Azkals settle for draw in friendly vs CPU booters

by Cedelf P. Tupas

MANILA—Missing several key players, the national football team was held to a 1-1 draw by a Central Philippine University side powered by Koreans in an exhibition game Tuesday at the Barotac Nuevo town plaza.


Azkals midfielder Ricardo Becite made his homecoming memorable with a late strike after Jovanie Simpron opened the scoring for the local side as the national team stepped up its buildup for the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Sri Lanka in June.

Younghusbands to miss Azkals match in Iloilo

by Bong Pedralvez

BACOLOD CITY. – James and Phil Younghusband will not be around when the Azkals play in an exhibition match Tuesday in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, hometown of football chief Mariano Araneta Jr., and the start of the nationals’ team bonding in Cebu the succeeding day.
But the absence of the two Filipino-British siblings, both team mainstays, has the approval of national team manager Dan Palami and coach Michael Weiss, according to Cathy Rivilla, the executive director of The Younghuband Football Academy.

Younghusbands lead National Games opener

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-British football siblings Phil and James Younghusband will lead the opening ceremonies of the National Games at the New Government Center in Bacolod City on Sunday.


The Younghusbands will be the guests of honor in the event organized by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
At least 4,000 athletes will participate in the Games that will run until May 29.

Younghusband: World Cup still a long shot for PH

MANILA, Philippines – Amid the country’s football craze, Filipino-British Phil Younghusband of the Philippine Azkals admitted that winning the FIFA World Cup is beyond the Philippines’ reach for now.
“Sana... pero hindi ngayon,” was Younghusband’s reply when asked point blank by “The Bottomline” host Boy Abunda if the country can win the World Cup.

“Pero sana, mga 20 to 30 years' time,” he added.