NOFA bidding to host PFF-Smart nat’l finals

By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.

As defending titlist of the PFF-Smart Club National Championships, the Negros Occidental Football Association strongly bids to host the tournament’s national finals next month.
This was disclosed by NOFA secretary-general Paulline Javelona, who was then with PFF competitions department head Cyril Dofitas, right after the Azkals’ victory over Pakistan Tuesday night.
Javelona said that granting the rights to the provincial football association will further help in the promotion of the sports in Negros Occidental, which is considered as one of the top seedbeds of local but highly-competitive booters.
During the recent Group F qualifying, reigning tournament MVP Byeong Jun Yoon nailed NOFA – Ceres FC’s lone goal from 10 yards in the 44th minute to survive from regional archrival Camella-Barotac Nuevo FC of Iloilo, and a ticket to the next round of the tournament on November 8.
With both clubs playing tough and often physical, strikers had the difficulty to find clear targets on goal – most of the shots hit the cross bar.
Champion coach Ali Go said they felt relieved after they finally entered the Final Qualifying Round of the tournament. “We are the defending champion and it would be shameful if we can’t make it. And I’m thankful that we made it,” he said.
“Admittedly, Iloilo is also a strong team. And though our plays worked but the boys unable to complete their shots,” he added.
“We now advance to the next stage and we’ll put these games behind us. We look forward for the next round. We need to practice more on our targets so that we can finish our attacks better,” Go stressed.
Meanwhile, when asked if they felt threatened by the Iloilo attacks, Go said that although they feel confident to win the match, “I was disappointed in the last 10 minutes of play as my wards became complacent.”
In the Final Round, Go see Davao as a strong contingent from Mindanao, Cebu in the Visayas and Laguna in Luzon. “These teams have good representatives. They might go out strong in the next stage,” he said.
The Negros Occidental-based club also blanked Azukals FC of NORFA, 9-nil.
Jimuel Ariola led Ceres with three goals (1st, 29th and 31st minutes) while Yoon delivered in the 29th minute as Jalsor Soriano closed the half with a goal in the 43rd minute.
In the second half, Jason Cordova added two goals in the 64th and 74th minutes as Jaime Poderoso nailed two more in the 84th and 87th minutes to seal the win.
Composing the Ceres FC side are tournament’s “best goalkeeper” Korean Hyoun Jaehun and Louie Michael Casas; defenders Geunh Yeong Park and Hyungmin Sim from South Korea, Angelo Marasigan, Cordova, Camelo Tacusalme, Anthony Tongson, Soriano, Lemuel Unabia, Richard Ruiz Sumabong, Jimmy Malalo-an Jr., John Timothy Bolo, Jose Emmanuel Thomas Diel; midfielders Olapido Babasola Okunaiya from United Kingdom, Jayson Panhay, Hanesin Prince Antony, Carlo Tacusalme, Joel Bedia Jr., Rolando Ian Treyes and J Baguioro; Yoon, ‘best midfielder’ Joshua Beloya, Poderoso and Ariola.
Joining Go in the sideline is assistant coach Cha Soung Yooung from South Korea and physical therapist Augustine Rey Rivas while team manager is Leo Rey Yanson./

WDJ

Queen City takes on Stallion FC

By Edri K. Aznar

Saturday, October 19, 2013

CEBU Queen City United (CQCU) will face defending champion
 Stallion FC today for the lead in Group C of the UFL Cup at the 
Emperador Stadium.

“We have to play consistently. The players who didn’t perform hopefully will 
have to perform. We must first play our own game but we will make 
adjustments depending on how they (Stallion FC) play also,” CQCU coach
 Mario Ceniza told Sun.Star Cebu.

After a hot start in this year’s UFL Cup, CQCU settled to a 2-2 draw with 
Bright Star FC last Wednesday night. The Cebuanos crushed 
Philippine Air Force 3-0 in their debut match after a long hiatus from the UFL,
 the biggest football league in the country.

Two years ago, CQCU dropped a humiliating 8-0 loss to Stallion FC in the UFL. 
However, Ceniza believes that it would be different this year because 
both sides have different rosters since their last meeting.

Ceniza thinks that Stallion FC has a great offense and that his defenders 
should make a few adjustments in this match. He believes that the key to 
victory is if CQCU can control the midfield.

“We are going to match them toe-to-toe. They have good players in the
 midfield, we also have good players in the midfield. We must contain
 their offense and control possession of the ball and play our game. 
Our strength is our midfield,” he said.

CQCU will retain the top spot of Group C with a win or a draw.
 However, if Stallion FC wins, it will take the top spot.

CQCU holds the No. 1 spot of Group C with four points
, followed by Stallion FC at second place with three points. 
Bright Star FC is third with two points, Agila FC at fourth with a point
 and PAF at the last spot with no points.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 20, 2013.

UFL Cup - Saturday

UFL Cup Saturday


6 pm : Loyola 16-0 Dolphins

Loyola Meralco Sparks FC Starting XI: Bonney, Canas, Canedo, Fadrigalan, Gould, Greatwich, Hartmann, Lee, Park, Sampana & J. Younghusband

Dolphins United FC Starting XI: Atuel, Baron, Caballero, Cuyos, Delante, Etchin, Elat, Eupena, Lelis, Nkem & Taba


Goal Scorers:
James Younghusband - 10', 29', (pk) 70'
Chad Edward Gould - 35', 43', 47'
Samuel Bonney - 41'
Robert Canedo - 52'
Lee Joo Young 45 + 1'
Jake Morallo - 56', 67', 73'
Alex Elnar - 74'
Roxy Dorlas - 77' 
Arnel Amita - 80', 83'

8 pm Green Archers 17-0 Blue Guards

Green Archers United Globe FC
Starting XI: Bacobo, Caligdong, Escoltero, Fraire, D. Garcia, Hugo, Ikegwuruka, Lopez Mendy, Martindale, Olowoyeye & Villareal

Blue Guards FC Starting XI: Arabia, Austria, Borja, Caron, Facturanan, King, Letargo (GK), Levy, Reyes, R. Sulit & Zabella Jr.

FT: Green Archers United Globe FC 17 - 0 Blue Guards FC

Goal Scorers:
Emilio Caligdong - 2', 4', 40'
Jesse Martindale - 9', 38', 60'
Patrick Bocobo - 12'
Gab Olowoyeye - 16'
John Melliza - 58', 63', 65', 70', 72'
Shag Shapay Johnson - 77'
Reynald Villareal - 81', 82'
Ronnie Aguisanda - 87'

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Mindanao qualifiers - updated results

PFF Smart National Club Championship - Mindanao qualifiers

Friday 18 : North Cotabato 8-2 Sultan Kudarat

Saturday 19 : South Cotabato 3-1 Sultan Kudarat

Sunday 20 : North Cotabato 2-1 South Cotabato

Maguindanao has been disqualified ?

North Cotabato qualify !

AFF Futsal Championship : Brunei vs Philippines

AFF (ASEAN) Futsal Championship in Thailand


Today :  Philippines 5-3  Brunei

Goals : Pasilan (3) , Simpron and Pasinabo

Group A

PHILIPPINES
Brunei
Thailand
Vietnam
Malaysia

UFL hires legal counsel in hopes of resolving Rufo case

• From: Karlo Sacamos

THE United Football League has finally sought legal advice to help resolve the ongoing contract dispute involving top clubs Global and Stallion for the services of reigning MVP Rufo Sanchez.

“UFL officially hired legal counsel on Thursday in order to aid and expedite the process of finding a resolution to the contract situation,” media officer Jing Jamlang told Spin.ph on Friday.

The UFL last week imposed a hefty one-year ban on Sanchez, who signed a contract with Global last month after insisting his previous deal with Stallion expired last August, which former coach Ernie Nierras disputed, saying the talented booter is still under contract until next year.

The UFL disciplinary committee decided to impose the sanction on Sanchez on the basis that the Spanish striker neglected the league order that he refrain from playing for Global until the contract dispute had been settled.

Global, which reiterated the regularity of Sanchez’s new contract by saying the signing was made in good faith, criticized the UFL disciplinary committee for remaining “silent on the more important issue involved, which is Mr. Sanchez’s contractual status.”

In a statement last week, Global said the UFL disciplinary committee dwell on minor issues which would have been solved already if not for its silence and indecision over the player's contractual status.

Global has since sought the legal counsel of the Philippine Football Federation Disciplinary Committee under chairman Atty. Enrico Ingles.

Jamalang said the UFL’s own legal group is expected to have a recommendation in the next few days. 

spin.ph

Azkals now SE Asia’s top team

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Drawing strength from the 3-1 victory over Pakistan that sealed its triumph in the Philippine Peace Cup last Tuesday, the Philippines climbed to its highest ranking in history, vaulting four places up to No. 137 in the latest International Football Federation (Fifa) rankings.

And for the first time, the Azkals supplanted Thailand as the No. 1-ranked side in Southeast Asia after the Thais dropped to No. 143 in the world.

Myanmar is the third best team in Southeast Asia at 149, followed by Vietnam (151), Singapore (155), Malaysia (160), Indonesia (162), Laos (165), Timor Leste (193), Brunei (193) and Cambodia (198).

Ironically, the Philippines is not sending a football team to the Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar this December.

The Fifa ranking system not only considers recent results, but also gives weight to the performance of the national team since 2010. The Azkals picked up 213 ranking points over the past month.

“This is the result of the hard work and sacrifice of those involved with the national team, particularly the players, and the support of the Philippine Football Federation,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami.

“Getting the top ranking in Southeast Asia has been our goal since we started with the national team. I’m glad that our efforts have been rewarded,” added Palami, who started supporting the team in 2010.

“We hope that the new ranking will continue to inspire the team to reach greater heights,” said PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

Though the Azkals, known for their resiliency, have played only seven matches this year, they endured a busy schedule in the past two years, allowing them to pick up significant ranking points.

Palami believes the rankings will give the Azkals a huge confidence boost as they prepare for the AFC Challenge Cup in the Maldives in May next year.

The winner of the Challenge Cup will qualify for the Asian Cup, which has been the target of the Azkals.

“We should not lose sight of the bigger picture, which is the Challenge Cup,” said Palami.

“We want to win that championship. To go there and to do that will take more than just a win in the Peace Cup as it will take a lot of effort from the stakeholders of the sport.”

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/124983/azkals-now-se-asias-top-team#ixzz2hzpE14lF

UFL Cup Thursday

17 OCTOBER 2013 (THURSDAY) / EMPERADOR STADIUM

19:00 M-11 Grp D General Trias International FC v Global FC


Global FC
Starting XI: Amani Aguinaldo, Misagh Bahadoran, Jeffrey Christiaens, Jason De Jong, Izzo Elhabib, Angel Guirado, Mark Hartmann, Valentine Kama, Roland Sadia, Ben Starosta & Patrick Delon Yao

FT: General Trias International FC 0 - 5 Global FC Goal Scorers: Izzo Elhabib - 9' Angel Guirado - 12', 28', 71' Aaron Altiche - 89'

21:00 M-12 Grp B Manila All-Japan FC v Kaya FC

General Trias Internacional FC
Starting XI: Robin Cainglet, Yong Ok Choi, Seong Wook Hong, Shin Seok Jeon, Julius Lorilla, Gi Won Nam, Alvin Obero, Dhan Jervin Orcine, Quziyval Pinat, Cristituto Pino & Woo Song

FT: Manila All-Japan FC 0 - 7 Kaya FC

Goal Scorers:
Anton Del Rosario - (PK) 25'
Danilo De Jong - 42'
Emannuel Mbata - 44'
Antonio Ugarte - 57'
Kenshiro Daniels - 73'
Mitchell Davidson - 77', 88'