THE NCCC Mall will host the PFC Cup Winner's Cup Futsal Davao Leg eliminations on July 16 and 23.
Organizer Neilwin Joseph Bravo said the Davao edition is the fourth leg following two legs in Metro Manila and one in Naga City.
"Top four teams in the eliminations will qualify to the Winners Cup finals on August 7. The Davao men's and women's champions will advance to the national finals on Nov. 26 in Manila," Bravo said in Thursday's Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn.
The Philippine Cup champion will earn a slot to the International Futsal Tournament in Belgium.
Tournament director Alex Adolfo also said Davao teams will expect stiff competition against teams from Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga City, Tagum City and Montevista.
He said Iligan and Butuan have yet to confirm their entries in the event. (MLSA)
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on July 01, 2011.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Know your Azkals: Nate Burkey is homesick
by Mav C. Gonzales
A thousand miles away from Washington D.C., Nathaniel Burkey spends most of his time sitting in his hotel room, wondering what to do.
“I’m a little homesick," he confesses.
“Back at home, I have my car and my friends. Whenever I feel like it, I can just call them up and we can go around. It’s not like that here."
Home is precisely what he sacrificed to be part of the Azkals. Surprisingly, home is also what he found the moment he set foot on Philippine soil.
A thousand miles away from Washington D.C., Nathaniel Burkey spends most of his time sitting in his hotel room, wondering what to do.
“I’m a little homesick," he confesses.
“Back at home, I have my car and my friends. Whenever I feel like it, I can just call them up and we can go around. It’s not like that here."
Home is precisely what he sacrificed to be part of the Azkals. Surprisingly, home is also what he found the moment he set foot on Philippine soil.
Nate has only been in the Philippines for about a month and he admits that he's already a little homesick. Mav C. Gonzales
Azkals vow to do better in home game
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals vow to do better when they face the Sri Lankan Brave Reds on Sunday in the second leg of their FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Nationals will capitalize on their home advantage after being held by the Sri Lankans to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Colombo.
"I'm looking forward to the second game," said Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge. "We'd like to win. It'll be great for the fans to see us win in Manila."
Azkals player James Younghusband admitted they could have pulled off a better game against the Sri Lankans last Wednesday.
He, however, assured that they will prove themselves to their Filipino fans on Sunday.
"Good thing is we got a game this Sunday to prove it in front of our home crowd. I'm looking forward to that," said Younghusband.
Aggregate score
The Nationals will capitalize on their home advantage after being held by the Sri Lankans to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Colombo.
"I'm looking forward to the second game," said Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge. "We'd like to win. It'll be great for the fans to see us win in Manila."
Azkals player James Younghusband admitted they could have pulled off a better game against the Sri Lankans last Wednesday.
He, however, assured that they will prove themselves to their Filipino fans on Sunday.
"Good thing is we got a game this Sunday to prove it in front of our home crowd. I'm looking forward to that," said Younghusband.
Aggregate score
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
World Cup Qualifiers: Philippine Azkals salvage draw versus Sri Lanka
COLOMBO—A resilient Philippine side fought back to salvage a 1-1 stalemate against Sri Lanka Wednesday in the first leg of their opening round World Cup qualifying match at the Sugathadasa Stadium here.Substitute Nate Burkey, making his debut for the Philippines, headed home James Younghusband’s saved header in the 50th minute to give the Azkals a precious away goal heading to the second leg in Manila on Sunday.
An away goal will only count if a two-leg series ends up tied on aggregate, meaning a scoreless draw will be enough for the Azkals to go through to the next round against Kuwait.
Playing their first World Cup qualifying match in 10 years, the Azkals fell behind on the 43rd minute when Pordi Chathura’s 20-yard free kick beat a diving Neil Etheridge to his right.
It was an eerie reminder of the late equalizing goal that the Azkals yielded to Myanmar in the AFC Challenge Cup in March.
After a quiet opening half, the Azkals, egged on by about 200 Filipino supporters in the stadium, came alive in the last 45 minutes, keeping the Sri Lankans on their heels.
Stephan Schrock, making his Philippine debut, was an influential figure at central midfield and his passing constantly opened up the Sri Lankan defense.
But except for Burkey’s goal, the Azkals lacked the clinical finishing touch to punish the Sri Lankans, who refused to back down, making the match a rugged affair.
One such incident came in the 18th minute when Phil Younghusband was fouled by midfield enforcer Fazlur, triggering a scuffle in the middle of the field.
James Younghusband and got yellow cards in the aftermath of the incident. The Azkals had two other yellow cards – Schrock and skipper Aly Borromeo – who were booked for mistimed challenges.
Phil Younghusband had two glorious early chances saved by Manjula Fernando in the first half, before the Filipino-British striker was substituted by Burkey in the 40th minute for what looked like a hamstring injury.
Putting more pressure on the Sri Lankans immediately after the restart, the Azkals were rewarded with Burkey’s scrappy goal.
Chieffy Caligdong, the only homegrown player in the starting lineup, floated a long free kick into the area that was met by James Younghusband, whose header looked to have crossed the line.
Amid the confusion, Burkey was quickest to react and he banged it home for the equalizer.
Schrock, a standout rightback playing for Greuther Furth in the German second division, was still proving dangerous with the ball and his effort from just outside the box just went wide in the 60th minute.
Another chip pass from Schrock offered substitute Ian Araneta with a late scoring chance, but the Air Force striker managed a weak effort that was easily saved by Manjula.
Just when everyone thought the Sri Lankans were playing for a draw, the hosts managed to conjure one more chance when Nimal fired a bristling shot that draw an impressive reflex save from Etheridge in the first minute of injury time.
The Azkals arrive in Manila Thursday night, leaving them with two full days to prepare for the rematch against the South Asians. Source
More tenacious Azkals battle Sri Lankans today
by Cedelf P. Tupas
COLOMBO—Skipper Aly Borromeo watched the World Cup final pitting Spain and the Netherlands at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg last year and wondered if he would ever play a single match in the sport’s biggest stage, let alone get a shot at making it there.Borromeo and his fellow Philippine Azkals finally get that precious crack at the tournament starting Wednesday here when they battle Sri Lanka in the first round of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers at the Sugathadasa Stadium in this port city in the Indian Ocean.
“Every football player dreams of playing in the World Cup,” said Borromeo, a veteran of the national side since 2004.
COLOMBO—Skipper Aly Borromeo watched the World Cup final pitting Spain and the Netherlands at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg last year and wondered if he would ever play a single match in the sport’s biggest stage, let alone get a shot at making it there.“Every football player dreams of playing in the World Cup,” said Borromeo, a veteran of the national side since 2004.
Stephan Schrock, Paul Mulders proud Filipinos
by Cedelf P. Tupas
COLOMBO—They may have sterling club football careers, but for Stephan Schrock and Paul Mulders, nothing beats the feeling of representing the Philippines.Schrock, a Filipino-German rightback who is one of the brightest talents in the German second division, and Fil-Dutch Mulders, who recently inked a two-year deal with Dutch first division team ADO Den Haag, will be making their debuts for their mothers’ country when the Azkals play Sri Lanka today.
“I am very proud to wear a Philippine shirt and I’m sure my nanay will also be proud,” the soft-spoken Schrock, whose mother hails from Cotabato, said in an interview with the Inquirer.
COLOMBO—They may have sterling club football careers, but for Stephan Schrock and Paul Mulders, nothing beats the feeling of representing the Philippines.“I am very proud to wear a Philippine shirt and I’m sure my nanay will also be proud,” the soft-spoken Schrock, whose mother hails from Cotabato, said in an interview with the Inquirer.
Report: Carlos Tevez set to start for Argentina in Copa America curtain-raiser
Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez is set to start Argentina's first Copa America clash against Bolivia, after being included in the first team in training under the watchful eye of coach Sergio Batista.
Cancha Llena reports that Carlitos got the nod over Real Madrid's Angel Di Maria and was included alongside Lionel Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi in Tuesday's training session, three days before the Copa curtain-raiser in La Plata. Argentina trained behind closed doors in the AFA's Ezeiza complex, using the team that is expected to compose the first XI.
Cancha Llena reports that Carlitos got the nod over Real Madrid's Angel Di Maria and was included alongside Lionel Messi and Ezequiel Lavezzi in Tuesday's training session, three days before the Copa curtain-raiser in La Plata. Argentina trained behind closed doors in the AFA's Ezeiza complex, using the team that is expected to compose the first XI.
Azkals to seek early edge vs Sri Lanka
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals will seek to gain an early advantage over the Sri Lankan Brave Reds when they clash in Round 1-1st Leg of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on Wednesday.
The Azkals, who spent 2 weeks training in Germany, plan to beat the Brave Reds with improved offense and better team cohesion.
Filipino-Dutch Azkals Paul Mulders said he hopes the hard training they did in Germany will help them win against Sri Lanka.
“I think the guys did a good job [in training],” he said.
Team captain Aly Borromeo said the camp helped foster better communication between teammates. He added that it also forged cohesiveness with new entrants to the team.
“This is not just in preparation for Sri Lanka, it’s also in preparation for Kuwait which will be a bigger game for us,” said Borromeo.
The Azkals, who spent 2 weeks training in Germany, plan to beat the Brave Reds with improved offense and better team cohesion.
Filipino-Dutch Azkals Paul Mulders said he hopes the hard training they did in Germany will help them win against Sri Lanka.
“I think the guys did a good job [in training],” he said.
Team captain Aly Borromeo said the camp helped foster better communication between teammates. He added that it also forged cohesiveness with new entrants to the team.
“This is not just in preparation for Sri Lanka, it’s also in preparation for Kuwait which will be a bigger game for us,” said Borromeo.
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