Younghusbands set to play for Indonesian football club

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer


Unattached the past couple of years, Filipino-British brothers Phil and James Younghusband are set to resurrect their club football careers.

The Younghusband brothers are close to signing a deal with Indonesian club Jakarta 1928 FC, which is seeing action in the newly formed Indonesia Premier League (LPI).

Franco Lorenzo, a member of the management team of the Philippine football team, who has been negotiating for the Younghusbands, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer last Sunday that the deal would be finalized within the week.

Jakarta 1928 officials are arriving in Manila on Wednesday for a possible contract signing, according to Lorenzo.

Lorenzo did not disclose contract terms, but said the Indonesian club had enough funds to convince the brothers, who shone for the Azkals during the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup.

The 19-club LPI, Indonesia�s rebel football league because it competes with the Indonesia Super League under the Indonesia Football Association and is backed by oil tycoon Arifin Pangoro, kicked off last January 8.

Indonesian players seeing action in the LPI have been warned that they would not be considered for the national team.

The league, however, has lured one of the country�s more popular teams, Persema Malang, which boasts Indonesia national team star striker Irfan Bachdim.

The Younghusband brothers gained a lot of following in Jakarta when the Philippines played Indonesia in the semifinals. The Azkals lost the two legs via similar 1-nil scorelines.