Friday 30 September 2011

Chieffy Caligdong's second goal vs Hong Kong

Football Philippines - 3rd Issue





FOOTBALL PHILIPPINES 3RD ISSUE NOW OUT! Featuring The Bull from Malaga Angel Aldeguer Guirado, World Cup Analysis by Rick Olivares, Up-Close with Phil and James, the Teen Azkals and many more. Get your copies at the Mizuno booth at SM Mall of Asia from October 1 & 2!

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A Warning To Indonesia

ZURICH - FIFA has kicked Myanmar out of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup as punishment for crowd violence at a 2014 qualifier in July.

Fans threw stones and water bottles onto the field during Myanamar's game against Oman on July 28, forcing the referee to abandon the match.

Oman was leading 2-0 at the time and was awarded the victory by that score. Oman, which also won the first leg 2-0, advanced to the next round of Asian qualifying on 4-0 aggregate.

FIFA's disciplinary committee says the Myanmar football federation failed to prevent "improper conduct of supporters" and "is excluded from taking part in the matches of the preliminary competition" for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The federation was also fined 25,000 Swiss Francs (S$35,989).

COMMENT - Indonesia's World Cup Qualifier against Bahrain last month was held up for about 20 minutes after some fans through flares and water bottles on the pitch by where their subs were warming. This is not the first time it has happened but it remains to be seen whether FIFA have the balls to take action against one of the bigger members. Coming down heavily on the likes of Brunei and Myanmar is one thing...

Laos Hex Indonesia


2009 SEA Games Indonesia v Laos 0-2
2010 AFF Cup Indonesia v Laos 6-0
2011 Under 19 Indonesia v Laos 3-3
2011 Under 16 Indonesia v Lao 0-2

I'm not sure when the SEA Games draw will be made, probably the day before the games start, but Indonesia may well be hoping not to be drawn against Laos. Recent meetings, AFF Cup excepted, show tiny Laos have the upper hand over their giant rivals. That is not of course to diminish the work Laos has done over the years, fat from it.

Picture shows Hamka Hamzah having a stretch the last time Indonesia met Laos in the AFF Cup.

Whatever Happened To...

Following on from Indonesia's poor start to their World Cup Qualifying campaign, two defeats against Iran and Bahrain, it was being mumbled in some corners that it might be better to drop the whole team and bring in the Under 23s as they prepare for their SEA Games campaign next month.

We've been here before. Back in 2007 Indonesia lost 4-1 at home to Syria and head of the second leg drafted in the Under 23s. They got done 7-0! Here is a look at the team for that Damascene revelation:

Dian Prasteyo Agus

M Roby (Persisam)
Ricardo Salempessy ( Persipura)
Fandy Mochtar (Persisam)
Ardan Aras
Atep (Persib)
Ian Louis Kabes (Persipura)
Cornelis Geddi
Airlangga
Purwoko Pratomo
Eka Ramdani (Persisam)

Suswanto
Immanuel Wanggai (Persipura)
M Bahtiar

Only M Roby, Salempessy and Ramdani can be said to be regulars in the national team these days while Arif Suyono and M Nasuha were unused subs that day. Persisam Samarinda have been active signing up many of that squad but what about the rest? Any idea where they ended up?


Hong Kong cuffs Philippine Azkals, 3-3

abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 09/30/2011 5:34 PM | Updated as of 09/30/2011 6:33 PM
Tweet TAIPEI, Taiwan (UPDATED) - The Philippine Azkals settled for a 3-3 draw with Hong Kong in their opening match in the Long Teng Cup.

Hong Kong stormed ahead early through goals from Lee Wai Lim and Cheng Lai Hin.

The Azkals fought back, with Phil Younghusband converting a penalty to make it 1-2.

Chieffy Caligdong struck the equalizer in the 44th minute.

The Azkals took the lead again through a Caligdong goal in the second half.

The Philippines continued their attacking runs but were the recipient of several contested offside calls.

Caligdong also limped off from the match because of a leg injury in second half.

The Azkals looked set to book an upset until Hong Kong made it 3-3 through a Au Yeung Yiu Chung goal off a rebound in a freekick.

The 2 sides were reduced to 10 men in the dying minutes of the match after Jason de Jong and So Loi Keung were given red cards for fouls.

The 2011 Long Teng Cup is taking place in Chinese Taipei.

ABS-CBN will air the game on delayed basis through Studio 23 at 9:30 p.m.

Friday---September 30, 2011

MassLive/ J. Anthony Roberts image
As reported in the comments yesterday, Kyle Havens has signed a contract with the Spokane Shock for the 2012 season. Good luck Kyle!

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Matty V. has an article about the UMass-Old Dominion one game series.

He also has the weekly Matty V vs Matty G.

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Another article on the upgrade to McGuirk.

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The Boston Herald has a story about Tim Berra's reaction to Jesse Julmiste's breaking one of his UMass records.

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Jeff Thomas has a story about Old Dominion's Eriq Lewis.

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The CAA has the weekly press release detailing all this week's league games.

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Vandelay Sports looks at all this week's MAC games including Central Michigan @ UConn and Toledo vs Temple.

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Fair Play: Catching up with Dan Palami

This is my Fair Play column for Sun.Star Cebu for Oct. 1 and yes #abscbnfail
 
JUST like the last time we met, Dan Palami�s cell phone never stopped buzzing.

�You have 483 unread messages,� his phone said and that was just at 9:35 p.m.

And that�s just in one phone.

�I don�t read them all,� he said, which also prove me I was right when I stopped bothering to contact him through his cell phone.

Deleting 483 messages�which is just about his average�could take a while so Dan selects the �delete all� option every midnight, whether he even got to read them or not.

And 483 messages isn�t even the most he got. One time, he got 730�and these are just the unread messages.

Prior to the Suzuki Cup, there were no problems in contacting Dan through his phone as not too many folks were aware of the Azkals.

�It really started after December,� he said.

So, late at night, or sometimes early dawn, he checks his Twitter account and fires off replies. Yep, it�s easier to contact him through Twitter than through his phones because aside from being a manager of the Azkals, the guy holds positions in a real estate company, housing development firm, school board, manpower company, as well as being the head of marketing of the PFF.

But, of course, this doesn�t mean you can now open up multiple Twitter accounts like�GFniDanPalami, MrsniDSCPalami, marryme_dpalami, exclusivelyDSCP, SoulmateNiDSCP, palamiholics�and express your love to the man.

Dan�s phone, I found out, shows the IP addresses of the Twitter users.

�I think it�s just a prank by only one person,� he said.

And I think, once Dan learns the basics of IP addresses, he�ll find out for sure.

Though he�s resigned from his position from APT Global Inc., the firm running the MRT and LRT, he still makes the tough decisions.

Dan said he gets to delegate most of his functions because he �hired competent people and relies on the reports he gets from them daily.�

Dan, who was accompanied that night by a beaut�Oh, by the way, Dan said this week marks the anniversary of the team�s first tournament�the Long Teng Cup�in Taiwan, where they finished third of four teams last year.

�I hope we do better,� he said.

The dinner was hosted by officers of the Cebu Queen City United, the club that will be facing Global FC, Pachanga and the Stallions in the UFL Cup.

And Dan gave them a few tips regarding their foes and also promised to house them in Manila during match day.

And  since most of the officers of Cebu Queen City United are above 40, he also invited them to a friendly game with the 40-above coaching staff of Global.

Dan also said they have trademarked the name �Azkals� to prevent it from being abused commercially since there are a lot of knock-off merchandises being sold. I forgot to ask if the original Azkal drawing�done by Noel S. Villaflor�was also trademarked.

Aside from that, we also got to talk about a lot of things.

On Chris Greatwich returning to the squad:

�I think Coach Weiss has seen Chris only through the videos�He hasn�t had enough basis to judge Chris if he still is at the same level.  He is still in the pool but I think Chris needs to come over and show coach.�

On the team�s chances for a medal in the SEA Games:

�It will also depend on the draw but we have a very strong Under 23 team right now.�

On why he resigned as chairman of APT Global to have more time for football:

�I want to put more time for football until it has fully developed. I think it is a worthwhile endeavor.�

On Global FC and Cebuano keeper Paolo Pascual:

�He�s improving a lot. Though the two red cards were necessary, if his timing was better he didn�t have to get them. You cannot complain anything about his attitude. He�s very good and he takes criticisms very well.�
On his signing of Fil-Spanish Angel Aldeguer.

�This allows him to be here as much as possible and I hope other foreign-based players follow. They (Misagh Bahadoran and Aldeguer) even spend more time practicing with the (Azkals) than with the club.�

On the Azkals ever playing in Cebu again:

�When you have the pitch ready, I�ll make sure that we inaugurate it. I will see to it.

Long Teng Cup : Taiwan 3-0 Macau FT

Taiwan won 3-0 against Macau in Long Teng Cup. Half time result was also 3-0

Philippines play Taiwan on Sunday.

Thursday 29 September 2011

Today : Hong Kong 3-3 Philippines FT














Long Teng Cup , Friday 4.30 Pm at National Stadium , Kaohsiung


Philippines vs Hong Kong


Possible livestream Link

Livescore

Twitter Cedelf Tupas

Philippines tv : Studio 23 at 8 pm . Match start at 9.30 pm

Post news , before , during and after the match in comments !

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Update :

GK: Muller DEF: Gener, Matt Hartmann, Aly & Poetschke MID: JYH, de Murga, de Jong, Chieffy ATT: Angel & PYH


Hong Kong score , 1-0 , 1 min

Hong kong score again, 2-0 , 21 min

Philippines score ! 2-1 Younghusband , penalty. 31 min

2-2! Caligdong ,44 min

Total attendance at the Kaohsiung National Stadium: 588 people !

2-3 !! Caligdong 62 min

Red card Hong Kong 65 min

3-3 ! Hong Kong score in 86 min

Jason de Jong red Card

Persib's Thailand Cnnection

Rare indeed is there a pre season when Persib Bandung don't link themselves with one Thai player or another. Sinthaweechai Hathairatnakul of course had two spells with the team while Suchao Nutnum's brief time is fondly remembered by the Persib faithful.

Recent days have seen BEC Tero striker Teeratep Winothai linked with the club and now we have this story suggesting Kiatprawut Saiwaeo is interesting them.

Things have changed now since the Thais played overseas. More money in the Thai game means there aren't any high profile players playing abroad, even the ones in Singapore, and it wasn't that long ago there was a sizeable community there, have returned home.

Plus of course the Indonesian season starts on 15 October, maybe, while the Thai season doesn't finish untill early January, maybe.

MAC Blogger Roundtable: Week 5


Steve Addazio gives Temple fans a healthy dose of Vitamin A.

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Add Toledo to the list of MAC teams screwed by Big East refs.
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As a MAC fan, I'm still steaming from the Big East ripping off Toledo at Syracuse.
As a Temple fan, it was UConn redux.
Official makes an incorrect call, then the BIG EAST replay official blows an obvious call.
Both times, the Big East apologized to the MAC teams for making the mistake.
If that doesn't prove Big East replay officials are corrupt or incompetent, I don't know what does.
Now onto the MAC blogger roundtable, hosted by Eagle Totem (Eastern Michigan).
My answers are highlighted in yellow below:
1. What team and what player has been the biggest upside (better than expected) surprise so far? What team and what player has been the biggest disappointment so far?

Bernard Pierce has been the best Temple player, but that's expected. The Temple player with the biggest upside (unexpected by most) to me, has been cornerback Anthony Robey, a redshirt freshman. He has been a lock-down cover and brings attitude to the job. It also helps to run a 4.3 40. I can't think of a disappointing player on Temple. I haven't seen much of the league outside Temple, so I can't comment on that.

2. Evaluate your team's performance, relative to your pre-season expectations?
I thought Temple would be 3-1, but with a win over Penn State, followed by a letdown loss to Maryland. As it turned out, the PSU loss pissed off the Owls so much they played with an incredible fire against Maryland that resulted in a 38-7 win.

3. What is one key thing you'll be watching for over the next four games?

To see if Ohio, Temple, Northern Illinois or Toledo is capable of separating from the rest of the pack.



4. Although the PAC-12 seems to have put the breaks to the whole affair for now, how do you see conference realignment affecting the MAC?
I don't see the MAC losing more than one team.

5. If you could pick two (at least somewhat realistic) teams to join the MAC for football as a result of conference realignment or advancement from a lower division, what teams would you pick?

I'd like to see one of the Florida teams (FIU, realistically) join the MAC along with Marshall, which makes a lot more sense for the MAC than it does in the CUSA. Marshall adds a value to the MAC than UMass doesn't.

6. Rank 'em.

Temple
Ohio
Toledo
Northern Illinois
Bowling Green
Western Michigan
Miami
Ball State
Buffalo
Eastern Michigan
Miami
Kent
Akron
This week's picks:
Last week, was a bad week.
Picking football is a little like the stock market. You are going to have bad weeks, but just don't have a bad year.
We were 3-5 straight up and 2-6 against the spread. One of those losses was when the Big East refs screwed Toledo. We had picked Toledo both against the spread and straight up. Another came when Penn State up, 31-0, allowed Eastern Michigan to cover the 29-point spread by a point, 34-6.
Last week:
SU: 3-5
ATS: 2-6
Record for the season:
SU: 22-13
ATS: 18-13
This week's picks, lines courtesy of Tuesday's USA Today (HOME team in CAPS):
TEMPLE 35 (7), Toledo 21 _ I'm a believer now. Steve Addazio has the Owls focused. Last week was an incredible focus job after a bitter disappointment.
WEST VIRGINIA 34 (20 1/2), Bowling Green 24 _ No way WVU covers the 20 1/2 against a team that can score like the Faclons.
TENNESSEE 35 (29), Buffalo 7 _ The number seems a little high to me. Buffalo has a decent defense and should barely cover the high number.
EASTERN MICHIGAN 17 (9), Akron 14 _ If Akron has a chance to win a game, this is it. I believe the Lone Ranger, Clayton Moore, will keep them in this one.
Cincinnati 29 (13 1/2), MIAMI (Ohio) 13 _ Big rivalry game, bigger difference in the talent.
OHIO 40 (15 1/2) Kent State 15 _ Bobcats both cover the number and the over/under of 47 1/2.
Northern Illinois 30 (9 1/2), CENTRAL MICHIGAN 17 _ Huskies have the ability to put up points in bunches. Chips don't.
OKLAHOMA 45 (37 1/2), Ball State 10 _ I know Oklahoma is No. 1 but 37 1/2 is too much to give up.
UPSET SPECIAL:
We will go out of the MAC for this week's upset special. Syracuse is a 3-point favorite at home against Rutgers. Scarlet Knights will win this one by 10, unless the Big East refs miss three good field goals. Rutgers, 24-14.

Cebu Queen City United releases UFL lineup

By Mike T. Limpag

Thursday, September 29, 2011

THE Cebu Queen City United has released its 25-man lineup for the UFL Cup next month.


The team, which will be led by coaches Mario Ceniza, Alan Medalla, Hayato Ayabe and Dennis Pe�alosa, features a mix of veteran players who played for the national Under 17 and senior teams in the past.


Named goalkeepers for the team are Alex Buanghog, a police officer, Garry Garciano and Frederick Alazas, while the defenders are former Carmen National School booters Jack Reston and Ronald Mahilum, Benedict Arriola, Carlito Abadia, Christian Delan, Yancy Menchavez, Ni�o Zapanta, Ranulfo Colina and Dave Gerali.


The mid-fielders are former national team members Jan Michael Flores and Rocky Garciano, Martin Bontia, Julius Acre, Josaphat Sacil, Japanese natonal Mitsuo Tsunakiri and Marion Cubelo.


Queen City�s offense will be anchored on Ariel Cahilig, Epifanio Ynot, Lemar Baunsit, Junard Aguilar and Rommel Cuizon and Rene Menchavez.


Cebu Queen City United will debut against Pachanga on Oct. 9 and will face Global FC on Oct. 16 before closing out its UFL Cup group stage against the Stallions.


The meeting has been practicing regularly since the club decided to field a UFL team just this month. They also had a series of friendly games against the University of San Carlos to help prepare the team.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 30, 2011.

Thursday---September 29, 2011

Good news and bad news from Matty V. Mike Lee might be out for the season. Antoine Tharpe and Courtney Jackson should be back for the Old Dominion game. Ed Saint-Vil will miss that game, but should be back in another week or so.

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Then there is some great news! Money for the renovations of McGuirk has been approved! The new field house, offices and training facilities will make a big impact on UMass' ability to recruit and complete at the FBS level.

It will also enable UMass to schedule one or two games a year on campus.

More on the $3.1 Billion capital improvement budget for UMass.

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The UMass Daily Collegian has another article on the Minutemen's 2012 schedule.

The Collegian also looks at the Old Dominion game.

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UMass Athletic Dept
This article features UMass Hall-of-Fame member Rene Ingoglia. If you didn't get a chance to see him play, you missed a special athlete. Ingoglia played during some lean years for UMass in terms of scholarships and support for UMass football. You have to wonder what kind of numbers he would have generated if he had played for Coach Whipple.

Ingoglia had 4,624 career rushing yards with 21 games over 100 yards. Eighteen times in his career he out-rushed the entire opposing team.


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Rick Pitino says UConn moving to the ACC is "The dumbest thing he's ever heard".

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Sean Shapiro has TSN's "In the FCS Huddle" column that previews week #5 and predicts a Old Dominion win over UMass.

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Studio 23 to air Azkals' matches vs Singapore, Nepal

MANILA, Philippines � ABS-CBN�s Studio 23 will air the Philippine Azkals� friendly games with Singapore and Nepal this October.

The Azkals, who are currently in Taiwan for the 2011 Long Teng Cup, will face Singapore on October 7.

The match will take place at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

This will be followed by another friendly match, this time against Nepal on October 11.

The Nepal game will take place at the Rizal Memorial stadium.

Airing schedules:

PH vs Singapore October 7, 9 p.m. (Studio 23)
Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore

PH vs Nepal October 11, 5:30 p.m. (Studio 23)
Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, Philippines


ABS CBN News

Cebu Queen City United releases UFL lineup

THE Cebu Queen City United has released its 25-man lineup for the UFL Cup next month.

The team, which will be led by coaches Mario Ceniza, Alan Medalla, Hayato Ayabe and Dennis Pe�alosa, features a mix of veteran players who played for the national Under 17 and senior teams in the past.

Named goalkeepers for the team are Alex Buanghog, a police officer, Garry Garciano and Frederick Alazas, while the defenders are former Carmen National School booters Jack Reston and Ronald Mahilum, Benedict Arriola, Carlito Abadia, Christian Delan, Yancy Menchavez, Ni�o Zapanta, Ranulfo Colina and Dave Gerali.

The mid-fielders are former national team members Jan Michael Flores and Rocky Garciano, Martin Bontia, Julius Acre, Josaphat Sacil, Japanese national Mitsuo Tsunakiri and Marion Cubelo.

Queen City's offense will be anchored on Ariel Cahilig, Epifanio Ynot, Lemar Baunsit, Junard Aguilar and Rommel Cuizon and Rene Menchavez.
 
Cebu Queen City United will debut against Pachanga on Oct. 9 and will face Global FC on Oct. 16 before closing out its UFL Cup group stage against the Stallions. 

Calisto's Out

It's been reported in Thailand that Muang Thong United and their coach Henrique Calisto have parted ways. Which is fair enough when you consider the back to back champions haven't won a Thai Premier League game since August 20th when they beat TOT 3-1. Indeed their last home win was 10 August when they thumped Bangkok Glass 6-2.

A shockingly poor run of form it must be said and you can only wonder at the club's patience before acting. When you consider they have also been knocked out of the Thai League Cup and the AFC Cup then you can see times are tough at the Thunderdome.

Keeping track of Muang Thong's coaching merry go round* is as futile as recalling every stadium Pelita Jaya have used as a home ground or which team's benches Boy Jati has warmed in recent seasons.

Tomorrow they travel to Samut Songkram for a vital game. They are in 3rd place in the TPL, 12 points behind leaders Buriram PEA with two games in hand.

* I am reliably informed his replacement will be the seventh coach in five years!

Increasing Capacity At JBS

SINGAPORE, 29 September 2011: The Football Association of Singapore (FAS), with the support of the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), is seeking to increase the seating capacity of the Jalan Besar Stadium.

�FAS has issued a Request-For-Proposal to interested vendors on 27 September 2011. We also conducted a briefing to them today. We hope to receive proposals that are innovative in expanding the seating capacity as well as in enhancing commercial returns which can then be used for the development of football in Singapore. We look forward to welcoming more supporters for our matches,� said FAS President Zainudin Nordin. (you will have to do a better job about informing them first!)

FAS hopes to appoint the vendor by the end of October 2011, and to complete the expansion works by early next year.

COMMENT - a good idea but one that should have been implemented once it was decided to knock down the old National Stadium. There is a crying need for a stadium in Singapore holding something like 15,000 - 20,000. Witness the recent World Cup Qualifier against Malaysia which could only hold 6,000 +

Wednesday 28 September 2011

Macca's A Mitra

Simon McMenemy is to be confirmed as coach of Super League new boys Mitra Kukar. The former Philippines national team who has also coached in Vietnam is expected to finalise everything today before taking charge of the ambitious club from East Kalimantan.

Mitra Kukar have also signed Hamka Hamzah, Isnan Ali and Jajang Maulyana ahead of the new season which starts next month. Hamzah comes from Persipura who he helped to the Indonesia Super League last season, Isnan comes from Persib while Jajang was last with Sriwijaya though he also had a loan spell in Brazil some years back.

Okta Drops A Division

It was only last December that pacy winger Oktavianus Maniani was being talked about as the great new hope of Indonesian football along with Irfan Bachdim. The Sriwijaya winger was a bit of an unknown and thrown against Malaysia and Laos in the AFF Cup he created an immediate impact and, along with Bachdim and Riedl, helped make Indonesian football 'sexy' with the masses.

More critical observers however suggested he was a one trick pony who offered pace but not much else and certainly not guile or subtlety. Point him in the right direction, push a button and off he would go.

Against Thailand and the Philippines however he had been sussed and he was little more than a passenger but then didn't stop some people suggesting a future in Europe beckoned.

It didn't. Sriwijaya were happy enough to let him go and rather than heading west Okta headed in the other direction and, for good measure, dropped a division, signing for Persiram Raja Empat. December's halcyon days have been replaced a cold, hard reality.

UFL - players updates

News about players in UFL :

- Ex-Azkals player Joebel Bermejo is playing for Nomads FC

- Azkals player Neckson Leonara is playing for Pachanga FC , also Joven Bedic from SEA Games squad

- Francis Gustillo and Romeo Martinez from SEA Games squad is playing for Stallions FC

- Azkals player Lemuel Unabia is playing for Green Archers United FC

- Jake Morallo from SEA Games squad is playing for Loyola FC

- Stephen Permanes , Gerardo Valmayor and Deo Segunial from SEA Games squad is playing for Diliman FC

- Twin brothers Marwin and Marvin Angeles (fil-Italian) on SEA Games squad is playing for Laos FC. Aaron Altiche will also be playing for Laos FC in UFL Cup.

Azkals team in Long Teng Cup

Azkals team for Long Teng Cup :

1.Aly Borromeo, Defender, Kaya FC, Captain
2.Emelio Caligdong, Midfielder, Philippine Air Force FC, Vice-Captain
3.Phil Younghusband, Forward, Loyola Meralco Sparks FC
4.James Younghusband, Midfielder/Defender, Loyola Meralco Sparks FC
5.Mark Hartmann, Forward, Loyola Meralco Spraks FC
6.Matthew Hartmann, Midfielder, Loyola Meralco Sparks FC
7.Jeff Christiaens, Midfielder, Torhout KM, Belgium
8.Carlos De Murga, Defender, Racing Club Portuense , Spain
9.Roland Muller, Goalkeeper, MSV Duisburg, Germany
10.Lemuel Unabia, Defender, Green Archers United FC
11.Raymark Fernandez, Defender, University of the Philippines
12.Neckson Leonora, Defender, Pachanga FC
13.Oliver Poetschke, Midfielder, BFC Preussen Berlin, Germany
14.Angel Guirado, Forward, Global FC
15.Jason De Jong, Midfielder, FC Dordrecht, Netherlands
16.Misagh Bahadoran, Forward, Global FC
17.Roel Gener, Defender, Philippine Army FC
18.Eduard Sacapa�o, Goalkeeper, Philippine Army FC
19.Lexton Moy, Midfielder, Kaya FC
20.Ian Araneta, Forward, Philippine Air Force FC

Weiss says Philippine Azkals still lack cohesion

By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer


MANILA, Philippines�The Philippine Azkals will start its campaign in the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan as an underdog despite parading a squad deemed strong-er than what it had last year.

The Azkals� German coach Michael Weiss said the team still lacks cohesion with the entry of several new players.

With Europe-based aces Neil Etheridge, Stephan Schrock and Paul Mulders unavailable because of club commitments, Weiss is taking a mix of players for the four-nation event starting September 28 at the Kaohsiung National Stadium.

�We�re still lacking in some areas,� said Weiss. �Our preparation lacked consistency. But the positive thing is there are new players ready to take responsibility.�

Weiss said the first match against defending champion Hong Kong on Friday could well determine how the Azkals will fare in the tournament.

The Azkals finished third last year, after winning over Macau (5-0), tying Chinese-Taipei (1-1) and losing to Hong Kong (2-4).

Among the newcomers are brothers Mark and Matthew Hartmann, Fil-Spaniard Carli De Murga, Lexton Moy, and goalkeeper Roland Muller and defender Oliver Poetschke, both Fil-Germans.


inquirer.net

Azkals manager Dan Palami says he�s not running for PFF president, to back Nonong Araneta

By Mike T. Limpag

Thursday, September 29, 2011

THANKS but no, thanks.


Philippine national men�s football team manager Dan Palami shot down the idea of him replacing Nonong Araneta as the president of the Philippine Football Federation in the November elections.


Palami said football in the Philippines hasn�t reached its full potential yet and running against Araneta would be a divisive exercise.


�I�m sure they have their reasons to prod me to run. They know that I have the best interest of football in mind. They know of my management skills. However, I don�t want this. Football in the Philippines hasn�t fully blossomed and I don�t want a divisive exercise,� said Palami.


Palami, who recently resigned from his position at APT Global Inc. to concentrate on his job as the team manager and four other positions in his real estate companies, manpower company, a school board and as head of marketing of the PFF, said he supports Araneta.


�I�m contented with the support that Nonong Araneta is giving us and this is the time for us to unite behind the PFF,� Palami said.


Araneta, who was also prodded by stakeholders to run in the 2007 elections against Mari Martinez and Ed Formosa, took over the PFF presidency in December last year when the PFF Board of Governors ousted Martinez.


Palami said he will support Araneta if he decides to run for another term in the November elections.


�He (Araneta) will have my support and I hope he continues to support my initiatives as manager of the national team,� said Palami.


Meanwhile, Palami said the national team will try to maximize the Fifa-designated dates for friendlies in 2012, which could mean a busy year for the Azkals.


�Playing friendlies is one way of improving our rank,� Palami said. �It will give the players more time to play together for better cohesion. It will also allow us to evaluate new players.�


Aside from friendlies against national team, Palami said an events management company has offered to bring in European clubs and said they have received offers from second and third division teams in Spain.


�If Liverpool can have a friendly in Malaysia, perhaps the Philippines will be the next stop?� said Palami, who acknowledged bringing in a top tier club like Liverpool would be expensive.


�We are also looking at inviting Fulham, Neil Etheridge�s club, for a friendly,� he said.


Aside from the friendlies, the Azkals will be joining two tournaments next year�the AFC Challenge Cup and the Suzuki Cup.


The Azkals qualified for the AFC Challenge Cup main draw in Nepal for the first time after winning the qualifiers last March and for the Suzuki Cup, the Azkals won�t have to go through the qualifiers for the first time.


�Before the Challenge Cup, we are planning to hold a training camp in the Gulf area,� he said.


Palami also said the PFF is looking at hosting the Suzuki Cup but the lack of pitches is hampering that move.


�Manila needs a second pitch,� he said.


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 29, 2011.

Mackinnon excited to be part of f�ball renaissance

By Mike T. Limpag

Thursday, September 29, 2011

NEWLY-HIRED Global FC coach Graeme Mackinnon is excited to return to the Philippines and resume a role in Philippine football, this time as head coach of one of the top clubs in the United Football League (UFL).


Mackinnon, who was hired by Dan Palami to take over Global FC, is expected to return next week to take charge of the team�s campaign when it defends its UFL CUp title.


�To start with, just to be part of the renaissance of Philippine football is exciting.


I only met Dan in February for the first time and yet I feel as though I have known him for the longest time. So it will be a pleasure to coach his team and an honor to be entrusted with coaching one of the top club teams in the Philippines,� Mackinnon said in a message to Sun.Star Cebu.


The Australian coach, who returned to Cebu last February to be enshrined in the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame for his M. Lhuillier football team�s achievement in the late� 80s, also watched the Azkals beat Mongolia in Panaad last Feb. 9 and the PHL vs. Kuwait match in Manila.


It was hours before the Kuwaiti match when Palami offered him the job.


�I don�t know anything about the players so we will get to know each other slowly and hopefully we can make the necessary adjustments to some parts of their game (that) I believe need some attention,� said Mackinnon, who also helped groom the Carmen National School to the top of Philippine age group football.


Mackinnon, who just had knee surgery, will miss the Oct. 8 Global FC vs. Stallions match in the opening of the UFL Cup and will have his coaching debut on Oct. 16.


�Unfortunately I will miss the first game due to my still being here under doctor�s orders regarding the knee operation. I have an appointment on Oct. 7 so I should arrive in Manila sometime during the next week,� he said.


The Cebu team will be coached by his former star player and close friend Mario Ceniza, who will also have some of the former Carmen players in the team.

�Our long friendship will always be important to us both. So any time we are pitted against each other, we will do our best for our respective teams. Then we will go and enjoy a Coke and pizza as friends will always do whatever the result,� he said.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 29, 2011.

Limpag: Is Weiss under pressure to win in Taiwan?

By Mike T. Limpag

Fair Play

Thursday, September 29, 2011

SOMEBODY pointed out an intriguing point regarding the Azkals friendlies against Singapore, Nepal and the Long Teng Cup campaign in the next couple of weeks.


We basically have two different squads�one for the friendlies and one for the Taiwan campaign�where the Azkals finished third of four teams last year.

The point basically is, coach Michael Weiss must deliver in Taiwan and must bring home the Cup.


Win against Singapore and Nepal, when we have a fully-loaded lineup and lose in Taiwan? What will folks think?


�They might think that we don�t need a good coach, we just need a good team.�

Hmmm. Interesting.


But, I have to disagree on this one.


No matter who we field, we need a good coach because, for me, being great at coaching isn�t only about how good you are at tactics, substitutions or knowing who to put in the lineup.

No matter who we field, we still need a good coach, one who�ll break egos, or who�d insist that players show up for practice, not for photo-shoots and stuffs like that.


Yes, coach Weiss could face the pressure if the �weak� team loses in Taiwan and the strong team wins against Singapore and Nepal.


But what happens if it�s the other way around?

Yikes!!!

The team left for Taiwan yesterday for the Long Teng Cup, and I hope they do well. Because to be honest, this is the only tournament where the Azkals have the greatest chance of bringing home the bacon.

Sure, compared to the SEA Games,on the Suzuki Cup, the Long Teng Cup isn�t much but considering how most of the players who scored the breakthrough in Vietnam last year used the Taiwan tournament as a springboard, it would be great to know how the Azkals will fare in the event.


By the way, I can now officially congratulate Graeme Mackinnon for being named the new head coach of Global FC, which comes exactly two months after I heard Dan Palami offer the job to him.


And Coach Graeme�s first game? It will be against Cebu.


Dan said for the Global vs. Cebu Queen City United game, he can count on at least one Cebuano fan in Doc Joel (Paolo Pascual�s dad) but with Graeme on board, Dan can count on two Cebuano families� support.


But one good thing about Dan, Graeme, Mario and Joel? The Global vs. Cebu game will be great, but I�m sure we�re going to have a greater time talking about it over beer�and mango juice for teetotaler Graeme.


(www.cebufootball.blogspot.com)

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 29, 2011.

Wednesday--September 28, 2011

Jeff Thomas reviews the financial guarantees for next year and says SEC teams and Big Ten teams are interested in playing UMass in the future.

AnnArbor.com has some details from the Michigan side.

The UMass website has the OOC schedule for 2012.

2012 UMass Football Non-Conference Schedule:

Aug. 30 at Connecticut
Sept. 8 INDIANA
Sept. 15 at Michigan
Oct. 27 at Vanderbilt

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New UMass President Robert Caret supports UMass athletics and UMass football.

MassLive.com also has a report about Caret .

President Caret's wikipedia bio.

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Corey Sipkin/ NY Daily News image
SILive has a feature on Victor Cruz' big day with the Giants.

More on the Giants reaction to Cruz and the win over the Eagles.

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Keepers College Football Rankings has UMass at #23.

He has UMass over Old Dominion by 4.

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James Madison's starting QB Justin Thorpe has been suspended indefinitely.

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Palami: Running against PFF president is a divisive exercise

THANKS but no, thanks.

Philippine national men�s football team manager Dan Palami shot down the idea of him replacing Nonong Araneta as the president of the Philippine Football Federation in the November elections.

Palami said football in the Philippines hasn�t reached its full potential yet and running against Araneta would be a divisive exercise.

�I�m sure they have their reasons to prod me to run. They know that I have the best interest of football in mind. They know of my management skills. However, I don�t want this, football in the Philippines hasn�t fully blossomed and  I don�t want a divisive exercise,� said Palami.

Palami, who recently resigned from his position at APT Global Inc. to concentrate on his job as the team manager and four other positions in his real estate companies, manpower company, a school board and as head of marketing of the PFF, said he supports Araneta.

�I�m contented with the support that Nonong Araneta is giving us and this is the time for us to unite behind the PFF,� Palami said.

Araneta, who was also prodded by stakeholders to run in the 2007 elections against Mari Martinez and Ed Formosa, took over the PFF presidency in December last year when the PFF Board of Governors ousted Martinez.

Palami said he will support Araneta if he decides to run for another term in the November elections.

�He (Araneta) will have my support and I hope he continues to support my initiatives as manager of the national team,� said Palami.

Meanwhile, Palami said the national team will try to maximize the Fifa-designated dates for friendlies in 2012, which could mean a busy year for the Azkals.

�Playing friendlies is one way of improving our rank,� Palami said. �It will give the players more time to play together for better cohesion. It will also allow us to evaluate new players.�

Aside from friendlies against national team, Palami said an events management company has offered to bring in European clubs and said they have received offers from second and third division teams in Spain.

�If Liverpool can have a friendly in Malaysia, perhaps the Philippines will be the next stop?� said Palami, who acknowledged bringing in a top tier club like Liverpool would be expensive.

�We are also looking at inviting Fulham, Neil Etheridge�s club, for a friendly,� he said.

Aside from the friendlies, the Azkals will be joining two tournaments next year�the AFC Challenge Cup and the Suzuki Cup.

The Azkals qualified for the AFC Challenge Cup main draw in Nepal for the first time after winning the qualifiers last March and for the Suzuki Cup, the Azkals won�t have to go through the qualifiers for the first time.

�Before the Challenge Cup, we are planning to hold a training camp in the Gulf area,� he said.
Palami also said the PFF is looking at hosting the Suzuki Cup but the lack of pitches is hampering that move.

�Manila needs a second pitch,� he said.

Mackinnon excited to be part of PH football anew

NEWLY-HIRED Global FC coach Graeme Mackinnon is excited to return to the Philippines and resume a role in Philippine football, this time as head coach of one of the top clubs in the United Football League (UFL).

Mackinnon, who was hired by Dan Palami to take over Global FC, is expected to return next week to take charge of the team�s campaign when it defends its UFL CUp title.

�To start with, just to be part of the renaissance of Philippine football is exciting. I only met Dan in February for the first time and yet I feel as though I have known him for the longest time. So it will be a pleasure to coach his team and an honor to be entrusted with coaching one of the top club teams in the Philippines,� Mackinnon said in a message to Sun.Star Cebu.

The Australian coach, who returned to Cebu last February to be enshrined in the Cebu Sports Hall of Fame for his M. Lhuillier football team�s achievement in the late 80s, also watched the Azkals beat Mongolia in Panaad last Feb. 9 and the PHL vs. Kuwait match in Manila.

It was hours before the Kuwaiti match when Palami offered him the job.

�I don�t know anything about the players so we will get to know each other slowly and hopefully we can make the necessary adjustments to some parts of their game (that) I believe needs some attention,� said
Mackinnon, who also helped groom the Carmen National School to the top of Philippine age group football.

Mackinnon, who just had knee surgery, will miss the Oct. 8 Global FC vs. Stallions match in the opening of the UFL Cup and will have his coaching debut on Oct. 16.

�Unfortunately I will miss the first game due to my still being here under doctor�s orders regarding the knee operation. I have an appointment on Oct. 7 so I should arrive in Manila sometime during the next week,� he said.

The Cebu team will be coached by his former star player and close friend Mario Ceniza, who will also have some of the former Carmen players in the team.

�Our long friendship will always be important to us both. So any time we are pitted against each other we will do our best for our respective teams. Then we will go and enjoy a coke and pizza as friends will always do whatever the result,� he said.

Fair Play: Is Weiss pressured to win in Taiwan?

SOMEBODY pointed out an intriguing point regarding the Azkals friendlies against Singapore, Nepal and the Long Teng Cup campaign in the next couple of weeks.

We basically have two different squads�one for the friendlies and one for the Taiwan campaign�where the Azkals finished third of four teams last year.

The point basically is, coach Michael Weiss must deliver in Taiwan and must bring home the Cup.

Win against Singapore and Nepal, when we have a fully-loaded lineup and lose in Taiwan? What will folks think?

�They might think that we don�t need a good coach, we just need a good team.�

Hmmm. Interesting.

But, I have to disagree on this one.

No matter who we field, we need a good coach because, for me, being great at coaching isn�t only about how good you are at tactics, substitutions or knowing who to put in the lineup.

No matter who we field, we still need a good coach, one who�ll break egos, or who�d insist that players show up for practice, not for photo-shoots and stuffs like that.

Yes, coach Weiss could face the pressure if the �weak� team lose in Taiwan and the strong team win against Singapore and Nepal.

But what happens if it�s the other way around?

Yaiks!!!

The team left for Taiwan yesterday for the Long Teng Cup, and I hope they do well. Because to be honest, this is the only tournament where the Azkals have the greatest chance of bringing home the bacon.

Sure, compared to the SEA Games, the Suzuki Cup, the Long Teng Cup isn�t much but considering how most of the players who scored the breakthrough in Vietnam last year used the Taiwan tournament as a springboard, it would be great to know how the Azkals will fare in the event.

By the way, I can now officially congratulate Graeme Mackinnon for being named the new head coach of Global FC, which comes exactly two months after I heard Dan Palami offer the job to him.

And Coach Graeme�s first game? It will be against Cebu.

Dan said for the Global vs. Cebu Queen City United game, he can count on at least one Cebuano fan in Doc Joel (Paolo Pascual�s dad) but with Graeme on board, Dan can count on two Cebuano families� support.

But one good thing about Dan, Graeme, Mario and Joel? The Global vs. Cebu game will be great, but I�m sure we�re going to have a greater time talking about it over beer�and mango juice for teetotaler Graeme.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Simon McMenemy to Indonesian club

Former Azkals coach Simon McMenemy will sign as coach for Mitra Kukar in Indonesia tomorrow.

Mitra Kukar wikipedia

The Philly Pro $ports Media


Listen to the answer at the 5:19 mark. Do you love this guy or what?


Not a good day for the old Chevy Cavalier on Tuesday.
Went jogging for a couple of hours then, just as the sun was setting, I turned the ignition over and nothing happened.
I got the car towed to Pep Boys, sat in there for an hour and the guy came up to me and said: "Sorry I won't be able to get to it tonight. It looks like a fuel pump. I don't have enough mechanics."
So I had to take the 96 bus from Montgomery Mall to the Lansdale train station, get off at the Jenkintown train station to hop another train to Somerton and the 58 bus home.
While at Pep Boys, though, I was able to read up on the coverage the Temple Owls received in The Daily News the past couple of days.
It took me all of seven minutes to read one story, only part of it was devoted to Temple's 38-7 win at Maryland.
As impressed as I was with the Owls on Saturday, that's how unimpressed I was with the Daily News over the last two days.
Let's start with Monday first.
The theme of Mike Kern's story was not to praise Temple, but bury Maryland. He even put Maryland into his "Fraud Five." Why? For losing to Temple? That is a not well-disguised rip at Temple.

Temple was coming off the biggest BCS win possibly in its non-BCS history and both the back and the front covers had full-page Eagles' photos.
Sixteen (that's right, 16) more pages of Eagles followed, then a page devoted to the Jets-Raiders and the "NFC East this week" followed by another page of "around the league"  and two more pages of "NFL scoreboard", three Phillies pages, a page devoted to an NBA pickup game and another page for the Flyers.
Finally, I find Temple on page 67 and that's twenty-nine (right, 29) pages into the sports section.
The theme of Mike Kern's story was not to praise Temple, but bury Maryland. He even put Maryland into his "Fraud Five."
Why?
The Inquirer's Keith Pompey has done a fantastic job. Last year, Kevin Tatum wrote one short story on each Temple game and used the quotes handed out on printed sheets by the SID. Pompey busted his stones and wrote three outstanding stories on the win over Maryland.

For losing to Temple? That is a not well-disguised rip at Temple. If Kern felt Temple was good, there was no reason to put Maryland in the Fraud Five. He provided no real good explanation for the rip.
How is Maryland not a fraud for beating Miami (Fla.) and a fraud for losing to Temple?
It's not like Maryland was beaten by a bad team. What Temple is Kern going by, the Temple of 30 years ago?
He certainly is not going by the Temple that is 16-0 when Bernard Pierce gets the ball 18 or more times a game. Or maybe he just doesn't know that fact.
Tuesday's DN was worse.
Four pages of Eagles' coverage was followed by four pages of Phillies coverage.
Another page was devoted to college basketball and the next page was high school football.
Not a single word about the Temple Owls.
I can see the interest in the Eagles, but it has become ad naseum.
An Eagle sneezes at the Nova Care Center and Comcast reports on it and hands the guy a tissue.
Sports talk radio is even worse.
Thank God for the great coverage in the Philadelphia Inquirer, with a front-page of the paper photo followed by the lede story and photo on the cover of the sports section Sunday as well.
The Inquirer's Keith Pompey has done a fantastic job. Last year, Kevin Tatum wrote one short story on each Temple game and used the quotes handed out on printed sheets by the SID.
Pompey busted his stones and wrote three outstanding stories on the win over Maryland.
The Daily News, when it comes to Temple, is no better than fish rap.
The DN has, like my car, a broken story pump when it comes to providing even a smidgen of fairness in its coverage.
It's not worth the dollar.

Gaspar The Union Man

I have a lot of time for Robbie Gaspar. The Aussie midfielder has been in Indonesia yonks and has settled into the chaos with a calmness and equilibrium others would do well to imitate. He was recently elected to the executive committee of the Indonesian Players Union and to celebrate we sat down and had a chin wag. You can find the print version in today's Jakarta Globe while the whole interview can be seen on Jakarta Casual TV.

Love the timing of this with Carlos 'Don't wanna kickabal' Tevez spitting the dummy at his club.

Results 27/09

AFC Cup

Arbil v Persipura 1-0 8,000 (Arbil win 3-1 on aggregate)
Nasaf v Chonburi 0-0
Muang Thong United v Kuwait SC 0-0 11,212 (KSC win 1-0 on aggregate and had 8 players booked!)

Malaysia Cup

Kedah v Perak 1-1
Sabah v Johor 4-1
Terengganu v Negeri Sembilan 0-0
Sime Darby v Selangor PKNS 0-1
Kelantan v Felda United 2-0
Johor FC v Sarawak 3-1
Selangor v KL 2-1
PDRM v T Team 0-6

Teams in bold qualify for next round which kicks off next Monday. Draw can be found on Malaysia Football.

SLeague

SAFFC v Tampines Rovers 1-3 (Mislav Karoglan; OG, Ahmad Fahmie) 1,670

1 - Tampines Rovers 26 19 3 4 53-20 60
2 - Home United 25 18 2 5 62-26 56
3 - Albirex Niigata 26 17 2 7 66-26 53
4 - SAFFC 26 17 2 7 57-28 53

Seven or eight games left and we are still no closer knowing who's gonna win the SLeague. SAFFC lost a chance to gain on the Stags while tonight sees Home United host Young Lions...they should win that. Shouldn't they?

Friday : Long Teng Cup Philippines vs Hong Kong















First match in Taiwan on Friday : Philippines vs Hong Kong . 4.30 pm in Kaohsiung

Hong Kong Team

GK: Wei Chao (Biu Chun Rangers), Tse Tak-Him (Citizen), Yapp Hung-Fai (South China), Li Hon-Ho (Tai Po).
DF: Chak Ting-Fung (Biu Chun Rangers), Shum Kwok-Fai (Citizen), Man Pei-Tak, Ng Wai-Chao, Chan Wai-Ho, Lee Chi-Ho, Wong Chin-Hung (all South China), Lee Hang-Hui (Sun Hei).
MF: Shum Kwok-Keung, So Loi-Keung (Citzen), Lo Kwan-Yee (Kitchee), Bai He, Xu Deshuai, Leung Chun-Bong, Kwok Kin-Pong (all South China), Lee Hong-Lim (TSW Pegasus).
FW: Chan Siu-Ki, Lee Wai-Lim, Au Yeung Yiu-Chung, Cheng Lai-Hin (all South China), Ye Jia (Tai Po), Chao Pengfei (Biu Chun Rangers)

Hong Kong U23 beat Philippines 4-2 in 2010 Long Teng Cup.

Hong Kong matches in 2011 :

9. Feb : Malaysia 2-0 Hong Kong (friendly)
3. June : Hong Kong 1-1 Malaysia (friendly)
23. July : Saudi Arabia 3-0 Hong Kong (World Cup qualifier)
28. July : Hong Kong 0-5 Saudi Arabia (World Cup qualifier)

Your favorite UFL team

My poll about your favorite UFL Team has been closed.

Top 6 :

Nomads Fc 112 votes
Global Fc 79 votes
Stallion FC 62 votes
Loyola Fc 57 votes
Air Force 49 votes
Kaya Fc 49 votes

Nomads Fc had a link to my blog in their Facebook site and won :)

Thanks for all the votes, looking forward to the UFL Cup.

Time for all Filipino football fans to find a UFL team to support !

Graeme�s stirring return

By Mike T. Limpag
Wednesday, September 28, 2011

FORMER Cebu-based football guru Graeme Mackinnon is back in Philippine football but his return may result in some mixed feelings for Cebu football fans.

The already intriguing match-up between Dan Palami�s Global FC and Cebu Queen City United in the UFL Cup just got a bit more intriguing after Palami confirmed that he hired Mackinnon as his head coach.


Global FC and Cebu Queen City United is in Group C together with Pachanga and the Iloilo Stallions.

�He is just waiting for the clearance from his doctor before he can fly over and take over the team,� Palami told Sun.Star Cebu.

Mackinnon, a Cebu Sports Hall of Fame inductee, will get his doctor�s clearance on Oct. 7, and is expected to have his first game as Global FC head coach against Cebu Queen City United on Oct 16.

Mackinnon just had a knee operation last month and is undergoing rehabilitation in Australia.

The former coach of M. Lhuillier and the Carmen National School left for his home country in 2003 to take care of his ailing mother but has returned to the country twice to watch the national team play against Mongolia in Bacolod and Kuwait in the World Cup qualifiers in Manila.

�I made the offer to him when we met in Manila,� said Palami, who handled the coaching duties of Global in the recent I Can Serve Foundation friendly games.

And that prospect is already exciting coach Mario Ceniza, Mackinnon�s star player when he was head coach of M. Lhuillier Cebu, when they won the national men�s open title decades ago.

�We never expected this kind of situation,� Ceniza said yesterday. �I�m very happy for him that he�s back in football. We can be friends outside the field but not in the game.�

Like his old mentor, Ceniza will be making his UFL coaching debut this year and has been busy getting the Queen Cebu City team in shape.

�We are in complete control of the team, they are well-disciplined and there are no superstars,� he said.

Some of the players in the 25-man lineup for Queen City are former national team members Rocky Garciano and Jan Michael Flores and former Carmen boys Josaphat Sacil, Jack Reston, Junard Aguilar, Martin Bontia and Julius Acre.

Global will have goalkeeper Paolo Pascual, a former player of Ceniza, Misagh Bahadoran, Angel Aldeguer and the dangerous Izo El-Habbib.

�We are going to play another tuneup game but I�m hoping we can have more games,� Ceniza said. �Dira ra man gud nimo makit-an unsa ilang fitness level ug ilang abilidad.�

As to his former mentor and close friend, Ceniza said, �I�m very happy for him and I hope successful sad siya sa iyang bag-ong career.�

Raffy Musni, the team coordinator, also said the players will get a huge bonus if they beat Palami�s team on Oct. 16.

When he learned of the offer, Palami said, �My team will have to ensure that the Cebu players will not be disappointed. I prefer that they get their bonus from the other teams.�

Queen City will debut against Pachanga on Oct. 9 and will have its final game in the group stage against Iloilo on Oct. 22.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 28, 2011.

Azkals leave for Long Teng Cup

THE Philippine Azkals will leave for Kaoshiung, Taiwan today to start their bid in the Long Teng Cup, a four-nation tournament against Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau, which will start today until Oct. 4.

As a more experienced Philippine squad is being sent this year compared to last year�s, the team will try to improve its third place finish.



Last time around, the squad finished with one win, one draw and one loss. This year, they hope to finally win the title.

The national pool will rely on the leadership of skipper Aly Borromeo with vice captain Emelio Caligdong and other senior players like Phil and James Younghusband, Ian Araneta, Angel Guirado, Roel Gener, Misagh Bahadoran, Jason de Jong and Eduard Sacapano.

There are new faces in the mixed lineup of veterans and youth players released by coach Michael Weiss, including the members of the Under-23 team, which is bound for the Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia in November.

Leading the overseas players in the Under-23 training pool is Fil-German goalkeeper Roland Mueller from MSV Duisburg, Fil-Spanish defender Carlos de Murga from Club Portuense and Fil-Belgian Midfielder Jeffrey Christiaens from Torhout KM.

The other Under-23 local players listed are Lemuel Unabia from Negros-Ceres, Reymark Fernandez, Nickson Leonora and Fil-British siblings Mark and Matthew Hartmann, who are both playing for Loyola Meralco Sparks FC.

Kaya FC midfielder Moy Lexton and Oliver Potschke of BFC Preussen Berlin completed the national side lineup.

The Azkals will face the defending champions national team of Hong Kong on their first game on Sept. 30 and they will take on Chinese Taipei on Oct. 2 and last year�s lowest-ranked team Macau on Oct. 4.

They have a scheduled friendly match in Singapore on Oct. 7 before heading home to host an international match against Nepal on Oct. 11 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 28, 2011.

Global FC hires Mackinnon

This is my story for Sun.Star Cebu on Sept. 28.
FORMER Cebu-based football guru Graeme Mackinnon is back in Philippine football but his return may result to some mixed-feelings for Cebu football fans.

The already intriguing match-up between DanPalami�s Global FC and Cebu Queen City United just got a bit more intriguing after Palami confirmed that he hired Mackinnon as his head coach.

Global FC and Cebu Queen City United is in Group C of the UFL Cup together with Pachanga and the Iloilo Stallions.

�He is just waiting for the clearance from his doctor before he can fly over and take over the team,� Palami told Sun.Star Cebu.

Mackinnon, a Cebu Sports Hall of Fame inductee, will get his doctor�s clearance on Oct. 7, and is expected to have his first game as Global FC head coach against Cebu Queen City United on Oct 16.

Mackinnon just had a knee operation last month and is undergoing rehabilitation in Australia.

The former coach of M. Lhuillier and the Carmen National School left for his home country in 2003 to take care of his ailing mother but has returned to the country twice to watch the national team play against Mongolia in Bacolod and Kuwait in the World Cup qualifiers in Manila.

�I made the offer to him when we met in Manila,� said Palami, who handled the coaching duties of Global in the recent I Can Serve Foundation friendly games.

And that prospect is already exciting coach Mario Ceniza, Mackinnon�s star player when he was head coach of M. Lhuillier Cebu when they won the national men�s open title decades ago.

�We never expected this kind of situation,� Ceniza said yesterday. �I�m very happy for him that he�s back in football.  We can be friends outside the field but not in the game.�

Like his old mentor, Ceniza will be making his UFL coaching debut this year and has been busy getting the Queen Cebu City team in shape.

�We are in complete control of the team, they are well-disciplined and there are no superstars,� he said.

Some of the players in the 25-man lineup for Queen City are former national team members Rocky Garciano and Jan Michael Flores and former Carmen boys Josaphat Sacil, Jack Reston, Junard Aguilar, Martin Bontia and Julius Acre.

Global will have goalkeeper Paolo Pascual, a former player of Ceniza, Misagh Bahadoran, Angel Aldeguer and the dangerous Izo El-Habbib

�We are going to play another tuneup game but I�m hoping we can have more games,� Ceniza said. �Dira ra man gud nimo makit-an unsa ilang fitness level ug ilang abilidad.�

As to his former mentor and close friend, Ceniza said, �I�m very happy for him and I hope successful sad siya sa iyang bag-ong career.�

Raffy Musni, the team coordinator, also said the players will get a huge bonus if they beat Palami�s team on Oct. 16.

When he learned of the offer, Palami said, �My team will have to ensure that the Cebu players will be disappointed. I prefer that they get their bonus from the other teams.�

Queen City will debut against Pachanga on Oct. 9 and will have its final game in the group stage against Iloilo on Oct. 22.

Light At The End Of The Tunnel?

OK, so I understand the format for the next Indonesian season will be 24 clubs. The season will begin on 14 October and will end in October 2012. That's a year later. The 2011/2012 will run for a couple of weeks I guess before the SEA Games will halt everything for a while. And once the season does end next October the best players will be rewarded with a call up for their national teams to compete in the ASEAN Football Federation Cup.

Now don't start booking any flights yet because as far as I'm aware the fixture list hasn't been made available. And when it does come out keep some tippex handy 'cos there will be changes aplenty. Of course there may not, obviously I have no idea what the future holds for the new season but history does suggest that things may change once in a while along the way!

In fact if an Indonesian season does ever go to plan, and I mean the original plan and not one re-drafted several times, I think I will buy a hat just so I can eat the bloody thing.

Is a 13 month season a record? Obviously can't speak for other countries but I do know that here the 2007 season started in January 2007 and I don't think it ended till February 2008!

I know we shouldn't compare but it is a laugh. The A League doesn't start till next month but their fixtures were released back in early June I think it was. And even the Indian League games were released a couple of months before the season kicks off there. Here, we have 17 days till the new season begins and between now and then there is a World Cup Qualifier against Qatar and a friendly against Saudi Arabia which may be played in KL. Or it may not.

I challenge anyone to come up with a whackier footballing set up than what we have here! Indonesia, to coin a phrase...I'm lovin' it!

Recruiting 2012---Witchie Exilhomme

Boston Herald/Christopher Evan image
This article says UMass is recruiting Witchie Exilhomme, a 6-2 215 pound LB/RB from Malden, MA.

This ESPN article mentions him.

Also being recruited by Syracuse, UConn and URI.

Tuesday--Sept 27, 2011

Matty V. has bad news. Mike Lee and Ed Saint-Vil are both out for the Dominion Game.

UMass-Michigan---- the sequel.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UMass fell to #20 in the FCS Coaches Poll.

The Heights says BC Montel Harris shook off the rust. Note the UMass defense held him to 3 yards/carry.

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Old Dominion is a rising power in the CAA. The Monarchs gave Delaware all they could handle in Newark last week, losing a lead in the fourth quarter. Old Dominion hopes to rebound against UMass.

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Regarding the Minutemen's run defense, consider that Rhode Island ran for 350 yards against Fordham and three Rams had 100 yard games.

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I watched the Giants-Eagles game last night on DVD. Victor Cruz still looks like he can improve some elements of his game, but he did well on those two TD catches.

Victor Cruz starts to enjoy his NFL season.

The NFL explains his first TD catch.

The Star-Ledger says Cruz made the big plays against Philadelphia.

Eli Manning had faith in Cruz.

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A Huskie blog says the ACC want UConn---if they come with Notre Dame.

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Nomads turn back Kaya, 1-0, for Kia Cup title

NOMADS Football Club leaned on the heroics of British striker Phil Connelly in the first half as they turned back Kaya FC, 1-0, to clinch the top honors in the men�s division of the first Kia Cup seven-a-side football championships.

Connelly, a customer service manager at a Makati-based call-center company, rolled in the winning marker off an assist by teammate Allistair McReady midway in the first 10 minutes of the game at the Alabang Country Club grounds in Muntinlupa.

The Michael Dennison-coached Nomads FC made it to the finals after sweeping their four-game assignments and then beating Forza FC in the semifinals, 4-3.

A total of 39 squads saw action in the men�s division of this one-day tournament supported by Kia Motors Philippines.

�This shows our commitment in the sport of football. We participate in sports because this is the direction, which Kia is taking,� said Kia Philippines marketing service manager Paterno Soriano.

Kaya FC barged into the men�s finals after prevailing over Global C, 4-3, in the semis. They reached the quarterfinals when they placed second in Group F.

University of the Philippines-A won by penalty shootout over La Salle-A, 3-2, to claim the women�s crown.

Tourism junior Clara Poblador scored the winning goal, which was blast from 10 meters, curving to the left corner of the goal post.

The Maroons reached the finals after they outplayed the Gilligans-Philippine Malditas, 1-0, off a penalty kick from Hope Sales.

La Salle-A stormed to the finals with a 3-1 triumph over University of Santo Tomas-A, behind the efforts of midfielder Pia Bravo and Malditas booter Sam Nierras. Peter Atencio


Manila Standard Today

Monday 26 September 2011

Monday--September 26, 2011

Matty V has three stars from the Boston College game.

He also reports UMass-BC have signed a three game series. The games will be played 2014, 2016 and 2018. 

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The Boston Herald said the Eagles brought UMass up to speed.

The Enterprise News said BC had little trouble with UMass.

The UMass Daily Collegian has two articles on the BC game here and here.

The Collegian also said the Eagles preyed on Pagel.

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The University of New Mexico fired their coach after a loss to an FCS team. This writer mentions Mark Whipple as a possible replacement.

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Image Credit unknown
Victor Cruz had a breakout game against the Eagles.

The New York Daily News says Cruz shined.

Victor Cruz' post game video.

Cruz's totals are 5-127 25.43 (leads the Giants) and 2 TD's (also leads Giants).

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TSN reports three FCS teams had upsets against FBS teams on Saturday.

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Kudos To Phnom Penh Crown


Fair play to CLeague champions Phnom Penh Crown for making it to the AFC President's Cup Final last weekend. They met hosts Taiwan Power and of course won 6-0! Nah, did they bollocks! They lost 3-2 and had three players sent off when the ref, whose name may not have been Homer, decided not to award the Cambodian team a 'nailed on' penalty deep in injury time.

3-1 down with eight minutes to go, Sun Sovannrithy gave the visitors some hope, making it 3-2 and setting up a thrilling climax. It was not to be and the game ended in farce with those three reds and pushing and shoving blighting the game and Phnom Penh Crown achievement.

We know not to expect too much when South East Asian teams go abroad. PPC were victims of shambolic organisation ahead of the game, in Australian cricketing parlance they would call it sledging, and the players from this region lack the savvy and street smarts to use it to their benefit.

In the domestic leagues we are forever seeing examples of gamesmanship and cheating that would leave any fan of South American football circa late 1960s beaming with pride (ooh you bitch!) yet when they go overseas it's almost as if they are expecting the Queensbury Rules.

Phnom Penh Crown will no doubt be punished for their misdeamours while the ref enjoys a free holiday in Taiwan doing the things he can't do at home. But I don't think we should let the mad last few seconds detract from PPC's achievement. They reached a final in a major Asian competition and pushed the home team, their fans and, allegedly, the match officials, all the way and looking at the result in the cold light of day they can be dead chuffed with what they have achieved.


UMass-Rhode Island Photo Album

Lot's of stuff going on here during our first week back from our trip. Over the weekend I finally got to post some of the images from the UMass-Rhody game. I was seriously time-zone lagged and grabbed my super-zoom lens , which is pretty slow. Under the lights that means slow shutter speeds even with the camera's ISO cranked to the max. The result is there are not many images from the second half. I left a couple of blurred pictures as they somewhat give the impression of speed.

The full set is here if any of the people who did not get a chance to go to the game want to look at them.

First 2011 UMass home game

Johnathan Hernandez and O-line

Hernandez scores

New-look Azkals join Taiwan meet

THE Philippine Azkals will unveil a new lineup when they see action in the four-nation Long Teng Cup, set in Taiwan from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.

New players in the team are Fil-American Lexter Moy, Filipino-British Mark Hartmann, Fil-Belgian Jeff Christiaens, Fil-Spanish Carli de Murga and Fil-German goalkeeper Roland Muller, together with local defenders Lemuel Unabia, Reymark Fernandez and Nickson Leonora.

�It�s an honor to come here and have this great opportunity to learn my Filipino side and be able to play soccer here,� said the 26-year-old Lexter Moy, a defensive midfielder, who was born and raised in New York.

Moy was among the members of the national team who showed up during the first Kia Cup 7-a-side tournament at the Alabang Country Club in Muntinlupa.

The 5�8� Moy, who was also given a chance to play for the Kaya Football Club in the United Football League, later joined the Azkals in the clinics held in the afternoon.

Moy, whose father is a US Marine, who met his mother in Olongapo in the 1980s, used to play for a second division team, Taichung, in Hong Kong from 2009 to 2010.

Other teams taking part in the Long Teng Cup are host Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong and Macau.

The Azkals will miss Fil-German booter Stephan Schrock and Fil-British goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who won�t be available due to club commitments.

Azkals regulars Aly Borromeo and Chieffy Caligdong will still be around, along with brothers Phil and James Younghusband, Angel Guirado, Jason de Jong, Misagh Bahadoran, Roel Gener, Ian Araneta,Eduard Sacapano and the returning Matthew Hartmann. Peter Atencio

Manila Standard