by Alex P. Vidal
Lady luck was not on the side of upset-conscious RP football team as it failed to advance to the AFC Challenge Cup set in Hyderabad, India on July 30-August 10 after wounding up second to Tajikistan in the recently held AFC Challenge Cup 2008 Group B qualifying tournament held in Iloilo City and Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.
This came after Tajikistan solidified its hold on top by blanking Brunei, 4-0, in the final day match at the jampacked Iloilo Sports Complex, Iloilo City on Saturday, May 17 while the nationals could only produce three goals to bury Bhutan in another final day match held simultaneously at the Barotac Nuevo Footbal Ground.
Thus, RP XI, skippered by Barotac Nuevo native Emelio “Chippy” Caligdong, dashed its hopes to reach the finals to pieces, losing by a superior number of goals to Tajikistan which trounced Bhutan, 3-1, in the opening day match.
“We have nothing to be ashamed because our players did their best only that luck was not on our side,” declared RP national coach Norman Fegidero. “The draw against Tajikistan was one of our finest moments.”
RP booters were on track of clinching the Hyderabad slot on goals from Chad Gould and Phil Younghusband. The third goal came from Bhutan defender Rinchen Pema who accidentally kicked the ball in a match witnessed by a big crowd, including top Philippine Football Federation (PFF) officials.
“We almost made it,” said local organizing committee assistant chairman Domingo Oso, Jr. who turned pale when informed that Tajikistan walloped Brunei by 4 goals in another match.
Both the Philippines and Tajikistan finished tie with seven points on two wins and a draw (RP vs Tajikistan, 0-0) but Tajikistan edged the Filipinos with a plus-six goal margin.
Highly-touted striker Rabiev Yusuf and Dzhomikhon Muhidinov provided the sparks for the visiting football team from the former Soviet Republic.
“We were not surprised that we would advance to the finals although we really expteced a rough sailing following a scoreless draw with the Philippines, said Pulod Kodirov through an interpreter. /MP
This came after Tajikistan solidified its hold on top by blanking Brunei, 4-0, in the final day match at the jampacked Iloilo Sports Complex, Iloilo City on Saturday, May 17 while the nationals could only produce three goals to bury Bhutan in another final day match held simultaneously at the Barotac Nuevo Footbal Ground.
Thus, RP XI, skippered by Barotac Nuevo native Emelio “Chippy” Caligdong, dashed its hopes to reach the finals to pieces, losing by a superior number of goals to Tajikistan which trounced Bhutan, 3-1, in the opening day match.
“We have nothing to be ashamed because our players did their best only that luck was not on our side,” declared RP national coach Norman Fegidero. “The draw against Tajikistan was one of our finest moments.”
RP booters were on track of clinching the Hyderabad slot on goals from Chad Gould and Phil Younghusband. The third goal came from Bhutan defender Rinchen Pema who accidentally kicked the ball in a match witnessed by a big crowd, including top Philippine Football Federation (PFF) officials.
“We almost made it,” said local organizing committee assistant chairman Domingo Oso, Jr. who turned pale when informed that Tajikistan walloped Brunei by 4 goals in another match.
Both the Philippines and Tajikistan finished tie with seven points on two wins and a draw (RP vs Tajikistan, 0-0) but Tajikistan edged the Filipinos with a plus-six goal margin.
Highly-touted striker Rabiev Yusuf and Dzhomikhon Muhidinov provided the sparks for the visiting football team from the former Soviet Republic.
“We were not surprised that we would advance to the finals although we really expteced a rough sailing following a scoreless draw with the Philippines, said Pulod Kodirov through an interpreter. /MP
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