Pinoy club Global to play in Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup
The 2012 United Football League champs, Global FC, are looking to take their winning ways abroad in the AFC President's Cup.
In a letter to acting PFF Gen Sec Ed Gastanes, Dato Alex Soosay, general secretary of the AFC said that the Organising Committees of the AFC President Cup and the AFC competitions committee had approved Global's request to join the annual tournament.
The AFC President's Cup is an international club event for emerging Football Associations in Asia. It can be said that it is the club version of the AFC Challenge Cup that the Philippines won third place in last year.
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Last year Tajikistan's top club Istiqlol won the event via 2-1 scoreline over Palestine's Al Amma'ri Youth Club in the final in Dushanbe, the Tajik capital.
Because Tajikistan's representative won, its top club will now play in the more prestigious AFC Cup for clubs from developed Asian nations starting this year.
For the 2013 AFC President's Cup there will be a group stage held from May 2 to 12, with the final stage taking place from September 23-29. It is not yet known where each stage will be held.
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Last year ten clubs participated in the group stage in three groups. The top two in each group then played in a two-group round robin final stage, with the group winners facing off in the final.
The President's Cup has been played since 2005, with Tajikistan clubs winning the trophy four times. Before Istiqlol's win last year, Regar TadAZ had lifted the cup on three occasions.
Global will attempt to match the achievement of Myanmar's Yadanarbon, the only South East Asian team to win the competition when they beat Kyrgyzstan's Dordoi Bishkek 1-0 in extra time two years ago.
For 2013 teams from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Chinese Taipei, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, and Turkmenistan are likely to participate alongside Global.
Global won the UFL League via goal difference over Kaya last June. They almost won a League and Cup double but fell in the UFL Cup final to Stallion 2-1 last month.
AFC competitions usually have a limit on foreign players, which will be a challenge for the team managed and owned by Dan Palami, who is also the Azkals team manager.
Global's biggest offensive threat is Izo Elhabbib, who is Sudanese. Other foreigners also stud the Global lineup, such as striker Alex Obiang, defender Val Kama, goalie Roland Dely Sadia, Japanese midfielder Yu Hoshide, and German Kevin Capolei.
A Global eleven composed of mostly foreigners managed to hold the fort and beat Meralco in the UFL Cup semis in November while their Azkals were in training camp in Cebu for a friendly versus Singapore.
But Global also relies on several members of the National Team, like Patrick Reichelt, Carli De Murga, Juani Guirado, Demit Omphroy, Denis Wolf, Jeff Christiaens, Matt Uy, Marwin Angeles and Misagh Bahadoran.
When asked about restrictions on foreigners, Palami said that “we have yet to receive the guidelines. I'm just glad they approved our request.”
The Cup will be played during the UFL League season. While Palami is hoping that the UFL will gve them some leeway in the scheduling, he knows they may need to adjust also.
“We may have to split our team. It will be easier if they (AFC) allow more foreign players. I know that in the AFC Cup they allow five foreigners on the roster and three to play. I think the President's Cup is more liberal (lenient).”
Palami was undoubtedly thrilled to make the competition. “I'm excited, but I'm more excited for Philippine Football than for the club. This opens the door for Philippine club teams to be part of a bigger arena. It will serve as more incentive for club owners to invest in teams.”
Global follows the lead of Loyola Meralco Sparks, who made their international debut in the Singapore Cup last year. The Sparks gave a good account of themselves, finishing fourth.
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