30 October 2010

Baguio Football - 11-a side football fires off

LOCAL football squads are set to test the mettle of each other for the Melvin Jones Futbol 11-a side festival at the Melvin Jones football field.


The two day tournament which starts Saturday and ends Sunday will be an open division competition and is open to all football teams free of charge.


However, participating teams who wish to join the tournament must have at least three volunteer referees during each game.

Interested teams may confirm attendance at the venue with games starting at 9 in the morning.

Despite the lack of support and a grass- root development program, Baguio’s love for football is starting to catch-up, thanks to foreigners studying in the Summer Capital and some locals who have embraced the sport.

Sun Star Baguio

Special football squad fails to join Dili tourney

DESPITE efforts to bring the Special Olympics national soccer to Dili, Timor Leste, the team missed the chance to represent the country.


The special Olympic football squad is supposed to see action in the Oct. 26 to 31 Special Olympics soccer tournament with other teams from 18 Asian countries seeing action in the tournament.

An airfare worth P610,000 will surely sent the team to East Timor, however, the group only came through with P33,150 from kind hearted donors plus while the city council has pledged P100,000.

More Sun Star Baguio

AFC Women`s U16 - The wonderful soccer journey

DR. HENRY Joan Dimaandal swears that hearing the Philippine anthem being played before an international soccer game really touches one's heart. He felt something special when his daughter, 14-year-old Kyrhen Angela Dimaandal, and the rest of the Philippine team stood side by side for the pre-game ceremonies during the recent AFC Under-16 Women's Championship qualifier in Manila.


Not only Dr. Dimaandal. All of the kids playing for the RP team and their parents experienced that remarkable feeling for there was indeed a great sense of nationalism when one plays for flag and country.

This was just a soccer tournament alright, but the players from the host nation were simply exuberant for they have competed in a bigger stage and can proudly tell their friends and relatives that they had not only played but represented the country well.

The Philippines, mentored by Letecia Bautista, finished third in the qualifier against the best in the region on two wins and two losses. The girls beat Timor Leste and Singapore and bowed to Guam and eventual winner Vietnam. Not bad for a team that was formed only two weeks before the tournament.


Six of the players came from Davao City. Aside from Dimaandal, those who represented the country were Erika Lorraine Turtur, Noreen Kim Maligad, Sheinna April Chavez, Alyssa Marie Ang and Janna Raizel Barcemo, the youngest among them at 12.


Dr. Dimaandal said all the girls were fielded in the tournament, with Turtur playing for the entire four matches as goalkeeper without substitution. Dimaandal had a goal while Barcemo scored two goals in the East Timor game, even giving the Philippine team its first goal in the tournament with her 10th minute strike.


The six Davao girls were named to the RP team after a series of tryouts conducted by Philippine Football Federation (PFF) officials. And based on their credentials, these kids really have skills.


Dimaandal, Maligad, Ang and Turtur had competed in the prestigious Gothia World Youth Cup in Sweden in 2008. Barcemo, before playing in the AFC qualifier, also represented Team Philippines in the U-13 soccer tournament in Vietnam last July.


Now that the tournament has culminated, the girls are back in Davao and immediately took care of their studies after missing school for two weeks.


In no time, these kids will be back in the field to showcase their talents once again for there's more football matches to be played.

Sun Star Davao

EVFC, Don Bosco win bootfest crown

EXECUTIVE Village Football Club lady booters and Don Bosco Technical Institute-Victorias grabbed the Talisay City Executive Village Football Club Invitational Festival of Football 2010 title after defeating their respective opponents Friday at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College-Talisay football pitch.


The Bosconians stunned the Ateneans, who led the eliminations in the 13-under boys with a clean record, including a victory over DBTI (4-0), after defeating them at the penalty, 4-3.

Both squads held scoreless at the end of the regulation after they showcased great defenses at both ends, denying every aggressive attacks and possible goal attempts.


The Ateneans, earlier disappointed host-Talisay Selection by posting a 4-0 record while DBTI gave Kabankalan City FC a wide 14-0 advantage.


On the other hand, host-squad finished third overall after beating Central Philippine University, 3-2 at the penalty after ended scoreless in the regulation.


Meanwhile, co-host EVFC outplayed Miriam College-Manila, 2-0 to bag the crown in the ladies’ 18-under.

EVFC has controlled the game’s tempo all throughout the contest despite Miriam’s several goal attempts.

The co-host squad has earlier defeated Miriam in the elimination in a thrilling battle, 4-3.

Talisay Section, on the other hand, failed to avenge earlier loss against Bacolod Molasses after they bowed, 3-2.


In the closing ceremony, sponsors Mayor Eric Saratan and EVFC president Rafael Lizares Jr. pledged to continue support this event particularly in the grassroots where future national standouts hail.

Sun Star Bacolod

Limpag: Azkals show their grit

WAS ready to write off the Philippine team’s campaign in the Suzuki Cup when, as recently as two months ago, I learned the team still had no coach.


The funds mess that the PFF has found itself in, which has resulted to the CFA filing a case of falsification of public documents against the PFF president, also made me wonder if the morale of the RP team has been affected.

I shouldn’t have doubted the squad, thanks to Dan Palami and Simon McMenemy.

While the PFF president was making palami with the perks of his office, Palami, the team manager who’s bankrolling the team, had the Azkals train seriously for the Suzuki Cup qualifiers, not that rushed two-week training the team usually has.


They went to Leyte and when they got McMenemy, had a series of friendlies with Taiwanese teams.


The team’s fighting attitude, so different from the let’s-not-lose-by-much of the past, showed in their 2-2 draw against Laos.

After getting down 2-0, this team, unlike those of yesteryears, fought back.

I saw a clip of that game in YouTube and it makes you proud to be a Pinoy football fan.

After Phil Younghusband (Yep, it’s a weird name but there are Butts and a Buffon in the World Cup) equalized with a penalty in the 74th minute, you could clearly hear one of the Fil-Brits scream:

“WE NEED ONE MORE GUYS!!!”

They got it in the 94th minute. Yep, four minutes past full time.

Showing they were ready to take a gamble, Neil Etheridge, the goalkeeper, took the free kick, just before the halfcourt line.

Etheridge, the former England U16 keeper who’s riding the bench for Fulham FC in the Premier League, connected with James Younghusband, who headed past the Laos keeper for the equalizer.

After that game, the Philippines held Cambodia, 0-0, while Laos beat Timor Leste, 6-1, to take the first qualifier’s spot.

McMenemy credited the team spirit and their hard work for the past 10 months, which was made possible under Palami.

He told affsuzukicup.com. “When I arrived in the Philippines in August, the team’s preparations for the Suzuki Cup were already well under way… what I found was a group of good players who play together but not necessarily for each other. We had to work hard to get the team to gel…But the effort that they put in during the last few days was fantastic and they fully deserved to advance in the competition.”


The last time the Azkals advanced, they got hammered in the finals, losing to Thailand, 4-0, with captain Ali Borromeo getting injured. They also got hammered by Malaysia, 4-0, and a clip of that match was shown on CNN after a striker scored a wonderful bicycle shot.

But in their last game, when they had nothing to gain, they thwarted Myanmar’s dream of a semifinal spot by holding them to a 0-0 draw.

This early, I am upbeat of the RP team’s chances, even if it is in Group A with Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar. A semifinal spot is unlikely but not impossible.

And I also like McMenemy’s attitude.

“Once we get to the final rounds, every game will be tough. But the tougher the opponents, the more I think the boys can rise to the occasion.”
Now that’s the Azkal spirit.


P.S. What the team achieved in Laos makes you wonder what the boys—or RP football—could achieve had we had a president who is really concerned about the sport, doesn’t it? (Why, you think I could resist letting this one go?)

(www.football.cebunetwork.com)

Sun Star Cebu

29 October 2010

Leyte Football - Richard & Richard 7-a-side Football Festival



Footbal festival on October 30 and 31 at the Leyte Provincial Sports Complex in Tacloban City.

Ladies division , men`s open and 17 & under.

Top teams from Cebu, Maasin , Baybay, Ormoc and Borongan

More Leytesamardaily.net

28 October 2010

Cebu Futsal - 2010 Sykes Futsal Tournament














One-day company Futsal festival. Dubbed as 2010 Sykes FutSal Tournament, it will be held in CitiSports Gym (near Ayala and Marriott Hotel) this Sunday, October 31, 2010.

Cebu Football

Unigames - Local booters bid goodbye in UniGames bootfest

DEFENDING champion West Negros University Mustangs were joined by University of St. La Salle Stingers and University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Rams who finally ended their campaigns in the 15th University Games in Dumaguete last night.

WNU bowed to 2009 PRISAA tormentor San Beda College in a heartbreaking loss, 1-0 in the their quarterfinal match while the Stingers, No.2 in Bracket B, also lost to University of the Philippines, 1-0 at Silliman ballfield.

The Rams were also eliminated earlier by De La Salle University due to goal difference despite ended their match in a draw.


On the other hand, at Perdices stadium, Central Philippines University backed by nine Koreans on its lineup and topped bracket C lost to DLSU, 1-0 while De La Salle School-College of St. Benilde also beat Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation, Inc., 1-0 ending the chances of all provincial schools’ teams to dominate the said sports disciplines.

Today’s crossover semifinals will be a tossup between UP against SBC in the first game followed by DLSU going up against DLS School-College of St. Benilde.


The winners will dispute this year’s 15th University Games football title, while the losers will vie for third place.

Sun Star Bacolod

It was a team effort: McMenemy

VIENTIANE: Philippines coach Simon McMenemy feels that the building of strong team unity was the key factor in his side's successful campaign in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 qualifying competition in Vientiane.

The Philippines 18-man squad for the qualifiers was a disparate one that included talented locals like Ian Araneta and Emelio Caligdong and foreign-born players of Filipino extraction including goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, skipper Alexander Borromeo and the Younghusband brothers, James and Philip.

But the 10 locals and eight foreign-born players pulled together to book their spot in the group stage after a series of battling performances including a come-from-behind 2-2 draw against hosts Laos and a hard-fought goalless stalemate with Cambodia.

"When I arrived in the Philippines in August, the team's preparations for the Suzuki Cup were already well under way and they were taking this qualifying tournament very seriously," McMenemy said.

"But what I found was a group of good players who play together but not necessarily for each other. We had to work hard to get the team to gel together because we had a number of local players and a number of players who had flown in from all around the world.

"But the effort that they put in during the last few days was fantastic and they fully deserved to advance in the competition."

McMenemy, himself, may have no links to the country but the Englishman already feels as one with the players, who doused him with a bucket of water after their final game against Cambodia.

"It's difficult not to feel strongly for the Filipinos. They have such an infectious culture," said the 32-year-old.

"Qualifying for the group stage is a big thing for these guys and I'm delighted that all the hard work that they put in over the past 10 months has paid off."

McMenemy, who took charge of the Philippines team just two months ago, was slightly miffed though at seeing his side miss out on first place in the qualifiers.

"The team put in a lot of hard work preparing for the tournament and after playing three games in five days, you could see that they were tired at the end of the goalless draw against Cambodia.

"On that measure, I was pleased with the result. But I'm a bit of a perfectionist so there's slight air of disappointment that we just missed out on first place.

"I feel that we are a better team than our two draws would suggest. Of course we achieved our main target of qualification but missing out on first place after scoring a goal less than Laos just took a bit of the shine off of our achievement."

While qualification has been secured, McMenemy does not want his side to simply make up the numbers when the tournament proper kicks off in December.

They have been placed in Group B in Hanoi alongside defending champions Vietnam, Myanmar and three-time winners Singapore, who they will meet in their opening game on December 2.

Having never beaten any of their group opponents in their previous AFF Suzuki Cup outings, Philippines will be the distinct underdogs in their section. But McMenemy insists that his side can make an impression after their successful qualifying campaign.

"Once we get to the final rounds, every game will be tough. But the tougher the opponents, the more I think the boys can rise to the occasion," he said.

"It will be a great experience to savour especially playing the defending champions on their home ground but we are not just intending to show up. We will be preparing the team as well as we can and we intend to watch our opponents a fair amount over the next few weeks in the build-up to the tournament.

"It is quite difficult to plan against teams with great facilities and a great pool of talented players to choose from. But we will be doing everything we can to get some good results in the group stage."

affsuzukicup.com

Unigames - USC GIRLS MAKE FOOTBALL SEMIS

Grabbing the headline are the USC football belles who became the only players from Visayas and Mindanao to advance to the semifinal round following their, 2-1 bashing of Xavier University. They will face UP today at 3 pm. The other semis pairing features top-ranked De La Salle University vs Ateneo.

Loi Mejias scored USC’s first goal in the 21st minute before Renee Songalia added another for a, 2-0 lead. Xavier closed in with a goal at the 75th minute and scrambled late to get the equalizing goal but failed as USC marched to the Final Four.

Cebu Daily News

Davao Football - PARTY FOR A CAUSE

The Tambayan Center for Children's Rights will hold "Party for a Cause" on Friday, October 29, 2010. It will be held at the Molave Sports Pub Resto(Jacinto St.), 7:00pm. This is a benefit dinner to help raise funds for the Boys and Girls Teams, who will participate in the "1st Football For Good Championship" in La Salle, Greenhills, San Juan Metro Manila on December 17 - 22. Tickets are PHP700. Please try and come out and show your support.

Davao FA

WV Football Squads to UniGames Quarterfinals

By Cyrus M. Garde

DUMAGUETE CITY- Four Western Visayas football squads have advanced to the quarterfinals starting today in the 15th University Games football tournament held here in separate venues.

Two Bacolod universities football squads, University (WNU) of St. La Salle (USLS) and defending champion West Negros University are facing separate quarterfinalists starting at 8AM today at Silliman Ballfield here.

USLS Stingers, the No. 2 team in Bracket C will face University of the Philippines, the bracket A topnotch at 8AM, while West Negros University will renew its encounter with San Beda College when they met in the National PRISAA at Naga City in 2009 where SBC defeated the defending champion in the final encounter. Last February 2010 where the 1st National SCUAA-PRISAA was held in Manila, WNU reclaimed the title in the absence of SBC.

This will be the match of two former National football coaches, former RP team player Norman "Nonoy" Fegidero and Aris Caslib.

Negros Daily Bulletin

27 October 2010

WNU beats UNO-R in UniGames football

After losing its NOPSSCEA crown, the West Negros University collegiate football team made sure that University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos will not duplicate the feat at the University Games by turning back the Recoletos boys, 1-0, yesterday at the Julio Sy/ Felomino Cimafranca field in Silliman University, Dumaguete.

Regaining some of its lost pride against the Unorians was not easy for the Wesnecans as both teams played good defense in a scoreless first half of the game.

Determined to preserve their UniGames title, WNU played more aggressively in the second half and registered three close attempts before Alfie Sibuha’s finally connected from 30 yards in the 60th minute from a cross pass escaped the clutches of UNO-R’s keeper.

Lemuel Unabia tried to make it 2-0 for the WNU side but his center kick failed to go in.

While he is happy with the win, WNU coach and former national team mentor Norman Fegidero said they are in a different competition and they are trying to put the NOPSSCEA loss behind them.

Surpassing the test against UNO-R primed the Wesnecans for their next match, presumably against the De La Salle University which was playing against Xavier University as of press deadline.

Meanwhile, coach Freddie “Nene” Lazarita and his University of St. La Salle team blew away University of Northern Philippines, 20-0.

The La Sallians will face next Central Phillippine University, whose Korean-national reinforced team routed UNP, 12-0 in an earlier match-up.

UNO-R, on the other hand, will play against Xavier University tomorrow to remain in contention for the crown.

Former National PRISAA champion San Beda College, mentored by former national coach Aris Caslib, will meet College of St. Benilde, in tomorrow’s 3 p.m. game.

Quarterfinal games are scheduled on October 28 with the semifinals to be played the next day. Championship game is set on October 30, 10 a.m. at the Perdices Coliseum.*NAB

Visayan Daily Star

Villaflor: Azkals 2.0

GIVEN up for dead many months ago, the Philippine Men’s National Team wrote its resurrection story and advanced to the AFF Suzuki Cup, Southeast Asia’s premier tournament slated this December.

A point against Cambodia last Tuesday was enough for the Philippines to secure its spot in Vietnam along with host nation Laos, which took the top spot in the qualifying tournament that was decided on goal difference.

The results of the qualification, however, were cause for both celebration and concern.

Azkals to us fans, the Philippines dumped doormats Timor, 5-0, with an Ian Araneta hat trick in the first match, drew the hosts 2-2 in a feisty comeback punctuated with a James Younghusband goal deep into injury time, and held desperate but dangerous Cambodia, 0-0, in the last game.


The result of the first match was expected, since the Azkals were facing a team ranked nearly 50 places lower. The game produced a thing of beauty: the lone second half goal triggered by 20 uninterrupted two-touch passes, save for the final run that unleashed the decisive cross for Araneta’s hat trick off James’ headed pass.


The whole sequence on the 57th minute provided a glimpse of a team’s capacity to mesmerize opponents. But as for beautiful goals, that was it. The Philippine team would score only twice in the scrappiest of ways after that, and it came at the expense of the host nation, which lost a 2-0 half-time lead to settle for a draw.

Scrappy the result against Laos might be, the match revealed character and maturity from the Azkals. It did so against Chinese Taipei in an invitational tourney early this month and repeated the feat against the host nation last Sunday: on the brink of losing, the Azkals clawed for an equalizer until the dying seconds and got one.

The result, of course, made life easier for Coach Simon McMenemy. A draw against Cambodia, which needed a win or an improbable loss by Laos to Timor to advance, would suffice, and most likely McMenemy’s game plan was to carry a defensive mindset, keep errors to a minimum, and stick to counter attacks.


Still delirious from the results of the first two games, the fans wanted that, too, and then some. But what we saw during the last game against Cambodia forced us to come to terms with the truth: the Philippine team is far from becoming the dominant force we imagined it to be.


In its last game, the Philippines allowed Cambodia to harass its defense with an excess of chances. Cambodia was a goal post or a crossbar away from scoring. The Azkals, on the other hand, wasted its counter attacks with absent-minded positioning, a laggardly pace, and terrible finishing. The “better” Azkals team, perhaps the imagined one, would have finished off the Cambodians with ease. Instead, the mediocre version was lucky to get away with a draw.


When it heads for the finals of the biennial tournament in the first week of December, the Philippine team will find itself playing on a different level of football against co-host and defending champion Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar.


In the last AFF Suzuki Cup, powerhouses Vietnam, co-hosts Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia crushed the much weaker qualifying teams (Laos and Cambodia) by four-, five- even six-goal margins. This time, the Philippines faces a similar thrashing.


Among fans and pundits, this is no time for foolish optimism, as the team’s real chances of making an impact are slim. Then again, stranger things have happened in football. Let’s just hope the Philippine team that would show up this December tournament is not the version that plodded against Cambodia but the one that mesmerizes, the one that hungers for goals, the one that claws its way against the toughest of odds, the one we love to imagine.


(nsvillaflor@gmail.com)

Sun Star Cebu

Aboitiz Cup - Crazy Horse win

Crazy Horse opened its title-retention bid with a 4-0 routing of DBUFC in last weekend's resumption of the 13th Aboitiz Football Cup at the Aboitiz Sportsfield along the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

The Men's League defending champions spent the whole match picking holes on the DBUFC's defense and never conceded a single goal to their opponents.

In the other match, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) opened the tournament with a 12-1 annihilation of the DB Magone FC.

In the Men's Cup, the USPF Alumni continued to wreak havoc against its opponents by surviving Xantos FC, 2-1.

The University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R), on the other hand, had a successful opening match against DBUFC 1, whom they devastated 10-2.

In the Players 8, the Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) 1 , further extended its winning streak with a 4-2 edging of the Bright Academy.

DBTC 2, on the other hand, slowly climbed up the ranks with a 5-0 blanking of DBTC 3 while DBTC 4 executed a 9-0 routing of DBTC A.

The last match in the division saw DBTC C squeaking past DBTC B, 2-1.

In the Players 10, DBTC E continued to chalk up points with another win, this time against DBTC B, 8-1.

DBTC A slumped further in the bottom rung with another loss against DBTC D, 5-2, while Giuseppe FC enjoyed a 5-0 annihilation of Subangdaku Football Club (SFC).

Rounding up the winners in the division was Cebu International School (CIS) who edged Bright Academy, 3-1.

In the Boys 12, DBTC 1 and Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) padded their leads after winning their weekend assignments.

DBTC 1 shamed SJSM-3BROS, 17-0, while SHS-AdC dumped DBTC 2, 6-1.

In the Boys 14, MTI pads its winning points with an impressive 18-0 victory over the Don Bosco (DB) Boys Home while the DBTC 1 edged SHS-AdC, 2-1.

In the Girls 17, St. Theresa's College avenged its opening loss against SHS-AdC as their second meeting ended in a 1-all draw. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON

Cebu Daily News

October 24 Round-up: Pasargard Make Dramatic UFL Entrance

by Josue Jamlang

The Alabang Country Club was abuzz once again on Sunday afternoon, as the United Football League held three exciting matches. It was a day of mixed fortunes for the new clubs, while the resident First Division teams Loyola ATR KimEng and Green Archers Orient Freight proved why they are in the country’s elite competition.

Pasargard provided the perfect platform for an entertaining afternoon, triumphing over the usually solid Laos FC in extremely dramatic fashion. It started off great for the Iranian side, who were leading 2-0 at half-time despite having to play most of the period with only ten men.


Although in an unfamiliar position, coach Jovanie Villagracia’s team talk at the interval proved to be effective, as Laos came back strong in the second half. Facing a two-goal deficit, the determined side picked up the pace and made it difficult for Pasargard to enjoy any sort of prolonged possession of the ball. Their pressure paid immediate dividends, as they clawed their way even, before going ahead 3-2 with less than a quarter of the game to go. While it seemed Laos had completed a dramatic turnaround, the Iranians had other ideas, as they pressed forward and capitalized on some shoddy defending to equalize. Minutes later, with the game just about to end, Pasargard breached the Laos defense one last time, announcing their arrival to the LBC-UFL Cup with an incredible comeback.


Loyola ATR KimEng then comfortably dispatched of Mama Africa in the second game at 3pm, strolling to a 4-2 win despite being far from their best. Green Archers Orient Freight, who played simultaneously, marked their debut under the reign of new coach Jose Ramon Garcia in promising fashion, defeating new club Inter Manila 1-0 in a tight and cagey affair.


The United Football League is in full swing on Halloween, with four games taking place at the Alabang Country Club, and three at the Nomads Sports Club. Global Smartmatic will be making their long-awaited debut, while the always competitive Armed Forces clubs Navy and Army Fritz and Macziol will also be kicking off their respective campaigns. Meanwhile, Loyola ATR KimEng will test their 100% record when they lock horns with the mighty Union. Plenty of action is in store for everyone on October 31, so don’t miss out! Check the www.footballalliance.ph website for complete fixtures. This is the UFL. It’s OUR Game!

UNIGAMES - USC booters recover

AFTER losing its opener to De La Salle University (DLSU), the University of San Carlos (USC) bounced back impressively by beating hometown team Silliman University (SU), 5-0, in the 2010 University Games in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.


Rosetone Barinan fueled the offense of USC and finished a goal shy of a hat-trick following a scoreless performance by USC against DLSU, 7-0.

Nica Trebol scored the first goal of USC in the match and in the tournament, in the 13th minute.


Kim Arcenas added another in the 44th to end the first half of action with a 2-0 advantage.

The halftime break didn’t cool off the sizzling offensive onslaught by USC as Barinan scored back-to-back goals in the 50th and 55th minutes.

Loi Mejias added the icing on the cake with a strike in the 74th.

With the victory, USC has a huge probability of reaching the semi-finals if it defeats Xavier University (XU) today, because the latter drew with SU, 0-0, last Monday.

DLSU is at the top of Group A with three points from an unbeaten slate, trailed by USC also with three from a win and a loss. XU and SU sit at the bottom with a point each.

Sun Star Cebu

RP booters 2nd in Laos, head for Vietnam in Suzuki Cup

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will be heading to Hanoi, Vietnam in December after winding up second to host Laos in the Suzuki Cup qualifying tournament at the National Stadium, Vientiane, Tuesday night.

The RP booters were edged out by Laos, 6-1. The victory gave Laos the top spot in the 4-nation meet.

The second-placing has given the nationals a ticket to Group B with defending champion Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar.

On the other hand, Laos will be bracketed in Group A with Thailand, host Indonesia and Malaysia. Some football observers believe this group is much stronger than Vietnam’s.

In their first match, the Filipino players were held to a scoreless draw by Cambodia by the difference of a solitary goal.

Thank you, mentors

Forward Ian Araneta, who had a hat-trick of headers in the 5-0 lacing of Timor Leste last Friday, noted that the team’s improved form was due to the system installed by former English coach Des Bulpin, who resigned last July.

“We owe a lot to coach Des and, of course, the management which has been very supportive to our needs,” he said.

Taking over the coaching helm is Bulpin’s compatriot, Simon McMenemy, who is on a 2-month trial.

Araneta also acknowledged national team manager Dan Palami, who has been bankrolling the team since it began training in December last year.

“There’s hardly been a management team that’s been this supportive in my years with the national team and we wouldn’t have qualified if not for the help of coach Des and Palami,” he said.

Heads up

RP co-skippers Aly Borromeo and Chieffy Caligdong said they were optimistic of a better showing this time in the December 2 to 9 tournament.

Borromeo provided sterling backline defense with Rob Gier, and was also a consistent threat on set plays.

Meanwhile Caligdong, who bucked a groin injury in the match against the Cambodians, said they should be cautious for the event.
“We need to prepare better to stand a chance,” he said.

The RP side will be reinforced by Filipino-German midfielder Stephan Schrock, who plays in the Bundesliga Second Division, in the Hanoi meet.

However, the team might miss goalie mainstay Neil Etheridge because of his commitments to his club Fulham in the English Premier League.

abs-cbn news

AFF Suzuki Cup finals in Vietnam

2. December Philippines - Singapore , 17.00 at My Dinh Stadium , Hanoi

5. December Vietnam - Philippines , 19.30 at My Dinh Stadium , Hanoi

8. December Philippines - Myanmar , 19.30 at Hang Day Stadium , Hanoi

affsuzukicup.com

26 October 2010

Philippines - Cambodia




Video number 2 (better) affsuzukicup

PHILIPPINES SQUEEZE THROUGH TO FINAL ROUND

VIENTIANE (26 Oct 2010) – The Philippines today secured their place in the final rounds of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 in December after sharing points with Cambodia in their last qualifying match at the National Sports Complex Stadium here.

Despite the draw, the Filipinos finished ahead of Cambodia on better goal difference, thus confirming their berth in the finals. Philippines and Cambodia have five points each after today’s 0-0 draw.

At this stage, Philippines top the standings but the outcome of the Laos-Timor Leste game later will alter the final positions.

Laos have two points and need to defeat Timor Leste by at least three goals to ensure they finish second in the standings and make the final cut. If they win by a margin of five goals or more, Laos will finish as the champions here with the Philippines ending second.
Cambodia are in with a long shot.

They have to pray that Laos are not able to score enough goals to qualify. While Cambodia were hoping for the best, the Philippines were celebrating in their dressing room and would quickly forgotten the seven bookings they received today.

“They threw everything they had even the kitchen sink,” quipped Simon McMenemy, the chief coach of the Philippines after the match.

“We showed in this qualifying competition that we will not go down without a fight and that is the quality which we will bring to the final round.”

There was only one option left to both teams, win to ensure a place in the AFF Suzuki Cup final rounds in December. And so it was hardly surprising that both sides were aggressively pushing hard to score.

Cambodia’s bench dropped in despair when Sun Sophana’s freekick was tipped over by Neil Etheridge.
It was disappointment again when Keo Sokngon’s shot from the left edge of the box hit the post. Two minutes later, it was the turn of the Philippines bench to despair when Philip Younghusband’s shot was cleared away by a defender.

Cambodia simply could not believe their luck when in the 34th minute, a brilliant shot from Sun Sophana hit the underside of the crossbar and was quickly shoved out by the keeper. San Narith pounced on the rebound but Neil managed to grab it.

Neil had in fact been at the centre of attention as he had been spot on throughout the first half to clear away all the crosses arriving into the box.

The second half saw loads of action and aggression on the pitch as both sides desperately tried to break the duck. The Filipino strikers Ian Araneta and Philip Younghusband, along with his brother James, were constantly harassing the Cambodian defence but were simply unable to make it through.

In the dying minutes,Philip could have sealed it but his shot found the bar. But the draw proved to be good enough for the Philippines to qualify for the final round for the second time since 2006.

“We played well today even though we did not win,” said Lee Tae Hon, the chief coach of Cambodia.
“It is disappointing not to qualify but we will develop these players for the next competition.”

TEAMS

Philippines: Neil Etheridge (GK), Robert Gier, Anton Del Rosario, Roel Gener, James Younghusband, Manuel Gelito Ott, Philip Younghusband, Alexander Borromeo (cpt), Ian Araneta (Yanti 87th), David Basa (emilio, 51st), Ray Jonsson
Subs: Eduard Sacapano (GK), Yanti Armentia Barsales, Emelio Caligdong, Mark Ferrer, Nestorio Margase, Joebel Bermejo
Suspended:Jason De Jong
Coach: Simon Alexander McMenemy
Scorers:
Yellow: Anton (28th), David (33rd), Manuel (66th), Ian (78th), Ray (82nd), Neil (83rd), Alexander (85th)
Red:

Cambodia: Ouk Mic (GK, cpt), Lay Raksmey, Tieng Tiny, Sok Rithy, Khim Borey (Phourng 83rd), San Narith, Kouch Sokumpheak, Khoun Laboravy (Nuth 75th), Keo Sokngon (Tum Saray 64th), Sun Sophana, Pheak Rady
Subs: Peng Bunchay (GK), Sok Rithy, Tum Saray, Phourng Soksana, Eang Piseth, Nuth Sinoun, Pheak Rady
Coach: Lee Tae Hon
Scorers:
Yellow: Khim (34th), Sun Sophana (53rd)
Red:

aseanfootball.org

AFF Suzuki Cup - Final Standings

Final standings in AFF Suzuki Cup :

Team MP W D L GF GA Pts

Laos 3 1 2 0 8 3 5
Philippines 3 1 2 0 7 2 5
Cambodia 3 1 2 0 4 2 5
Timor Leste 3 0 0 3 1 15 0

Laos win qualifiers , Philippines second in group . Both qualified for finals :

Group A :
Indonesia (host), Thailand , Laos and Malaysia

Group B :

Vietnam (host) , Singapore , Myanmar and Philippines

AFF Suzuki Cup : Philippines vs Cambodia , 0-0 FT ! Philippines qualify for AFF Suzuki Cup finals !

AFF Suzuki Cup today :

Philippines - Cambodia , 4 pm ( 5 pm Philippines)

Laos - Timor Leste , 6.30 pm (8.30 pm Philippines)

Livestream : www.bet365.com (need to register)and http://www.fromsport.com/

Livescores : www.futbol24.com and www.spbolive.com

Cambodia news , visit Cambodian football blog or Kingdom of Football

Philippines qualify with a draw or a win against Cambodia !

Good luck !

Update from Cedelf Tupas in Laos :

GK Neil Etheridge
DF David Basa, Aly Borromeo, Rob Gier, Anton del Rosario
MF Rey Jonnson, Roel Gener, Manny Ott, James Younghusband
FW Phil Younghusband, Ian Araneta

Chieffy Caligdong hasn't fully recovered from the groin injury he suffered against Laos yet and might come in as substitute. De Jong is suspended after picking up his second yellow against Laos.

25 October 2010

Preview - Philippines v Cambodia

VIENTIANE: Philippines may only require a point on Tuesday against Cambodia to progress to the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010, but coach Simon McMenemy insists that his side will not be approaching their final qualifying match with a defensive mindset.

James Younghusband's last-ditch equaliser in a 2-2 draw with hosts Laos on Sunday sent the Pinoys back to the top of the qualification group, ahead of Cambodia on goal difference. With the top two progressing to the group stage, they need only to avoid defeat at the National Sports Complex in Vientiane to advance.

McMenemy, however, does not want to allow his charges to sit on their advantage.

Said the Englishman: "It was a crucial goal at the end of the match against Laos. We deserved it and in the bigger picture, it made a significant difference for what we need in our final game in order to qualify for the group stage.

"However, we do intend to go into the game with Cambodia looking for a draw. We want to win."

While disappointed with his side's first-half performance against Laos, McMenemy was pleased with the grit and determination that his players showed in battling back from a two-goal deficit.

"I felt that we were deserving of a point and you can see a lot of improvement in the players. In the past, Philippines footballers have been criticised for not showing too much passion. If the team was losing by two goals, they were unlikely to come back from that position.

"But we have been working on our team spirit and the players showed after half-time that they were not prepared to lie down and fought until the very end. I'm very pleased with the passion and endeavour that they showed.

Emelio Caligdong was stretchered off after taking a kick to the inside of his thigh in the first half but McMenemy believes that he should be ready for Tuesday's match.

"He's feeling very sore right now but we will put him his paces in training and he should be okay," McMenemy explained. "He's like rubber so he should bounce back quickly."

Cambodia have lost their last two AFF Suzuki Cup meetings with Philippines, going down 0-1 in Bacolod in the 2007 qualifiers and 2-3 in the Phnom Penh two years ago.

And despite his side's morale-boosting 4-2 victory over Timor Leste on Sunday, coach Lee Tae-hon acknowledged that it will be a much harder task to break down the well-built and well-drilled Filipinos.

"Philippines have a good team and they are also strong physically," said the South Korean.

"However, we have a determined side who want to win. I will prepare them as well as possible and I have strong confidence that they can get past this qualifying round."

The winners of the match will top the qualifying group regardless of the result of Tuesday's later game between Laos and Timor Leste.

aseanfootball.org

AFF Suzuki Cup : Cambodia - Timor Leste

AFF Suzuki Cup : Laos - Philippines

AFF Suzuki Cup - Standings

Standings in AFF Suzuki Cup after two matches :

Team MP W D L GF GA Pts
Philippines 2 1 1 0 7 2 4
Cambodia 2 1 1 0 4 2 4
Laos 2 0 2 0 2 2 2
Timor Leste 2 0 0 2 2 9 0

Matches Tuesday :

Philippines - Cambodia at 4 pm (5 pm Philippines)
Laos - Timor Leste at 6.30 pm (7.30 pm Philippines)

Philippines qualify with a win or draw against Cambodia
Cambodia qualify with a win.
Laos qualify with a win against Timor Leste.

Both Cambodia and Philippines qualify if Laos dont win against Timor Leste.

Both matches tomorrow can be seen at www.bet365.com

24 October 2010

Talisay City-EVFC invitational bootfest slated Oct. 27-29

Aimed to provide another avenue for grassroots development in football while in the midst of school breaks, the Talisay City-Executive Village Football Club Invitational Festival of Football 2010 is set to kick off on October 27, 2010 at Carlos Hilado Memorial State College-Talisay football pitch.


This 11-aside tourney will be brawled in two categories: Under-18 ladies and Under-13 boys and will follow the Asian Football Confederation format.

Among the teams expected to suit up in the tournament are Manila-based teams Ateneo de Manila and Miriam College-Manila while Central Visayas teams confirmed are Cebu Football Association and Antoniese Football Club of Dumaguete.

Also joining the competition is Central Philippine University in Iloilo and local squads from the Kabankalan City Football Club, Bago City FC, Victorias-Don Bosco Technical Institute, St. John’s Football Club, EFVC, Bacolod Molasses and host-Talisay squad.

Bacolod Molasses, headed by Larry Lituana and Melky Benedicto, consist of standouts from Celta de Victorias Football Club, Domingo Lacson National High School, Bacolod City National High School and Negros Occidental National High School.

This competition is a continuous joint-effort of the City of Talisay under Mayor Eric Saratan and EVFC headed by its president Rafael Lizares Jr. (Jerome S. Galunan Jr.)

Sun Star Bacolod

AFC U-16 women - Davao girls shine in RP win

TWO girl booters from Davao City grabbed international spotlight when they came through with impressive performances for the Philippines in the AFC Under-16 Women's Championship Qualifying Round (Group A) at the University of Makati football field.


The pride of Davao, Janna Raizel Barcemo and Kyrhen Dimaandal, accounted for three of the seven goals as the country crushed Timor-Leste, 7-0, for its first win in the tournament.

Barcemo, only 12 years old but full of soccer skills, scored two goals and actually authored the first goal for Team Philippines in the competition when she struck in the 10th minute.

The early goal coming from the young Barcemo sparked wild celebration from among Filipino supporters and set the tone for a Philippine romp. Barcemo scored her second goal in the 22nd.

Dimaandal, another talented star in the making, scored the country's last goal in the 80th minute.

It was a big win for the RP team as it opened the event with a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Guam.

The Davao Football Association (DFA) could not help but expressed elatiom on the performance of the Davao youngsters.

"They are really doing great. We very much appreciate the support of their parents. Because of them the kids were able to join the national team and make not only Davao but our country proud," DFA secretary general said.

Aside from Barcemo and Dimaandal, four more players from Davao are in the RP line-up. They are Noreen Kim Maligad, Alyssa Marie Ang, Erika Lorraine Turtur and Sheinna April Chavez.

According to Dimaandal's father, Dr. Henry Dimaandal, her daughter and Maligad sustained suffered minor injuries and were doubtful for the Vietnam match. (CRAM)

Sun Star Davao

YOUNGHUSBANDS PROPEL PHILIPPINES TO THE TOP













VIENTIANE (24 Oct 2010) – Philippines battled back from a two-goal deficit to hold hosts Laos in a gripping encounter at the National Sports Complex Stadium here tonight. With time on the scoreboard up, James Younghusband rose high to nod in the equaliser to keep alive his team’s hopes of advancing to the final rounds of the prestigious AFF Suzuki Cup 2010.

Laos had taken a two-goal lead at the break with superb strikes from Soukaphone Vongchiengkham and Kanyala Sysomvang in the 29th and 41st minutes. But the Philippines had other plans and clawed their way back into contention with a penalty from Philip Younghusband in the 76th minute. That goal provided the fuel that was needed to fire up the Filipinos. And in deep in extratime, the older Younghusband notched the second goal.

The Philippines, top of the standing with four points, still have a tough journey to the final rounds as they now have to beat Cambodia, who earlier today defeated Timor Leste 4-2. Laos, currently third in the standings, have an easy tie against Timor Leste in their last match on Tuesday.

The two final matches will be a thrill as Cambodia and Philippines try to outdo each other while Laos will attempt to score more than two goals to ensure they make it through.

“We were a little over-confident at the start. As such, in the first half we put ourselves in a very difficult position,” said Simon McMenemy, the chief coach of Philippines. “But were a lot better in the second half and the penalty turned the game for us.”

Philippines fielded the same players they did against Timor Leste two days ago but their hopes that the winning lineup would deliver the goals failed miserably in the first half. Despite the obvious difference in physique, the Laos players kept the ball low and used their speed to their advantage.

In the 19th minute, Laos were celebrating after Soukaphone forced in the opener during a scramble in front of goal. Philippines keeper Neil Etherige protested that the ball had not crossed the line but the referee ruled otherwise.

The goal fired up the Laos players and they went hunting for more goals. With the 2,000 over fans cheering them on, the home boys almost doubled the score in the 33rd minute but Kanyala’s shot found the side-netting.

Kanyala was leaping in joy in the 41st minute as his thundering drive screamed into the top corner beyond the reach of the Filipino keeper. In the dying minutes, goalscorers, Soukaphone and Kanyala, had brilliant chances but were just off the mark.

“It was always going to be tough and hard and for all the pressure they put on us, I felt that we coped well,” added David Booth, the chief coach of Laos.
“But the penalty turned the game against us and that was the turning point which led to the draw.”

TEAMS

Philippines: Neil Etheridge (GK), Robert Gier, Anton Del Rosario, James Younghusband, Manuel Gelito Ott, Philip Younghusband, Alexander Borromeo (cpt), Emelio Calidong (David 32nd), Jason De Jong, Ian Araneta, Ray Jonsson
Subs: Eduard Sacapano (GK), Roel Gener, Yanti Armentia Barsales, Mark Ferrer, Nestorio Margase, Joebel Bermejo, David Basa
Coach: Simon Alexander McMenemy
Scorers: Philip Younghusband (76th – pen), James Younghusband (94th)
Yellow: Jason De Jong (16th), Neil (30th), James (42nd), Manuel (60th), Anton (90th)


Laos: Sengphachan Bounthisanh (GK), Saynakhonevieng Phommapanya, Kitsada (c), Ketsada Souksavanh, Lamnao Singtao (Khampeng 90th), Kanlaya Sysomvang, Keoviengphet Lithideth, Kaysone Soukhavong, Konekham Inthammavong (Phatthana 67th), Kovanh Namthavixay, Soukaphone Vongchiengkham (Visay 83rd),
Subs: Seng Athit Somvang (GK), Visay Phapouvaninh, Manolom Phomsouvanh, Viengsavanh Sayyaboun, Khamla Pinkeo, Phatthana Syvilay, Khampeng Sayavutthi

Coach: David Booth
Scorers: Soukaphone (29th), Kanyala (41st)
Yellow: Kanyala (18th), Konekham (61st), Kitsada (75th), Saynakhonevieng (77th)

aseanfootball.org

23 October 2010

AFF Suzuki Cup - Laos vs Philippines 2-2 FT !!

AFF Suzuki Cup Sunday :

Cambodia - Timor Leste , 4 pm Laos times (5 pm Philippines) 4-2

Philippines - Laos , 6.30 pm (7.30 pm Philippines)

Livestream : www.bet365.com , (need to register but you dont have to pay) bet365.com showing both matches

Other possible livestreams : myp2eu.com, atdhe.net or rajangan.net

Livescores : futbol24.com and spbolive.com

Good luck !

AFC U-16 Women - RP XI Faces Singapore

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines hopes to end its campaign with a bang when it battles Singapore this Sunday at the close of the AFC Under-16 Women's Championship 2011 Qualifying Round 1 (Group A) at the ULTRA football field.

Toting similar 2-1 records, the vastly improving Nationals and the Singaporeans collide at 3 p.m. with the winner emerging third place in the five-team tournament.

Powerhouse Vietnam and Guam dispute the pennant when they clash at 9 a.m. Both teams sport identical 3-0 marks in the event serving as a follow-up to the country’s successful staging of the AFC Under-19 Women's Championship Group A Qualifiers last month.

The game between Philippines and Singapore will be shown on pinoysportsidols.com.

Manila Bulletin

Video number 2 : Philippines vs Timor Leste

22 October 2010

Video - Philippines vs Timor Leste

AFC U-16 Women`s Championship qualifiers

Vietnam beat Philippines 3-0 in AFC U-16 Women`s championship qualifiers in Makati.

Singapore beat Timor-Leste 6-0

Last match on Sunday against Singapore

AFF Suzuki Cup - Laos drew Cambodia



Laos played 0-0 against Cambodia in the Second match today in AFF Suzuki Cup.

IAN HATTRICK SEALS FILIPINO ROUT









VIENTIANE (22 Oct 2010) – Two years ago, the Philippines struggled to edge Timor Leste 1-0 in the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifying tournament. Today, in the same qualifying event at the National Sports Complex Stadium here, the Filipinos were four-goals up at the break. By the end of the match, the Philippines celebrated a convincing 5-0 win over Timor Leste in the opening game of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Qualifying Round.

Striker Ian Boyana Araneta led the Filipino charge today and blasted a hattrick while Philip Younghusband and Anton Del Rosario helped complete the rout. The Philippines have come here very well prepared and aiming to make the final cut. After today’s solid performance, their dream could well become a reality when this tournament ends next week.

However, the Philippines will have to secure good results against hosts Laos in two days and Cambodia on Tuesday, if they are to advance to the Finals in December. And the truth is the matches against laos and Cambodia will be their toughest here. “It was a good start and I was pleased with their performance. We created chances and did not allow them the chance to move forward,” said Philippines coach Simon McMenemy. “We have to prepare for the second match which will be a lot harder.”

Like Philippines, Timor Leste’s remaining matches are against Laos and Cambodia. The Timorese will have to get their act together if they hope to keep alive their chances, which at this stage are very slim indeed.

Even before the game kicked-off today, the Philippines looked confident and it showed soon after the game began. The Filipinos charged up and started looking for ways through the defence. It did not take long as nine minutes into the game, the lanky James Younghusband saw his header saved and his ensuing shot pushed out by the keeper.

A freekick from James in the 20th minute found skipper Alexander Borromeo, whose solid header struck the crossbar. The inevitable happened six minutes later when Ian Araneta nailed a rebound from a shot from teammate Emelio Caligdong.

Under pressure to keep the Filipinos at bay, the Timor Leste players grew desperate and a heavy tackle from a defender saw referee Leow Tham Hoe award a penalty in the 30th minute. Philip Younghusband, brother of James, saw his thundering shot hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce into goal.

Philippines were not done yet and reeled in two more goals through Anton Del Rosario and Ian in the 32nd and 41st minutes.

There was no stopping Ian and he went on to complete his hattrick in the 57th minute.

Timor Leste has a few breaks but they failed to take their chances. In the 74th minute, Timor had a great chance when Eusebio Almeida split through the defence. He tried but failed to beat English Premier League keeper Neil Etheridge who plucked the ball from Eusebio’s feet.


TEAMS

Timor Leste: Diamantino Leong (GK), Lamberto Gama, Miguel Soares, Helder Ricardo (c), Eusebio De Almeida, Joao Pereira, Emilio Da Silva, Chiquito Do Carmo (Cipriano, 62nd), Zeferino Martins, Anggisu Barbosa, Vicente Freitas (Marcelino, 70th).
Subs: Leonel Da Silva Araujo (GK), Elijeu Soares, Juvitu Da Silva, Salvador Carlos, Cipriano Branco, Marcelino Fernandes, Carlo Ximenes
Coach: Pedro Correia De Almeida
Scorers:
Yellow: Helder (63rd), Cipriano (65th), Lamberto (72nd), Emilio (91st), Joao (92nd)
Red:

Philippines: Neil Etheridge (GK), Robert Gier, Anton Del Rosario, James Younghusband (Joebel, 72nd), Manuel Gelito Ott (Nestorio, 80th), Philip Younghusband (Yanti, 65th), Alexander Borromeo (c), Emelio Calidong, Jason De Jong, Ian Araneta, Ray Jonsson
Subs: Eduard Sacapano (GK), Roel Gener, Yanti Armentia Barsales, Mark Ferrer, Nestorio Margase, Joebel Bermejo, David Basa
Coach: Simon Alexander McMenemy
Scorers: Ian Boyana Araneta (27th, 41st, 57th), Philip (30th-pen), Anton Del Rosario (32nd)
Yellow: Jason (53rd), Robert (83rd)
Red:

Referee: Leow Tham Hoe (S’pore)
Assistant 1: Preecha Kangram (Thai)
Assistant 2: Loung Lath Somphayanh (Lao)

affsuzukicup

21 October 2010

Friday : Philippines - Timor Leste 5-0 FT

AFF Suzuki Cup first match on Friday against Timor Leste on Friday.

Start : 16.00 Laos time (4 pm) , 5 pm Philippines.

Previous matches :

14.11.2006 : Philippines vs Timor-Leste 7-0 in Bacolod
17.10.2008 : Philippines vs Timor-Leste 1-0 in Phnom Penh

Live stream !!!

All matches will be shown live on www.bet365.com You need to register , but no payment required . Hope this livestream work.

Other possible livestreams : myp2eu.com, atdhe.net or rajangan.net


Twitter : cedelfpt Go Philippines! (live from Laos)

https://twitter.com/#search?q=cedelfpt

Livescore : futbol24.com and spbolive.com

Weather report : Temp 29 celsius , cloudy , 90 mins before match start

Philippines starting 11: ETHERIDGE, BORROMEO (CB), GIER (CB), DEL ROSARIO (RB), JONNSON (LB), J. YOUNGHUSBAND (RMF), OTT (CMF), DE JONG (CMF), CALIGDONG (LMF), P. YOUNGHUSBAND, ARANETA. (Thanks Cedelf)



Good luck Philippines !


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

RP-Timor 1st half highlights from Cedelf Tupas

9th min Del Rosario header from James YH corner saved, follow up by Del Rosario wide.

21st min Aly Borromeo header hits post, delivery from James YH

27th min Ian Araneta goal header from just inside box header after Chiefy shot got saved from the goal line. Move started from James YH cross.

30th min Phil YH goal penalty kick after James YH was fouled inside box

33rd min Anton del Rosario goal header off James YH corner kick

41st min Ian Araneta goal header from Phil YH cross from left

5-0. Ian Araneta with hat-trick, all headers.
James Younghusband with two assists aside from drawing foul that led to Phil's 30th minute penalty conversion. James' headed pass also led to Ian's third goal in 57th minute. Anton del Rosario's goal also came from James' delivery. Aly and Ian hit the post as well. Overall, a good start for us, but there were times when our defense was exposed. And we started to tire out in the second hal. Neil made good saves on a couple of one-on-one situations.

AFF Suzuki Cup ready for blast off

Hosts Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines and Timor Leste will battle it out for two spots in the AFF Suzuki Cup at the round-robin qualifying tournament, which kicks off on Friday (October 22).

The Philippines take on Timor Leste in the opening game at the National Sports Complex in Vientiane followed by what promises to be a cracker between Laos and Cambodia, the two qualifiers in 2008.

Cambodia only squeezed into the finals two years ago as they scored more goals in their four matches than the Philippines after both teams finished equal on seven points.

The Philippines will be hoping that they have enough firepower this time around to prevent a repeat of their anguish in 2008.

They were given a boost ahead of the qualifiers with a 5-0 win over Macau in a warm-up match with striker Ian Araneta scoring a hat-trick.

The win came after a 4-2 loss against Hong Kong and a 1-1 draw with Chinese Taipei in the four-team Long Teng Cup staged in Kaohsiung. Hong Kong won the tournament with the Philippines coming in third on four points.

The Philippines go into the qualifiers with experience in key positions. Defender Anton del Rosario, midfielders James Younghusband and Emilio Caligdong and Aly Borromeo all played in the 2007 AFF Suzuki Cup when the Philippines recorded a surprise 0-0 draw with Myanmar in a group match.

They have also been encouraged by the arrival of first choice goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who has been released by English Premiership side Fulham where he is currently back-up to Australian Mark Schwarzer.

Cambodia go into the qualifying tournament on the back of two draws with club sides that had coach Lee Tae-hoon lamenting the lack of team work.

"Most of you played like individuals, and in a team game like football it doesn't help if you are on your own," he told the squad after the 0-0 draw with Preah Khan Reach.

Lee was happier with the 1-1 against Police Commissary that was abandoned after an hour because of heavy rain.

"I feel the side will perform well in Laos. This result really doesn't matter," he said after watching striker Khuonla Boravy score the equaliser.

Laos will try and make home advantage pay as they bid to reach the finals for the second straight time with the under-23s run to the semi-finals of last year's SEA Games in Vientiane providing inspiration.

The Laotians topped the qualifying table with nine points in 2008 after three wins and a loss to Cambodia and produced some attractive football against Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia in the finals before tiring and leaking goals in the last 30 minutes of their matches.

Timor Leste caused a shock by holding Cambodia to a 2-2 draw during the 2008 qualifiers but still finished bottom of the table after losses to Laos (2-1), the Philippines (1-0) and Brunei (4-1).

Their performances will be watched closely to see if they have closed the gap even further in the ensuing two years.

The winners of the qualifying tournament will play co-hosts Indonesia, three-time champions Thailand and Malaysia in Group A of the AFF Suzuki Cup from December 1-8.

The runners-up will meet co-hosts Vietnam, Singapore and Myanmar in Group B.

affsuzukicup

20 October 2010

RP Booters Rout Timor, 7-0

MANILA, Philippines — An inspired Philippine team frolicked on a rainy Tuesday to score an emphatic 7-0 win over Timor-Leste for its first victory in the AFC Under-16 Women's Championship 2011 Qualifying Round 1 (Group A) at the University of Makati football field.

The Nationals relentlessly attacked Timor-Leste’s lair and produced their first goal in the 10th minute through Janna Raizel Barcemo’s effort which sparked a wild celebration among RP supporters.

She again scored in the 22nd just eight minutes after Alessandra Camcam knocked in her first goal for a 3-0.

Camcam matched Barcemo’s two-goal effort with a goal in the 32nd as the Nationals took a 5-0 lead at halftime in the tournament organized by the Philippine Football Federation and supported by Philippine Sports Commission and Asia Brewery (Summit).

Other scorers for the RP side, which absorbed a 2-0 defeat to Guam last Sunday, were Sara Castaneda (43rd) Regine Metillo (68th) and Kyrhen Dimaandal (80th).

The victory is already a big achievement for the RP side which is competing in a international event for the first time.

The Nationals, however, face a daunting task in their next game as they battle title-favorite Vietnam which earlier drubbed Singapore, 9-0 – the most lopsided win so far in the nine-day tournament.

Meantime, Guam roared to its third straight win by outsteadying Singapore, 2-1.

Manila Bulletin

FIFA World Ranking - Highest ever postion !

Philippines jumped 13 places to number 152 which is Philippines highest ever position in FIFA World Ranking !

FIFA.com

AFC Challenge Cup - Philippines vs Mongolia !!

Kuala Lumpur: Defending champions DPR Korea were placed in Group D of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup with Nepal, Sri Lanka and the winner of playoff 1.

The eight lowest-ranked teams out of 20, which entered the fray, will play off on a home-and-away basis and the four winners will qualify for the 16-team group phase.

Bhutan will meet Afghanistan, the Philippines will take on Mongolia, Chinese Taipei will face Laos, and Cambodia will lock horns against Macau in the play-offs to be played on February 9 and 16, 2011.


THE DRAW

Playoffs (February 9 and 16, 2011)

Playoff 1: Bhutan vs Afghanistan
Playoff 2: Philippines vs Mongolia
Playoff 3: Chinese Taipei vs Laos
Playoff 4: Cambodia vs Macau

GROUP STAGE (March 20-31, 2011)

Group A: Myanmar, Palestine, Bangladesh, winner of playoff 2
Group B: Turkmenistan, India, winner of playoff 3, Pakistan
Group C: Tajikistan, Maldives, winner of playoff 4, Kyrgyzstan
Group D: DPR Korea, winner of playoff 1, Nepal, Sri Lanka

afc.com

19 October 2010

LBC-UFL Cup Kicks Off to Packed UMak Crowd

by Josue Jamlang

The long wait for the restart of the United Football League officially ended on Saturday afternoon, as the opening of the second season took place at the impressive University of Makati stadium. Although the weather was threatening to ruin the event with heavy rains, the stands were packed with football enthusiasts, many of which were frothing for another half-a-year of Filipino football to look forward to.

Aside from the general anticipation for the long-awaited season, fans can anticipate more exciting clashes and intriguing match-ups, as the UFL have revealed six new clubs that will be competing this year (three of which will participate only in the Cup), with the aim of increasing the level of quality of play. Also, with Global Smartmatic and Union extremely busy during the off-season snapping up the best talents all over the country, this year’s Cup and League have all the signs of being even better than last year - and that’s no small feat, especially as the inaugural season was extremely successful.

Under the guidance of the Football Alliance, there has been little fear of a second year slump for the UFL, as the ambition to create a mass following for football remains as strong as ever in the group. With cable channel Balls agreeing to cover games and produce a weekly football show, the FA is showing its determination to reach out and expose as many Filipinos to the beauty of the most followed sport in the world.

Loyola ATR KimEng kicked off the LBC-UFL Cup in style on Saturday, coming from behind to defeat new boys Dolphins United 4-2. Two goals from JP Merida, and one each from Mark Madrona and youngster Gabi Borja were enough to ensure that efforts from Greg Calawood and Jarad Baron were nothing but consolations. Nomads and Green Archers Orient Freight were left frustrated on the day however, as the pitch was deemed unplayable after the first match, forcing officials to postpone their match to a later date.

Action continued with three matches on Sunday afternoon at Alabang Country Club (ACC), with the crowd getting their first taste of the new and improved Union FC. Lions and Sunken opened the day with a competitive goalless draw, while Union romped to a 6-0 victory over Mama Africa, and Laos FC held on to 2-1 win over fellow guest club Manila Sudanese Club.

The LBC-UFL Cup group stages continue next weekend, with three games in ACC and two games at Nomads Sports Club.

UFL website

ETHERIDGE IN FOR PHILIPPINES NO. 1




MANILA (18 Oct 2010) - Neil Etheridge will likely win a place as the man between the posts for the Philippines when they open their campaign in this year’s qualifying round of the AFF Suzuki Cup which will be played in Vientiane, Laos later this week.

Etheridge, who played at the last qualifiers in Cambodia, has been named as part of the squad while Stephan Schrock will play no part in the qualifiers as he is still processing his documents.

Neil Etheridge, the Filipino-British goalkeeper, has been allowed by his London-based club Fulham to join the RP team for the four-nation meet.

The 20-year-old Etheridge has cracked the Fulham first team this season after a four-year stint with the reserve squad, and is already the second-choice keeper behind Australian Mark Schawrzer.

Etheridge, who kept a clean sheet in his first three matches for the national team, said he would miss only one English Premiere League game to play for the Suzuki Cup.

The Philippines kick off their campaign against Timor Leste on Friday, before playing Cambodia on 24 Oct and Laos on 26 Oct.

Midfielder Manny Ott, who plays in the German second division for FC Ingolstadt 04, is also among the notable additions to the Philippines team that are coming off a third place finish in the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan last week.


PHILIPPINES PROVISIONAL LIST

Ian Araneta, Michael Atienza, Jerry Barbaso, Yanti Barsales, David Basa, Joebel Bermejo, Alexandre Borromeo, Emilio Caligdong, Christopher Camcam, Jose Caminos, Jason de Jong, Anton del Rosario, Neil Etheridge, Mark Ferrer, Roel Gener, Rob Gier, Peter Jaugan, Ray Jonsson, Nestorio Margarse, Manuel Ott, Rey Palmes, Gino Pavone, Kristopher Relucio, Eduar Sacapano, Phil Younghusband, James Younghusband.


Aseanfootball

18 October 2010

Guam Blanks RP XI

MANILA, Philippines — Guam streaked to its second win by downing the gutsy Philippine side, 2-0, in the AFC Under-16 Women's Championship 2011 Qualifying Round 1 (Group A) Sunday at the University of Makati football field.

After yielding two goals in the first half, the Filipinos intensified their attack in the final half in the hope of turning the game around but to no avail.

Guam’s victory was a huge follow-up to its 4-0 win over Timor Leste in the opening day last Friday which was witnessed by hundreds of spectators.

Still, it was Vietnam which made the biggest ripple in the 9-day tournament organized by the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), by dumping Singapore, 9-0, also last Friday.

Fast emerging as the regional power in the sport, the Vietnamese rattled the Singaporeans with their crisp and accurate passing to score easy goals.

The Filipinos hope to notch their first win today when they collide against Timor Leste at 9 a.m. also at the same venue.

They will face Vietnam on Friday and Singapore on Sunday.

Manila Bulletin

LETRAN FUTSAL CUP -- MENS 3rd Div. & Ladies Open












Time Saturday, November 6 · 8:00am - 5:00pm

Location LETRAN GROUNDS, Intramuros, Manila

THIS FUN TOURNAMENT IS OPEN TO ALL FUTSAL TEAMS.
(DIVISION 1 & 2 PLAYERS ARE DISCOURAGED FROM JOINING)

COACHES MEETING ON OCTOBER 22, 2010 (Friday- 7:00 pm)
@ the LETRAN Gym.
Bring your Registration Forms & Registration Fee. thx.

REX VELASQUEZ (0922.802.22.76)

Letran Futsal Cup Facebook

AFC Challenge Cup 2012 draw on 20. October

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Challenge Cup 2012 qualification draw will be held on Wednesday, October 20, 2010, in AFC House.

The qualification format has been for the 20 teams, which have entered the fray, into a pre-qualifying round and a group stage. The seedings are based on the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup.

For the pre-qualifying phase, the eight lowest ranked teams will play off on a home-and-away basis. The matches take place on 9 and 16 February 2011. The four winners advance to the group stage.

In the group stage, there are 16 teams (four groups of four teams each) playing a single round robin (league system). This includes the 12 highest ranked automatically qualified teams and the four qualifiers. The match days are 20-31 March 2011. The top two teams in each group go to the Finals.

Unlike previous editions, no team has been given direct entry into the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup Finals.

Defending champions DPR Korea, runners-up Turkmenistan and third-placed Tajikistan will now have to go through the qualifiers to punch their tickets to the Finals.

afc.com

17 October 2010

50 schools vie for 15th Unigames

MORE than 2000 college students from 50 colleges and universities all over the Philippines will converge in Dumaguete City for the 15th University Games on October 24 to 30.

The event, which is sanctioned by the Philippine Sports Commission, will witness a flurry of talents from different schools including Ateneo de Manila University.

The week-long event will be hosted by Silliman University and supported by Dumaguete City, Valencia, Zamboanguita, and the Negros Oriental local governments.

The students will compete in 13 sports disciplines, namely: basketball, volleyball, football, swimming, lawn tennis, badminton, chess, sepak takraw, softball, archery, beach volleyball, table tennis and athletics.

Sun Star Manila

Cebu Football - UC stuns USJ-R, 1-0

THE University of Cebu completed a Cinderella run as it captured its first crown in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. collegiate football tournament yesterday, dethroning defending champion University of San Jose-Recoletos, 1-0, at the drenched University of San Carlos-Technology Center pitch.


From being one of the worst teams in the tournament, UC, which finished the eliminations with three points, won its first title in its first attempt. In previous years, UC was always the first to be eliminated.


“I do believe that it was the preparation and discipline of the boys,” UC head coach Glenn Ramos said of his squad of mostly rookies that defeated the more talented and experienced USJ-R team. “In the last two weeks, before the semis, we really worked hard and prepared. I told them the semis are different than the eliminations, when we finished fourth.”


Right winger Kieth Jireh Arguilles scored the only goal of the match in the 73rd minute. Arguilles was in the right time at the right moment as the ball went to him after a chip shot passed through the hands of USJ-R goalkeeper Joel Cahilog, who dove into the mud for the ball.

After the goal, USJ-R got aggressive but UC’s defense and the superb goalkeeping
skills of Michael Fernandez saved UC.

“Our game plan was to focus on defense and to counterattack,” said Ramos, whose been coaching UC for over five years.

Both teams had a hard time controlling the ball because of the wet and muddy pitch,
but Ramos said UC came equipped for the worst weather conditions.

“We practiced last Tuesday and Thursday under the rain. The boys really prepared for a weather like this,” he said.

Meanwhile, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) bagged third place over University of San Carlos (USC), 2-1, avenging a 3-0 loss in the elimination round.

USPF’s Joseph Rodriguez quickly made his presence felt with a shot in the fifth minute before USC got on board with Bernard Rotich’s goal in the 71st.

However, USC’s surge was short-lived as Rodriguez scored the winning goal in the waning seconds of the match

Sun Star Cebu

UFL - Sunday`s results

Results in UFL Cup on Sunday :

Lions 0-0 Sunken Garden
Union 6-0 Mama Africa
Laos FC 2-1 Manila Sudanese Club

Filipino-Brit goalie to play for RP team

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine football team got a massive boost before it left for the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Championship Qualifiers set from Oct. 21 to 26 in Vientiane, Laos.

Neil Etheridge, the Filipino-British goalkeeper, has been allowed by his London-based club Fulham to join the RP team for the four-nation meet.

The 20-year-old Etheridge has cracked the Fulham first team this season after a four-year stint with the reserve squad, and is already the second-choice keeper behind Australian Mark Schawrzer.

It’s the closest a Southeast Asian player has come to making an appearance in the English Premiere League this season.

Etheridge, who kept a clean sheet in his first three matches for the national team, said he would miss only one English Premiere League game to play for the Suzuki Cup.

The Philippines kicks off its campaign against Timor Leste on Friday, before playing Cambodia on Oct. 24 and Laos on Oct. 26.

Midfielder Manny Ott, who plays in the German second division for FC Ingolstadt 04, is also among the notable additions to the RP team that is coming off a third place finish in the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan last week.

Cebu Football - DBTC 1 booters nail 4th win in Aboitiz Cup

THE DON BOSCO Technology Center (DBTC) 1 notched its fourth win in as many matches in the Players 8 division of the 13th Aboitiz Football Cup yesterday at the Aboitiz Sportsfield at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

DBTC 1 routed DBTC 4, 16-0, to improve to 12 points in the overall points tally.

Giuseppe FC, on the other hand, logged its first in in the tournament at the expense of DBTC D, 6-0.

The other match in the division saw Bright Academy posting its second win after overwhelming DBTC 3, 10-0.

In the Players 10 division, three teams continued their winning streak with DBTC C defeating DBTC B, 8-1; Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) demolishing DBTC A, 17-1; and DBTC E blanking DBTC D, 10-0.

DBTC C, SHS-AdC and DBTC E all accounted for nine points after winning their third matches but DBTC C took over the top spot with a goal difference (GD) of +25. Giuseppe FC also gained three points bringing its total to six after edging the Cebu International School (CIS), 3-1.

In the Boys 12 division, the DBTC 1 lodged itself at the top with nine points and a GD of +36 after blanking Bright Academy, 10-0.

Don Bosco (DB) Boys Home finally scored its first win in the division with an 8-2 demolition of NGLIS.

The third game between Springdale and DBTC 2 was canceled because Springdale is in Cagayan de Oro representing Team Visayas in the Milo Nationals.

In the Boys 14, DBTC 1 added to its winnings with a convincing 16-0 win over DBTC 2, while SHS-AdC blanked CIS, 7-0. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON

Source : Cebu Daily News

National Beach Football Championship

Air Force won National Beach Soccer Championship beating Stallions FC from Barotac Nuevo 2-1.

‎2010 Beach Football National Championship and Philippine Footvolley International Tournament. Fairways and Bluewaters Resort, Boracay. October 15 to 17, 2010.

Team for AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 Qualifiers in Laos








Team for the AFF Suzuki Cup qualifiers in Laos

Araneta, Ian

Atienza, Michael

Barbaso, Jerry

Barsales, Yanti

Basa, David

Bermejo, Joebel

Borromeo, Alexandre

Caligdong, Emelio

Camcam, Christopher

Caminos, Jose

de Jong, Jason

del Rosario, Anton

Etheridge, Neil

Ferrer, Mark

Gener, Roel

Gier, Rob

Jaugan, Peter

Jonsson, Ray

Margarse, Nestorio

Ott, Manuel

Palmes, Rey

Pavone, Gino

Relucio, Kristopher

Sacapano, Eduard

Younghusband, Phil

Younghusband, James

Usapangfootball

Etheridge to play in Laos

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (UFNews) - Neil Etheridge will be the country's first choice keeper in the Suzuki Cup qualifiers in Laos, a source tells Usapang Football.

He will meet with the squad during their Bangkok stopover on Monday night and will be with them when they fly to Vientiane for the qualifying stages of South East Asia's premier football tournament.

Meanwhile, our source can also confirm that Stephan Schrock will play no part in the qualifiers as he is still processing his documents. A stint in the actual Suzuki Cup in December, if the team qualifies, is more likely as of this moment.

Usapangfootball

16 October 2010

AFC U-16 Women`s Championship qualifiers












Matches in AFC U-16 Women`s Championship qualifiers :

15.10 Vietnam 9-0 Singapore
Guam 4-0 Timor Leste

17.10 Philippines 0-2 Guam (9 am)
Timor Leste 16-0 Vietnam

19.10 Philippines - Timor Leste (9 am)
Singapore - Guam

22.10 Singapore - Timor Leste
Philippines - Vietnam (3 pm)

24.10 Guam - Vietnam
Philippines - Singapore (3 pm)

All matches at UMAK, Makati at 9 am and 3 pm

Cebu Football - SHS-AdC wins Cesafi

SACRED Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) won the high school division crown of the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) football tournament following a lopsided championship match against the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) yesterday at the University of San Carlos-Technology Center pitch.


After getting a goal down early, SHS-AdC stamped its dominance with a convincing 5-1 rout over USJ-R.

Emmarson Resmeros scored in the 16th minute for an early 1-0 advantage by USJ-R. However, USJ-R’s celebration was short-lived as Wilfred Villaver scored the equalizer a minute later.


SHS-AdC took over the lead in the 25th with a goal by Peter Peña.


From then on, it was an all-SHS-AdC show as it scored three more goals in the second half.


Vinson Nery hit the back of the net in the 65th minute. Keefee Yap added another seven minutes later, while Pomeroy Luke Veloso sealed the match with a goal in the 76th.


The University of Southern Philippines Foundation was automatically awarded third place because Cesafi slapped Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) with a suspension after missing its semi-final match with USJ-R last Saturday.


Had SHS-AdC faced DBTC in the final, it would have been a different story as the Bosconians beat Sacred Heart, 4-1, in the elimination round.


But because of the forfeit, DBTC, the top team in the Cesafi, finished fourth.


Meanwhile, the championship match of the collegiate division will be played today at 2:30 still at USC-TC with USJ-R defending its crown against underdog University of Cebu.


Shocking semis


USJ-R and UC finished at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, in the eliminations but managed to shock the top teams in the semis.


USJ-R blanked USC, 5-0, while UC shocked USPF, 4-3, in extra time.


During their first meeting in the elimination stage, the Jaguars routed UC, which is led by coach Glenn Ramos, 3-0.


USJ-R is gunning for its third straight Cesafi crown, while UC, which advanced to the finals for the first time, is looking for its first title.


The winner of the championship match will represent Cebu in the 2011 Private Schools Athletic Association regional tournament.


USC and USPF will battle for third place at 12:30 p.m. USC beat USPF, 3-0, in the first game of the elimination round.

Sun Star Cebu

McMenemy hoping football can thrill the Manilans

In the past two months, 32-year-old English coach Simon McMenemy has experienced an extraordinary footballing transition. Having left his position as assistant manager of non-league side Worthing in July, a chance conversation on Facebook with two players he used to coach saw him swapping the south coast of England for south east Asia, and the managerial hotseat of the Philippines national team.

More ESPN Soccernet

Philippines football history

UFL - Loyola win

Loyola win first match in UFL cup today beating Dolphins FC 4-2

Second match today was cancelled because of field condititions

Baguio United FC Anniversary Cup

Baguio United FC Anniversary Cup 11-a-side October 30-31, 2010. Spread the word. See you. We will invite one out-of-town team. No registration. Just soccer and fun all day. :)


Contact : Melvin Jones

Cesafi secondary football finals on

HAVING won only a single elimination match, the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) Jaguars certainly did not expect to find themselves facing the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) in today's titular battle of the 10th CESAFI High School Football Championship at the University of San Carlos-Technological Center in barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

But by some bizarre twist of fate, the Jaguars advanced to the finals without sweat after defending champions Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) got caught in a conflict of schedule and failed to show up in their semifinal match.

Although its opponent, the SHS-AdC, also bagged the other finals ticket easily with a 6-1 rout of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF), the team still labored through an almost 2-hour match.

Statistically, the odds are against the Jaguars. This is because they will go up against a team that has won three of its four elimination assignments and suffered its only loss at the hands of the Greywolves.

USJ-R could only account for a single goal and conceding 20, having lost to USPF, 4-0, SHS-AdC, 6-0, and DBTC, 10-1. It's lone goal came from its win against the USC-NC, which dropped all of its elimination matches. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON

Cebu Daily News

The PFF President`s list of achievements

By Rick Olivares

The president of the Philippine Football Federation recently distributed this "List of Achievements" to anybody and everybody as proof that he has done a lot for football. Many however, digress, and their comments and rebuttals are in red. I'm posting this here for all to read. Hopefully, some people will shed light on these matters.

More Bleachers' Brew

UFL to Launch Kaya Investigation

by UFL


Supporters of the club have turned restless following news of their team's decision to not participate in the looming Cup. Updates on the forthcoming inquiry will be published here as soon as the investigation is completed.


UFL website

14 October 2010

Biantan: The end is near for PFF prexy

LONDON--Jose Mari Martinez's two-year stint as president of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) is about to end after the PFF Board of Directors has forced him to take a leave of absence in running the country's football governing body.


This came after reports of arbitrary disbursements, extravagant expenses, missing funds and unauthorized obligations to third parties all done by Martinez, according to a national daily.


Iloilo Football Association president Mariano Araneta Jr., the newly-appointed PFF chairman of the finance committee, has ordered an audit on the PFF financial state to prove Martinez's wrong doing.

Funds which were given to the organization by the world's football governing body FIFA are missing.


Two Board members, Richard Montayre of Cebu and Dick Emperado of Negros Oriental, have also filed a case in court against Martinez for falsifying public documents in relation to designating a bank signatory.


For the longest period of PFF's existence, this is just the first that time the president of the Federation has been suspended.


This is also the first time that a president has been accused of mis-using the funds of the PFF.


According to the report of the national daily, PFF has received P16.8 million this year alone from Fifa. But the BOD was shocked when they found out that the PFF has only $203.08 in it's dollar account remaining.


The report stated that it appears that Martinez has helped himself with the PFF funds. He has withdrawn money to pay for his hospital bills, his credit card bills, medical insurance, cell phone bills, and membership payments for Valle Verde.


He has also made payments to G-World Services to produce a TV show and stage a fund-raising event that eventually lost money.


Former PFF president Johnny Romualdez never got a single cent as salary from the PFF and most of the time took only more or less P3,000 for his monthly expense. But when Martinez became president, he paid himself P25,000 a month.


PFF's monthly payroll has ballooned to P360,000 a month.
The association now has 18 employees at their newly constructed building in Makati. Most of those paid employees are doing nothing and are merely political appointees of Martinez.


The sins that Martinez have committed to the football community are too many that it would not fit in this column if I write them all.


If only the PFF is a public office, Martinez could have already been under the investigation and thrown at with tons of cases by the office of the ombudsman. But since the PFF is a private entity, then the cases slapped on him by the two BOD from Cebu and Negros Oriental will drag on.


If the ongoing audit would prove his guilt, the PFF BOD would file a case against him. Martinez, according to sources, has vowed to fight the cases and has refused to resign.


But he could not continue as PFF president as the BOD has the authority to get rid of him.


In fact, the BOD has already set its annual PFF congress in November to elect a new president. And when this comes, there will be fresh mandate and hopefully the PFF would be cleansed.


My only wish for the next president is to continue their cases against Martinez and make sure that they get back the missing money.


There are lots of things to be done to fix the PFF. The federation should first confirm it's members because more than one half of its current FA members are not active. Most of them only become active once there is an election.


Some of them were created politically to produce votes for candidates. I could count on my fingers those who are real active members. Active members should pay annual dues. How many of these FAs' pay annual dues?


Fixing the PFF is another story. As of the moment, the focus is on getting rid of Martinez. If I were Martinez, I should resign and live a private life. I would go and disappear where ever I want. Remember another PFF president Col. Lope Pascual? He just disappeared. Martinez could follow his example. GOD BLESS jackbiantan@yahoo.com

Sun Star Cagayan de Oro