Football

Azkals United vs Icheon Citizen match

History will be made on January 21 at 7 p.m. at the Rizal Football Stadium when the Philippine Azkals take to the field against the South Koreans from Icheon in the Kia Rio Cup.

For the first time, the Azkals will face an experienced South Korean football club in over 50 years.

It will also a time for bonding between the two countries because South Koreans living in Philippines will join in with their neighboring Filipinos in a packed sports stadium rooting for their countrymen in a football game.

The game will also be remembered when Korea came to help football grow further here, as well as a cause to help the needy — a time where the two different countries could embrace each other further. Read more…

David Beckham and team Galaxy now in Manila‏

British football superstar David Beckham and team LA Galaxy arrived Thursday in Manila for a friendly game against the Philippine Azkals on Dec. 3 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The LA Galaxy, who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal 2 aboard an Air New Zealand chartered flight from Jakarta, Indonesia, is here as part of their promotional tour in Manila and other Southeast Asian countries.

The group was warmly welcomed at the airport by shrieking fans who chanted Beckham’s name.

Reports said that Beckham, world’s highest paid footballer played a big role in Manchester United of bagging the Premier League title six times, the Football Association Cup twice, and the UEFA Champions League in 1999.

It was learned that Beckham also played for Preston North End, Real Madrid and A.C. Milan before signing up with the LA Galaxy in 2007.

Azkals in Guimbal Iloilo for a football clinic

Azkals members are in the town of Guimbal, Iloilo Friday for a football clinic and friendly game to be held in Guimbal National High School.

Azkals members Angel Guirado, Chiefy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, and Misagh Bahadoran arrived today from Manila upon the invitation of Aambis-Owa Partylist Rep. Sharon Garin and Guimbal Mayor Kristine Garin who strongly help promote football in the municipality.

The town of Guimbal in the first district of Iloilo province is also gearing to produce the best football players just like Barotac Nuevo, considered as the football capital of the Philippines and where some Azkals members belong.

The football clinic is open to elementary and high school students interested to learn from the best players of the country.

The friendly game, meanwhile, will be held between the 1st District All Stars and Guimbal Football Association with two Azkals members playing on each team.

The friendly match will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday at the Guimbal National High School grounds.

Japan Soccer Team stun holders Germany to reach Women’s World Cup semis

Substitute Karina Maruyama lashed home an extra-time winner as Japan stunned holders and hosts Germany 1-0 to reach the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time on Saturday.

Maruyama kept her head to drill home three minutes into the second half of extra time, wrecking Germany’s hopes of a third consecutive title and setting up a meeting Wednesday in the last four with either Australia or Sweden, who play on Sunday.

“The players really dug in, persevered and were absolutely excellent,” said Japan coach Norio Sasaki.

San Miguel Corporation offers to repair Rizal Memorial Football Stadium

An offer of assistance from San Miguel Corp. helped the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to agree that the coming match between the Philippine Azkals and Sri-Lanka in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) be held at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Sports commissioner Chito Loyzaga, would not divulge what kind of assistance the giant food and beverage conglomerate has offered, except that Philippine Football Federation (PFF) through its president, Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, advised the PSC of the forthcoming SMC assistance.

“The PFF, in fact, has requested us that its representatives and those of SMC be given permission to make an ocular inspection of the Rizal Stadium, which we granted,” Loyzaga said in Friday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant.

“Since they are asking that they be allowed to inspect the venue, I surmised that SMC is willing to shoulder the expenses in making the stadium meet the standard set by FIFA (International Football Federation),” Loyzaga said.

“For us in the PSC, we welcome that because if the field can be converted into an international standard stadium, it would be very good. That really is our target, to improve the standard of the stadium. If that happens, not only football will be benefitted but other sports as well and we will be able to host other events as well,” Loyzaga said.

Bacolod City was also bidding to stage the game at the Panaad Stadium.

PSC chair Richie Garcia, a Bacolodnon, quoting findings by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), even declared the Rizal Stadium, as condemned. Rizal Stadium was built in 1934.

Loyzaga also told his SCOOP audience that the field itself is ready and that what would be needed is to install individual seats in the covered area of the stadium.

The scoreboard should also be repaired in accordance to the standard set by FIFA,” he said.

“And I think SMC would be amenable to install those that are needed,” Loyzaga, himself a former SMC executive before accepting the PSC commissioner post, said.

A meeting with SMC representative Noli Eala and himself is set Monday next week to determine that role the corporation will play.

Loyzaga allayed fears that renovation of the stadium will have an adverse effect on the memorandum of agreement signed between the previous PSC administration and La Salle in regards to the use of the venue where La Salle spent some P8 million to transform the 1934 built track-football stadium to a first class football venue.

“Na-settle na yung issue na yun. We have given La Salle access to the stadium at specific hours of specific days, so I don’t see any problem there,” he said.

“Besides, plans are to also renovate the ULTRA football field for the use of La Salle,” he said.

Younghusband brothers open to 2nd stint as football teachers in Taguig

Filipino-British James and Phil Younghusband, the popular Philippine Azkal members behind the Younghusband Football Academy, have expressed interest in returning to Taguig City this summer to teach more people, especially the youngsters, on how to play the global sport of football.

This was bared by Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano after the successful holding of a two-day football clinic on Saturday and Sunday at the BNS Parade Ground Naval Station, Fort Bonifacio, which was gamely joined by some 240 Physical Education (PE) instructors and teachers from all over the city.

“The Azkals have granted our wish. Come this summer, they have agreed to teach the young people of Taguig how to play football European style,” Cayetano announced. Read more…