into a sudden death shootout after a 0-0 score at the end of regulation. Yves Russel Caballero banked in the winning goal after DBTC keeper Jake Allen Vecin blocked the attempt from SHS-AdC’s first kicker, 1-0. “The match was even and both teams had their attempts. It’s only that DBTC got the break in the penalty shootout,” said head coach Glen Ramos. DBTC defeated its sister team DB Silver Hawk, 1-0, in the semifinals while SHS-AdC outlasted visiting team Bukidnon through a last-minute goal, 1-0, to make the finals. The boys of the squad will be the next batch of players that will represent DBTC in the next Cebu City Olympics. In other results, the Palarong Pambansa-bound elementary players of DBTC ousted San Carlos City, 1-0, in the Boys 13. DBTC 2002-A also added another title as they claim the Boys 9 championship against SHS-AdC, 1-0, SHS-AdC recovered in the Boys 11 finals and beat Don Bosco 5, 1-0, to bag the title, while the Lahug FC kids got the title in the Boys 7 class after beating San Roque FC, 2-1. Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was the guest speaker in the opening program, which also had national team players Chieffy Caligdong and Ian Araneta. Caligdong shared a message of inspiration with the kids while Araneta led the oath of sportmanship. Both joined the clinic of the Central Visayas Athletic Association elementary football team last Thursday. Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on April 21, 2012.