As always, whenever the Philippine National Men’s Football Team is set to compete in an international event, whether in a friendly or in a tournament, we wish them all the best of luck. Which they really need aside from playing the best football game ever in recent years to fare well in the 50th King’s Cup in Songkhla, Thailand. The squad will face host Thailand tonight, 9 p.m. at the Tinsulanon Stadium. The winner will advance to the finals and face the victor of the Tajikistan and Syria tussle on October 14.
The national team will be in a tough match against the War Elephants, not only because they will be facing the host and thousands of hostile fans. The Philippines has not beaten Thailand in their last 11 encounters. Thailand has won nine games and managed to draw the other two.
Statistics aside, there are so many things to look forward to in the game. The squad will be bolstered by returning players, which give us much hope and positive vibes. And judging from the pictures being posted in social media, the team looks happy and ready to play. Gerrit Holtmann is already with the team days before the tournament as well as other players like Sebastian Rasmussen, Santi Rublico, Joshua Grommen, Bjorn Kristensen, Zico Bailey Alex Monis and more. We expect a lot from these players and hope that they will make the difference in the game against the Thais. Much of the expectations will rest on Holtmann, though. After missing the team for several games, he finally showed up. I just hope that he is worth the wait and the hype.
The team will also play its first game under coach Albert Capellas, who vowed “not to lose a game before a game.” This mindset is very important, knowing that the odds are stacked against our favor when it comes to facing Thailand, our perennial tormentor in regional football.
A decent showing against Thailand will go a long way in the team’s preparation for the more important AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup in late November.
Speaking of decent showing, Kaya FC-Iloilo is holding its own in the 2024-2025 AFC Women’s Champions League. The Pinays have two points and are in second place in Group B after consecutive draws with College of Asian Scholars of Thailand and Bam Khatoon FC of Iran. Kaya scored in injury time, courtesy of Joyce Onrubia, to negate an early goal by the Iranian club and tie the game.
Kaya will next face Melbourne City FC tomorrow at Pathum Thani Stadium to wrap up their campaign in the group stage. The Pinays are expected to encounter a tough game from the Australian club, which has won its first two games in the tournament.
Another Philippine team is also taking part in an ongoing tournament in Malaysia. The Philippine Azkals, bannered by Misagh Bahadoran and Stephan Schrock, are competing in the Asia 7s Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia that officially started last night. The Azkals will face Hong Kong, Malaysia and India in the group stage.
Aside from Bahadoran and Schrock, joining the team in Kuala Lumpur are Kenry Balobo. Ivan Ouano, Andres Aldeguer, Patrick Grogg, Jed Francisco, Ellijhone Rasonable, Michael Cacicosa, Trick Gallantes, Mark Hartmann, Joshua Jalog, Arnel Amita, Marvin Bricenio, Amir Aningalan and Daisuke Sato.
Let’s go, Azkals!
In much welcome news, former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson is reportedly in negotiations with Top Rank Promotions to bring a possible world title bout in the country to feature undefeated and former Olympian Charly Suarez possibly within the first quarter of next year.
Suarez, the World Boxing Organization’s (WBO) international super featherweight champ, is coming off a sensational third-round knockout win against Jorge Castañeda last September 20 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. The win improved Suarez’s record to 18 wins, with 11 knockouts, against no defeats. More importantly, it moved him closer to his dream of landing a title shot possibly against Emmanuel Navarette. Navarette is the reigning WBO junior featherweight king and is scheduled to meet Oscar Valdez in an all-Mexican affair late this year to defend his title. Suarez is next in line and is expected to fight the winner of the Navarette-Valdez tussle.
Suarez is already going back to his training regimen, after taking a week off to spend time with his family, just in case something might happen before the Navarette-Valdez rematch.
“Mailap po kasi ang title fight kaya kung sakaling matawag po ako at least ready po ako kahit isang linggo lang ang abiso,” Suarez said.
I have known Suarez since the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in Brazil. Instead of pursuing an early career in the professional ranks, Suarez opted to stay and served with the national team for quite some time. If there is a boxer, who is most deserving of a world title, it would be the King’s Warrior, Charly Suarez.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
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