Negros players endorsed to PFF

by Francis Santiago

MANILA, Philippines — Negros Occidental coach Norman Fegidero Jr. has recommended five players from his side, including highly-touted Joshua Beloya to be included in the pool for the national football team to the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia later this year.

Strikers Beloya and Aldrin Dolino, Lemuel Unabia, defender Camelo Tacusalme and Joven Bedic helped Negros capture the 1st Philippine Football Federation-Suzuki National Cup at the expense of fierce rival Iloilo on Sunday.


Fegidero, a former national head coach, believes their inclusion to the national squad would be a big boost to the country’s bid of winning a first ever medal in the SEAG since joining the biennial meet in 1977.

“There are a lot more talented players in the province and I hope football officials will reach out to them,” said Fegidero moments after Negros blanked Iloilo, 9-0, in the second leg of their Suzuki title duel at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City. Negros also won the first leg, 3-1.

Azkals’ German coach Hans Michael Weiss and team manager Dan Palami will handle the national squad for the SEAG, which is an Under-23 event.

Beloya, a Filipino-American who was born in Olongapo but grew up in the United States and Sweden, made a lot heads turn when he was named the PFF-Suzuki National Cup’s best striker with 14 goals on Sunday, while Dolino, was awarded as the tournament’s MVP and Tacusalme, the best defender.

“He (Beloya) has a great feel for the game and very dangerous inside the box. He’s greatest asset is his mental toughness,” Fegidero said.

Fegidero, though, said he hopes the Philippine Football Federation has a solid program for players who would leave the province to join the national squad in Manila.

Malaysia is the defending SEA Games champion, with Vietnam and Singapore as the second and third place finishers.

The national team will be backstopped by six Azkals, according to Palami. They are goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, 21, Christopher Camcam, 16, defender David Basa, 21, striker Yannick Tuason, 21 and Fil-German Patrick Hinrichsen, 20, and Fil-Dutch Jason de Jong, 21.
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