PFF Suzuki Cup U-23 stars to form core of SEAG team

Celest R. Flores


MANILA---National team manager Dan Palami is optimistic that the ongoing PFF Suzuki Cup Under-23 national championship will discover untapped talents for the Southeast Asian Games.

“The lack of available talent locally is one of the problems we’re trying to address,” said Palami.

With the sport’s popularity reaching an all-time high in the wake of the performance of the national squad known as the Azkals, the support and interest for football—even on the grassroots level—also leapfrogged.

“If they know something is happening, they will get interested in the game,” added Palami during the Southern Luzon clusters kickoff at UP-Los Baños recently.

The composition of the SEA Games’ under-23 squad will be selected from the winners of the PFF Suzuki Cup, but PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said that a number of foreign-based Filipinos have expressed interest in joining the squad.

“But we have to look at the local players, then the foreigners later on, to make a good selection for our U-23 team,” said Araneta.

For Azkals head coach Hans Michael Weiss, quality is top priority in the search for a player.

“Anyone who can prove himself has a chance to try out,” said Weiss.


Inquirer.net

Azkals distribute goods to flood victims in Leyte

MANILA, Philippines – Several members of the Philippine Azkals on Friday visited the province of Leyte, which was badly hit by flooding during the past few weeks.

The Filipino booters distributed relief goods to the delight of flood victims in Tacloban, Leyte.

They also donated the bonuses they received following their successful stint in the recent Challenge Cup group stage.

Each Azkals player earlier received $1,000 from team manager Dan Palami for successfully qualifying in the 2012 Challenge Cup tournament proper.

“Kung baga pasalamat lang ng Azkals sa mga blessings na na-receive nila despite ‘yung natural calamities na napagdaanan namin,” said Palami.

The Azkals are no stranger to disasters.


ABS CBN news

PFF - Result from the PFF – SMART Club Championships (Southern Mindanao Cluster)

Results from the PFF – SMART Club Championships (Southern Mindanao Cluster)

April 2, 2011
Columbia FC of Davao FA defeated PNP FC of Davao del Norte FA 6 – 1
Goal scorers for Columbia FC are Jayric Iligan (10’, 42’ & 78’); Francisco Iligan Jr. (15’); Aldinn Tiboron (47’); and Francis Acala (64’). Manuel Aspellaga scored for PNP FC (58’).

PFF U23 - Results and fixtures (updated)

Cluster: North, Central & South Luzon

Teams: Baguio City-Benguet
Laguna
Quezon
Tarlac (withdrew?)
Rizal

Host Team: Laguna

Dates: 30 March – 03 April 2011

Venue: University of the Phils-Los Baños

RESULTS :

Laguna vs Baguio City-Benguet 4-2

Baguio City-Benguet vs Quezon 13-0

Baguio City-Benguet vs Rizal 6-1

Rizal - Quezon 1-2

Rizal - Laguna 1-18

Laguna - Quezon 12-1 or 13-1


Laguna qualified for finals.


Cluster: Southeast Luzon

Teams: Camarines Norte
Naga City-Camarines Sur
Legaspi City-Albay Federated
Masbate
Oriental Mindoro

Host Team: Naga City-Camarines Sur

Dates: 30 March – 03 April 2011

Venue: Naga City sports complex

Masbate - Cam. Norte 12-0
Masbate - Legaspi City 6-1
Masbate - Oriental Mindoro 0-0
Masbate - Naga City-Camarines Sur 3-1

Final Standings :

1st - Masbate with 10 pts. with 3 wins and a draw.
2nd - Oriental Mindoro with 8 pts. with 2 wins and 2 draws.
3rd - Naga City-Cam. Sur with 6 pts., 2 wins and 2 losses.
4th - Legazpi-Albay with 3 points, 1 win and 3 losses.
5th - Cam. Norte with 1 pt, 1 draw and 3 losses

One result : Masbate vs Naga City-Cam. Sur 3-1

Masbate qualified for finals.

Cluster: North Mindanao

Teams: Butuan-Agusan Del Norte
Iligan-Lanao Del Norte
Cagayan De Oro-Misamis Oriental
Surigao Del Norte (withdrew)

Host Team: Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental

Dates: 29 March – 31 March 2011

Venue: Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan

RESULTS :

Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental vs Iligan-Lanao del Norte 5-4

Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental vs Butuan-Agusan del Norte 3-1

Iligan Lanao del Norte vs Butuan 7-3

Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental qualified for Mindanao Finals



Cluster: South Mindanao

Teams: Compostela Valley
Davao
Davao Del Norte

Host Team: Davao

Dates: 01 – 03 April 2011

Venue: Tionko Football Field

RESULTS :

Davao FA - Davao del Norte 4-2

Goal scorers for Davao are Joven Benitez (18’ & 67’); Aldin Tiboron (80), and Jestoni Felipe (90 + 1). Goal scorers for Davao del Norte are Mark Juan (41’) and Kim Lloyd Paulino (80’).

April 2, 2011
Compostela Valley def. Davao del Norte (3 - 2)
Goal scorers for Compostela Valley are Josmer Tampos (19’); Al June Paul Adorno (30’); and Jervie Paalan (65’). Scorers for Davao del Norte FA are Mark Simbajon (53’) and Mark Joseph Malic (60’).

3 April 2011
Davao FA defeated Compostela Valley FA (4 – 1). Goal scorers for Davao are Enrique Romero-Salas (9’); Juven Benitez (14’); Roelfred Napuran (31’), and Nur Hazuaral Mentang (84’). Amad Casimero scored for Compostela Valley (58’) on a penalty kick when Davao goal keeper Rufino Samuel Mantos III was shown a red card and sent off after he fouled a Com Val player inside the penalty box.

Davao FA qualified for Mindanao finals


Cluster: Central Mindanao

Teams: Maguindanao-Cotabato City
North Cotabato

Host Team: North Cotabato

Dates: 02 – 04 April 2011

Venue: M’alang Football Plaza

Standings :

North Cotabato 6 points
Maguindanao- Cotabato City 3 points
South Cotabato 0 points



Cluster: West Mindanao

Teams: Misamis Occidental-Ozamis

Zamboanga Del Norte-Dipolog

Zamboanga Del Sur-Pagadian

Host Team: Misamis Occidental-Ozamiz

Dates: 25-27 March 2011

Venue: Ozamis City National HS

RESULTS :

Zandifa (Dipolog) vs Misamis Occidental 5-1
ZSPFA(Pagadian) vs Misamis Occidental 1-0
Zandifa (Dipolog) vs ZSPFA (Pagadian) 0-0

Zandifa qualified for Mindanao finals.

Mindanao finals will be on 28. to 30. April in DAVAO CITY





Cluster: Visayas (REGIONALS)

Teams: Cebu
Iloilo
Leyte
Negros Occidental
Negros Oriental

Host Team: Negros Oriental

Dates: 15 – 19 April 2011

Venue: Silliman

Azkals game vs Sri Lanka at Rizal?

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO


MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Football Federation announced Friday that it will decide by April 15 which between the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila and the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City will serve as venue for the Philippines’ 2014 World Cup qualifying first-round match against Sri Lanka on July 3.

But after inspecting the Rizal Memorial field, PFF officials appear inclined to hold the match there.

On Thursday, PFF president Mariano Araneta, Azkals team manager Dan Palami and coach Michael Weiss inspected the 77-year-old Rizal Memorial Stadium and made some observations that seemed to favor playing there.

“We might just play there at around 4 p.m. so the lights would not have to be installed,” Araneta said.

But Araneta hastened to add that “There’s no decision yet,” noting that they still have more than one week left before informing the Asian Football Confederation in Kuala Lumpur of their decision.

What is certain, he said, is that there won’t be any free-seating for the public in the venue, whether it is in Manila or Bacolod. He said the PFF needs to raise funds to cover for the expenses of hosting the event.

“We don’t know if we can get any subsidy from FIFA (international football federation) for the hosting so kailangan makabawi man lang tayo sa gastos,” Araneta said. “Siyempre we have to rent for the field and shoulder other expenses”.

When the Philippine Azkals beat Mongolia, 2-0, in the first leg of their AFC Challenge Cup pre-qualifier at the Panaad Stadium last Feb. 9, the PFF allocated 10,000 free game tickets for the public.

Meanwhile, Araneta said he is already coordinating with his counterpart in Qatar for the Azkals’ possible training in the Middle East country which is part of their preparation for the home and away World Cup qualifier. Sri Lanka will host the first leg of the first round on June 29 in Colombo.

Manila Bulletin

DPWH: Philsports, Rizal Memorial not safe

MANILA—The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) found some venues and dormitories at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City and Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMC) in Manila unsafe for spectators and athletes.


Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Richie Garcia said that the DPWH recommended immediate repairs of the venues and dormitories, since spectators and athletes will be at risk if a strong earthquake hits Manila.

He said they need a substantial amount of money to renovate the government-owned properties and will request Malacañang so necessary actions can be done.


“The DPWH found cracks and stains not only in the walls, but also in the floorings.

These pose dangers to our athletes and to the people who are using these facilities, especially if an earthquake occurs,” said Garcia.


“Right now, our budget is only P168 million and we don’t have any amount for infrastructure. So instead of P168 million, we may ask for something like P500 million for next year.”


Garcia said that all the necessary infrastructure projects by the PSC will now be included in their annual allocations from the General Approriations Act.


“We have to put all of these now in our GA allocations. We can defend these in Congress. We will fight it out in the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). We have to defend our budget in the DBM because we need to maintain all venues in good condition and pay the salaries of all our employees, services and our utilities also,” he added.

Sun Star Cebu

DRB football fiesta kicks off today

SOME of the best football clubs and teams in Cebu City will converge today at the Aboitiz Sports field in the 1st DRB Football Jamboree.


The DRB Football Jamboree, unlike other football festivals in the past, features an 11-a-side format competition but with a shortened time. However, the Players 8 and 10 divisions will have nine-a-side games. The event also offers the Boys 12, Boys 14, Girls 14, Boys 14, Girls 14, Boys 19, Girls 19, Men’s Open, Ladies Open, 38-and-above and the Inter-BPO divisions


Aside from the Cebu clubs and squads, there will also be teams from Bukidnon, Compostella Valley and Cagayan de Oro. This weekend’s tournament is just the first of the five stagings of the tournament.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on April 02, 2011.

Villaflor: Airtime scraps

By Noel S. Villaflor


WHATEVER venue the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) officials pick for the Azkals’ World Cup Qualifying home match against Sri Lanka this July 3 will, in the end, have the fans’ blessings.

What I’m concerned about, though, is whether the fans will ever get to see live TV coverage of both matches against Sri Lanka. We cannot depend on live streams, and blow-by-blow tweeting is such agony.


But didn’t just this bigwig of a giant television network promise its all-out support for the Azkals following a successful campaign in Myanmar?



“Thank you so much for making us proud of you. ABS-CBN would be with you every step on the way, sa hirap o ginhawa,” gushed chief executive officer Gabby Lopez before the entire Azkals team during a victory party in the company’s headquarters.

It was a TV-friendly moment, the perfect PR stunt, following the network’s failure to secure a deal with stubborn Myanmar officials to broadcast the Azkals’ matches in the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers live.

But I cannot help but take Mr. Lopez’s pronouncements with a grain of salt. Being with the Azkals “every step of the way” could mean a lot of things: from daily sports news coverage or milking the celebrated team for all its showbiz worth (I am sure the showbiz reporters are dying to cover each Phil-Angel date every step of the way.)


Every step of the way should also mean broadcasting the matches “live,” just as they did during the Suzuki Cup and Mongolia matches.

Last Jan. 24, the Philippine Football Federation, according to a report, signed “an exclusive one-year deal with ABS-CBN Sports to air all the matches of the Philippine football team, the Azkals, for 2011.” Everything seems fine, except that the report didn’t say the matches need to be aired “live.” There seems to be a catch somewhere.


Then enter the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), hobbling its way into ABS-CBN’s Studio 23 timeslots.

Just days before the Azkals’ second leg match in Mongolia, Philippine sports broadcasting took an unexpected turn: the PBA agreed to “to transfer the airing of the second and third conferences to Studio 23” from Solar Sports.

At first, the deal shouldn’t have concerned football fans. But with recent developments, it now appears the PBA factor places the live broadcast of future Azkals matches that share the PBA time slot in jeopardy.

Ironically, it’s not the Azkals management that had recognized possible hitches with the development. It was the PBA itself, which tried to downplay a possible conflict of airing schedules with the NCAA and UAAP, whose games are also aired over Studio 23.

The NCAA and UAAP seasons are expected to open in late July or early August, with games the entire week that could coincide with the Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedules of the PBA Governor’s Cup.

Now where does that leave the Azkals? The away game against Sri Lanka will be held on June 29, a Wednesday, while the return match is on July 3, a Sunday. Initial schedules suggest the kickoff for the Azkals matches will be in conflict with the PBA’s afternoon and primetime games.


Shortly after the announcement of the Studio 23 transfer last February, the PBA hierarchy was quick to announce they were sure of “fixing” possible scheduling problems once the groups’ representatives “sit down and meet.” I wonder if a seat in the boardroom would be reserved for an Azkals representative.

If not, the PFF officials might need to take a second look at that “exclusive one-year deal.” Nobody wants to see the Azkals scrounging for airtime scraps, every step of the way.


(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)

Sun Star Cebu