Azkals boost clubs in football charity tourney

MANILA, Philippines - A charity football tournament featuring the Philippine Azkals and top United Football League clubs Global FC and Kaya FC is slated Sept. 19-24 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Dubbed the “I Can Serve Invitational,” the tournament will adopt a single-round format with Azkals like Aly Borromeo, Anton del Rosario, Jason Sabio, Nate Burkey of Kaya and Misagh Bahadoran of Global playing for their respective clubs when they face the national team.

“Proceeds of the tournament will benefit the I Can Serve Foundation, a non-profit organization helping raise awareness on breast cancer,” said Kaya managing director Armand del Rosario yesterday at the PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Ave.

Joining del Rosario at the weekly forum was I Can Serve vice-president Crisann Celdran, who welcomed the staging of the event.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Celdran said the event augurs well for their activities next month.

The Azkals face Global in the opening match on Monday, before playing Kaya on Wednesday.

Global and Kaya clash on Sept. 24 and Del Rosario said they scheduled the match on the last day as a potential title decider in an effort to promote the rivalry between the two clubs.

“We want to make the Kaya-Global rivalry as similar to the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry in Spain,” Del Rosario added.