CEBU, Philippines - The Philippines' Global FC is all set to fight for the flag and country in the AFC President’s Cup set to kick off tomorrow at the Cebu City Sports Center.
“We are looking forward to a great game here. It’s our first. It’s going to be tough, but we will be trying our best,†said Global coach Brian Reid in a press conference sponsored by KIA Motors yesterday.
Prior to the presscon, the team also visited the BMW, Peugeot and Kia showrooms for autograph-signing and picture-taking sessions.
The Scotland-native Reid, who had been calling the shots for Global FC only last January, is not worried so much about the team’s cohesiveness, saying most of his wards are already familiar with each other.
For instance, defender Juani Guirado had been playing with the Azkals for sometime already. Some of his Azkals teammates are also hooked up with Global FC including Carli de Murga, Denis Wolf, Jeffrey Christiaens, Jason de Jong and goalkeeper Ed Sacapano.
Two other new foreign players have been inserted to the Global FC the lineup in defender Ben Starosta and Moussa Sagono.
The entire cast are still able to practice together before the battle begins.
On the other hand, Fil-German Patrick Reichelt, whose mom is from Argao, bared that he too is excited and ready to take the challenge given upon him.
Reichelt, along with fellow Azkals Misagh Bahadoran and Jeff Christiaens, are expected to step up their games and get a chance to shine on the international stage.
“I’m 100 percent ready now. My voice does not sound so good yet,but I’m good to play already,†said Reichelt, who just recovered after being downed by flu last week.
Another Cebuano player in Paolo Pascual, also a goalkeeper under Global FC, is just as ready and fit.
Coach Reid said fielding in Pascual will still depend on how the game goes.
Global FC will be playing against Yeedzin of Bhutan for their first match tomorrow.
The other teams competing against Global are Pakistan’s KRL and Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi Bishkek. (FREEMAN)