San Carlos Sets PFF Football Fest on Feb.23-24

Submitted by Cyrus Garde

 San Carlos City here in Negros Occidental is all set to host the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Football Festival on February 23 to 24, 2013 in the city’s football field.
John Carmona, Secretary General of San Carlos City Football Club, said that five teams in the Visayas will come to compete in this 2-day football hostilities.
Different age categories will be contested namely; boys’ 10 and 12 under; and Under 14 girls.
The U14 girls’will be the basis for Visayas players to be part of the national team to play in Vietnam, while the boys Under 12 the basis for Visayas players to be part of the national team to play in Sabah, Malaysia.
He added that in the 10 under, the PFF technical will select 19 to 20 potential players for football excellence in the Visayas.
Carmona also disclosed that San Carlos City will play host in the PFF Suzuki U23 National Cup regional championship on April 15 to 19, 2013.
Three teams were already qualified and will play to determine representative to the national tournament. They are Cebu City Football Association, Iloilo Football Association and Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA).
A press conference will be hosted by San Carlos City at 1pm today for the PFF Suzuki U23 National Cup Regional championship.*

 (CMGarde)


Negros Daily Bulletin

3 teams vying for honors in PFF-Suzuki reg’l tourney

By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.
Three teams are vying for the top spot when the Philippine Football Federation (PFF)-Suzuki Men’s U23 Visayas Regional Finals kicks off in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental with the schedule to be finalized today.
These teams include tournament leader and undefeated Negros Occidental Football Association’s Ceres-La Salle squad, followed by Iloilo Football Association and Cebu Football Association. The host-NOFA squad banners an unblemished record of 8-0 win-loss card.
These clubs topped last year’s five-team qualifying round played at the Ayala North pitch in Talisay City, Negros Occidental with Leyte Football Association and Negros Oriental Football Association also seeing action.
Meanwhile, PFF Competition head, Cyril Dofitas, and representatives from Suzuki are expected to arrive for this tournament’s press conference at 11 a.m. today at the San Carlos City Hall.
The Freddie “Nene” Lazarito-mentored NOFA/Ceres-La Salle squad will banner homeground talent Gerardo Valmayor III, skipper Jimmy Malalo-an, Fil-Am Joshua Beloya, Raymark Fernandez, reigning “best goal keeper” Robert Mendoza, second choice keeper Benito Rosalia, third keeper Jurex Replentes, Florence Panogaling, Florence Agraviador, Anthony Tongson, George Balceda, Alan Alfaro, Neil Ryan Lirio, Norman Selotorio, Feb Beneminito Baya, Archie Familiar, Ramoniño Aledro, Kent Guevarra, Marcellana, Joash Cabus, Bon Jovi Amanquiton, Chip Christian Robles, John Timothy Bolo, J Baguiro, Abelardo Solinas, Michael Continedo, Micheal Cornel, John Vendell Marcellana, Joel Bedia and Jimuel Arriola.
With Lazarito in the coaching staff are assistant coaches Ramon Janeo, Ali Rojas Go, Lemuel Unabia, Hemerson Campo and goalkeeper coach Michael Casas and team physician Dra. Emily Zerrudo. Team managers are Yanson brothers, Leo Rey and Ricky.
The winner of this tournament will advance to the finals with NOFA as the defending champion./

WDJ

Pachanga-Diliman fights back in win over PSG FC

By Karlo Sacamos

PACHANGA-Diliman FC battled back from an early deficit to score a 2-1 victory over PSG FC on Saturday night in the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

Andoni Santos and Ousseynou Diop emerged as the goal scorers for the 2012 Division 2 champions, who continued to make an impression in their maiden campaign in top flight with their second win against a single loss. 

PSG's lead courtesy of a Jaham Taher penalty strike conversion in the 35th minute was short lived as Santos retaliated with a neat looping equalizing shot that went past goalkeeper Reza Ataei just three minutes later.

Diop gave Pachanga the lead for good after he scored on the rebound from a penalty miss in the 68th minute.

“Come from behind `yung panalo. Halata na mas gusto namin sa kanila, mas may drive kami,” Santos said. "Syempre galing kami sa second division, so gusto namin sulitin `yung experience dito."                                           

"Matagal na rin ako hindi naka-score so masarap yung feeling. Hard work lang. Yun lang yung style namin," added the 26-year-old Santos, an Ateneo law student by day.

PSG suffered not only its third straight loss but also a casualty to its star goalkeeper.

Ataei, who has been criticized for his `diving’ antics, suffered a real injury this time when was stretchered off the pitch late in the second half after pulling his left hamstring.

spin.ph

Azkals eye full strength squad for AFC tourney

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE NATIONAL team’s preparations for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers may be lagging behind but the Azkals are looking forward to the possibility of having a full-strength side for the March 22 to 26 tournament.

Azkals coach Michael Weiss told the Inquirer that he has gotten confirmation from several Europe-based standouts of their availability for the tournament which falls on Fifa international dates.
Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, midfielders Stephan Schrock and Jerry Lucena and defenders Juani Guirado, Rob Gier, Dennis Cagara and Ray Jonsson are all expected to see action in the tournament.

“We’re happy that they’ve committed themselves for the tournament but we also have to work hard in preparing here,” said Weiss who got a six month contract extension last week.

The Azkals will face Turkmenistan, Cambodia and Brunei in the qualifiers with the top team in the group nailing a spot in the main tournament in the Maldives next year.

While the local-based Azkals have been busy playing in the United Football League, Weiss still stressed the need to double efforts in training.

With players tied up with their clubs, Weiss will only have three training days a week for the Azkals in the leadup to the tournament.

Another concern for the German is the lack of matches for the team. Weiss hopes the Azkals could get at least two international friendly matches under their belts before the tournament.

The Philippine Football Federation is still arranging a friendly match with Hong Kong for the Azkals.

“Its not an ideal situation but we cannot cry about it. We only have to make the best out of the situation,” said Weiss.

inquirer.net

Kaya coach resigns after just three matches

Karl Decena, InterAKTV

Kaya FC coach Maor Rozen resigned Saturday after just three matches with the club.
Team owner Santi Araneta announced the news through his Twitter account.
“Maor Rozen has officially tendered his resignation as Coach of Kaya FC. We’re grateful for his contributions to the club & we wish him well,” Araneta wrote on Twitter.
The Spanish-Uruguayan Rozen, who once coached the country’s national Under-19 football team, was hired on December last year after Kaya’s interim coach Kale Alvarez stepped down from his post.
Under Rozen, Kaya recorded a win, a loss and a draw in its first three matches to tie Nomads FC at fourth place in the standings. The team barely missed winning the League title last season, dropping to second place behind Global FC due to an inferior goal differential.
Rozen was actually only able to finish one match with Kaya, a 1-0 loss to Pachanga Diliman FC in his debut with the squad. He was sent off during the club’s 2-1 fight-marred triumph against Green Archers United Globe after entering the pitch during the melee that broke out midway through the second half.
Because of the red card he received in that match, Rozen was suspended for Kaya’s match against Nomads FC, which ended in a scoreless draw last Tuesday.
Reached by InterAKTV, Rozen said that he will wait for the club to release an official statement before commenting about his resignation.
“The club will publish statement thereon. Later on, it will be a pleasure to talk to you. Mabuhay!” he said.
Kaya has yet to announce Rozen’s replacement for its upcoming match against Cup titlist Stallion Sta. Lucia on Tuesday.

International friendly : Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc vs Northern Mariana Islands NT

International friendly : Loyola Meralco Sparks Fc vs Northern Mariana Islands NT


FEU-FERN Diliman Football Field (Quezon City) , 4 pm

Northern Mariana Isl is a provisitionary member of AFC and will compete in AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Nepal.


There are five players who are based outside NMI and they are, Yukiomo
Adachi (Japanese/Filipino), Michael Barry, Nick Swaim, Lucas Knecht and Dae Won Jeon. The four players except Yukiomo (Japan) are based in the US Mainland. Our team will be headed by former FC Dallas first round draft pickand former EPL's Aston Villa, Johann Noetzel

They also have two other pinoys in the squad Ruselle and Raphael Zapanta.

NMI NT played  a friendly on Friday in Northern Mariana Isl , they won 2-0 against Japan Soccer College

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Loyola FC  XI: the Hartmanns, Jeong, Fred, cortina, Dorlas, Jo w. Jang, Nembot, park, Greatwich, Menzi.


Result : 0-0  (played 2 x 35 mins)

UFL Saturday`s matches - PachangaDilman Fc win

February 23, 2013
6:00 pm	Agila FC	-	Dolphins United FC	McKINLEY HILL
8:00 pm	PachangaDiliman FC	-	PSG FC	McKINLEY HIL

Union Int Manila vs Cebu Queen City United at 4 pm has been  cancelled.

Agila Fc 3-2 Dolphins United

0-1 Cuyos (Dolphins)
1-1 Vanzekin (Agila)
1-2 Baleos (Dolphins)
2-2 Manejero (Agila)
3-2 Manejero (Agila)

Pachanga Diliman 2-1 PSG FC

35 min 0-1 Jaham Taher (PSG Fc) PK
38 min 1-1 Jose Andoni Santos (PachangaDilimanFc)
68 min 2-1 Diop (PachangaDilman Fc)

Limpag: Not the full picture

By Mike T. Limpag
Fair Play

Friday, February 22, 2013

WHEN coach Michael Weiss picked his team for the Myanmar friendly, I was pretty surprised with some of the names in there considering that a few weeks before that, we read about how the was batting for local talent to be in the team.
Sure there were locals in the team, but they weren’t exactly local talents, and I’m not talking about the Filipino-Europeans who are already based here. Guys in their mid-30s still in the squad and guys who said they were getting ready to retire from the international game still in there?
That lineup got fans to think and question whether the national coaching staff is scouting locals.
It turns out they were, at least that’s what I got from my interview with Coach Michael Weiss. The final lineup for the Myanmar game was just half the story, the other half was that of local players who get invited to the pool but didn’t show up. Coach Weiss told me about one player and his name stood out because it seems I had the same reaction with coach Weiss when I learned of his complaint.
The player said that he’d just go back to his club because he wasn’t going to get fielded in the national team.
Dude, there are players who work their butt off for a year and you expect a starting spot handed to you after just one training camp?
He also mentioned a few players who left camp without bothering to inform the staff. Coach Weiss said he was in the bus when he asked about the whereabouts of the three and he was told that they left, without bothering to inform the staff.
Now that’s a bit of a concern and I won’t readily dismiss them, since we only have half the story. Whatever the rest of the story is, it’s interesting—do these players have issues against the coaching staff? Or do they simply not have the heart for a camp?
Player selection is always a testy subject, as unless everybody makes the pool, there’s always that one guy who we think should be in there over that guy who shouldn’t be.
Back when Aries Caslib took over the squad in 2004, I remember hearing a few complaints from former members who said the San Beda guys have taken over as the former coach, who also handled San Beda, took some of his players.
In a way, coaches are allowed that. If they take over a squad, they’d have to work with players whom they are comfortable with, whom they know will work hard. Case in point—Smart Gilas and Chot Reyes.
The only difference between Caslib’s case and that of coach Weiss is that when Coach Aries started winning, the complaints regarding the San Beda presence died down.
Coach Weiss is operating under a different atmosphere and is under the microscope and anything he does is gets dissected over social media.
And I like to take that in a positive note as it shows fans are concerned with what’s happening in the team. Constructive criticisms are a good thing, and criticizing the national team isn’t a crime. It’s just unfortunate that in a time when there are blogs and websites about the Azkals sprouting almost every other minute, we still get half the picture.
(www.cebufootball.blogspot.com)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 23, 2013.