Global FC launches bid in AFC President’s Cup

Matches today (Cebu City Sports Complex)

4:30 p.m. – Dordoi (KGZ) vs KRL FC (PAK)

7:30 p.m. – Global FC (PHL) vs Yeedzin FC (BHU)

MANILA, Philippines - Global FC launches its bid in the AFC President’s Cup tonight at the Cebu City Sports Complex, looking to make waves on its first appearance in the tournament and possibly pull off an Azkals-like rise in the international club scene.

The President’s Cup is the club equivalent for the AFC Challenge Cup, the tourney for national sides among “emerging” football nations, and Global is the first club from the Phl to compete here. Global is bunched in Group B with Yeedzin FC of Bhutan, its rival at the start of today’s qualifiers, as well as KRL FC of Pakistan and two-time titlists Dordoi FC of Kyrgyzstan. 

The Pinoys aim to finish in the Top 2 to advance to the President’s Cup’s final round, which in turn will serve as a qualifier for the AFC Champions League, the top-tier competition for Asian clubs.

“This will be the first time Phl will be joining. We’re in unchartered waters so to speak but we have quite a strong team. We have a good coach (Brian Reid) and a good system being implemented so I think we stand a good chance of at least qualifying in the final round,” said Global team owner Dan Palami in yesterday’s PSA Forum.

Going further, Palami added: “I think we stand a good chance of even winning the President’s Cup, which is our goal, of course, because we want to compete in the AFC Champions League. We hope our progress will be as phenomenal as it was with the Azkals.” 

Global makes it debut against Yeedzin FC at 7:30 tonight following the 4:30 p.m. curtain-raiser between Dordoi and KRL FC. Next up for the Pinoys will be KRL on Friday night and then two-time champion Dordoi on Sunday night.

“We’re approaching it with cautious optimism. We’ve seen some of their games and I think we’re in a position to actually win the first game as well as the second game.But we’ll take it one game at a time. Tomorrow (tonight) we’ll have to make sure we’ll be able to execute the system coach wants us to run,” Palami said.

Azkals Juani Guirado, Carli de Murga, Misagh Bahadoran, Patrick Reichelt, Jeffrey Christiaens, Marwin and Marvin Angeles, Ed Sacapano and Denis Wolf are expected to lead Global, joining forces with foreigners  Moussa Sanogo and Ben Starosta. 

Calling the shots is Scottish Reid, who once guided  AYR United to promotion to the Scottish first division.

“It’s a big test for the players and myself to try and put on a decent performance because Dordoi are the strong favorites to advance and maybe even want to win it. 

(But) At the end of the day it will be 90 minutes, 11 vs 11 and strange things can happen. We’ve got to believe in ourselves and be focused,” said Reid.