23 October 2021

AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Singapore

 Catch the coverage of the Azkals U23 in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2022 Qualifiers LIVE on Premier Football (channel 271 on Cignal and channel 265 on SkyCable) and via streaming at TAP GO (also available on Android and iOS)




21 October 2021

Philippines U23 squad list

 


Baas, Winhoffer, Bias headline Azkals U23 lineup for AFC Qualifiers

 The Philippine Football Federation announced the 22 players who shall represent the country in the upcoming 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Group H qualification matches, which will take place at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore from October 25 to 31.

These include Azkals Development Team members Oliver Bias, Mark Winhoffer, and Quincy Kammeraad; and United City’s Justin Baas, whom coach Scott Cooper called up when the Philippine Azkals finished off their joint 2022 FIFA World Cup/2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Sharjah, UAE.

Other players from the ADT were Christian Rontini, Dennis Chung, Jethro Borlongan, Yrick Gallantes, Mandy Ignacio, Oskari Kekkonen; Sandro Reyes – who was part of the FC Barcelona Escola; Mark Francis Swainston, and Ivan Ouano.

Goalkeepers Jessie Semblante and Enrico Mangaoang from Mendiola FC and De La Salle University; Paolo Niccola Perez from Calcio Lecco in Italy; David Kevin Setters from England’s Portsmouth; Nathan Rilloraza, former Green Archer Shanden Vergara of Lincoln Memorial University; United City’s Kieran Hayes; Miguel Antonio Mendoza; and Randers FC’s Jens Sebastian Rasmussen cap off the rest of the lineup.

The Filipinos need to top Group H to formally enter the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup, which shall be held in Uzbekistan on June 1-19, 2022. A second-placed finish might be good enough provided that the Philippines finishes in the top four of the runner-up standings.

The team prepared for the tournament by conducting a bubble setup in Lipa, Batangas. Their main facility was the Aboitiz Pitch. They are currently in Doha, Qatar, to finish their preparations.

The Philippines goes up against South Korea on Monday, 5:00 PM; host nation Singapore next Thursday, 8:00 PM; and Timor Leste on October 31, 5:00 PM.

https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/baas-winhoffer-bias-headline-azkals-u23-lineup-for-afc-qualifiers/222564

20 October 2021

International friendly : Philippines U23 2-0 Yemen U23

 International friendly in Doha :

Tuesday

Philippines U23 2-0 Yemen U23 Starting XI : Oliver Bias (Capt.) Quincy Kammeraad (GK) Oskari Kekkonen Paolo Perez Lloyd Fagerlie Justin Baas Mark Winhoffer Christian Rontini Yrick Gallantes Miguel Mendoza S. Beraque










Some ray of hope for PFL start

 By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—It looks like the PFL might get to kick off very soon after all.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced on Tuesday that some provinces including Cavite and independent cities will now adopt the new alert level system currently being implemented in Metro Manila.

Like the capital province, Cavite, which will host the scheduled league bubble, has been placed under Alert Level 3 starting on Wednesday until Oct. 31.

In the updated rules on the opening of various industries amid the COVID-19 pandemic, pro leagues are allowed to set up bubbles in areas under Alert Level 3 or lower, clearing the PFL for an Oct. 27 kickoff assuming the league intends to still push through with it.

The PFL previously said that it will only push through with its 2021 season if Cavite would be placed under general community quarantine or its equivalent by the said date.

[Related Story: PFL now set for Oct. 27 kickoff]

However, a slight setback occurred when Cavite was retained under modified enhanced community quarantine supposedly until Oct. 31.

[Related Story: PFL season still in limbo as Cavite stays under MECQ]

But with the expansion of the alert level system, the PFL could now finally set up its tournament with the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona as the main battleground.

Meanwhile, Laguna, Rizal, Siquijor, Davao Del Norte, and Davao City have also been placed under Alert Level 3, also clearing them to hold pro sports bubbles with permission from the Games and Amusements Board.

On the other hand, the rest of Davao Del Sur, Batangas, Quezon, Bohol, Cebu, Davao De Oro, and Davao Oriental have been placed under Alert Level 2, essentially making them the provinces that will do the pilot implementation of the lighter quarantine rules.

Contact sports events can push through in the said areas with an option to accommodate up to 50 percent of attendance for indoor arenas and 70 percent for outdoor venues, although GAB has insisted that the games must still be played behind closed doors or better yet, inside a bubble too like in the Alert Level 3.

https://www.dugout.ph/2021/10/cavite-placed-under-alert-level-3.html?fbclid=IwAR3KfS5OTKcLV5j__IXDu9qWNA54bPPSpJKKRvJQL1G4Q3m93BF_WXRxuyc

14 October 2021

PFL season in limbo as Cavite stays under MECQ

 By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--The PFL might remain in the waiting game on when it can finally push through with its new season as Carmona and the rest of Cavite have been kept under the modified enhanced community quarantine for the rest of October.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, also the spokesman for the Inter-Agency Task Force, announced on Wednesday that despite a remarkable improvement in the COVID-19 situation in the said province, it will still be under the second strictest quarantine protocols until Oct. 31.

This means the PFL might need to call off its planned Oct. 27 start to the 2021 season unless the league finds a new bubble host, particularly a town under the general community quarantine, just in time.

The league looks to stage another bubble with the PFF National Training Centre in the aforementioned town still the season's battleground.

The Games and Amusements Board is only allowing professional sports events to happen in GCQ or MGCQ areas or in the case of Metro Manila, in Alert Level 4 or lower towns.

Metro Manila, as also announced by Roque, will be placed under Alert Level 3 starting on Saturday, further loosening some restrictions in the said province.

This could make the metropolis another option for the PFL to hold its matches.

Philippine Football Federation secretary-general Ed Gastanes said last week that the national sports association “is committed to having the PFL 2021 season this year when conditions permit.”

However, the league set the Oct. 27 start to give the Azkals ample time to train for the AFF Suzuki Cup.

With Cavite still in MECQ, how the national team can get enough training ahead of the regional tournament remains to be seen.


https://www.dugout.ph/2021/10/pfl-season-still-in-limbo.html?fbclid=IwAR0-S97xu4qx1c4FadwzMzn4vKrtXcOla8S6EmxiC0o31ckaIVW1VcZYmJI

PFL cancelled ?

 According to the new guidelines the IATF approved yesterday, the province of Cavite remains in MECQ from Oct 16-31.

This directly affects the effort to have the PFL kickoff on Oct 27, as one of the requirements for the season to open is for Carmona to be placed under GCQ.

https://twitter.com/search?q=mecq%20%2B%20carmona&src=typed_query&f=top

07 October 2021

League kickoff set for late October 2021

 The Philippines Football League (PFL), together with Philippine Football Federation (PFF) officials conducted a series of one-on-one meetings with the participating clubs last Friday 01 October 2021.

PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes and PFL commissioner Coco Torre discussed with the clubs the requisite conditions for holding the PFL 2021 season, which will be a centralized competition to be hosted by PFL at the PFF National Training Center, under a closed-circuit bubble, with the league kickoff set for 27 October 2021, namely:

  1. Lowering of quarantine status of Carmona, Cavite to GCQ or equivalent by 16 October, as the area was placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) until 15 October 2021, and;
  2. At least six (6) participating clubs compete in the league.

Holding the league kickoff by 27 October 2021 is feasible since the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 will now be held from 01 December 2021 to 01 January 2022.

“PFF is committed to have the PFL 2021 season this year when conditions permit”, said Gastanes. “We understand how also important the league is for the clubs, sponsors, and football fans.”

Clubs were encouraged to ensure players are match fit upon the targeted kick-off date of 27 October. In addition, clubs must provide the league with their proposed accommodation venues for the bubble setup, with provisions for health and safety protocols to be imposed while inside the bubble.

“The PFL season 2021 kickoff remains a primary objective,” added Torre. “The staging of the season will help preserve the livelihood of the players, staff, officials and determine the League Standings based on sporting merit.

Full live stream coverage and TV details to be announced as the League finalizes talks with a TV network

https://pfl.org.ph/league-kickoff-set-late-october-2021/