By ALEX P. VIDAL
RP team captain Emelio “Chippy” Caligdong made an impressive debut in the opening game of the Asian Football Challenge (AFC) Cup 2008 Group B qualifying competition when he drew the first blood for host country en route to a 1-0 shellacking of Brunei at the Iloilo Sports Complex, Iloilo City Tuesday afternoon, May 13.
The victory sent a strong signal to defending champion Tajikistan which downed newcomer Bhutan, 3-1, in a simultaneous match played at the Barotac Nuevo Football Plaza in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.
“With the support of the home crowd, I believe we can make it,” said the ecstatic Caligdong, a native of Barotac Nuevo, who asked local fans to cheer for the team in a pre-tournament press conference Monday.
“Let’s hope that the rain will not damage the playing field so that our players can sustain the victory,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) general-secretary Pablito Araneta who earlier predicted that the “much-improved and much-inspired” host team will roll past Tajikistan.
Topnotcher in the four-nation, five-day qualifying competition organized by PFF and Asian Football Confederation (AFF) will advance to the ACC finals set in Hyderabad, India on July 30-August 10.
But defending champion Tajikistan blamed this pitch field at the Iloilo Sports Complex, Iloilo City for its failure to beat the Philippines which held the visitor to a scoreless draw while Bhutan and Brunie scored one goal apiece in another match held simultaneously at the Barotac Nuevo Football Plaza in the second day of the Asian Football challenge (AFC) Challenge 2008 Group B qualifying competition.
“The field is not good. Our players had difficulty in running,” lamented Tajikistan coach Pulod Kodirov during a post game press conference.
He said the field in Barotac Nuevo, 29 kilometers away from Iloilo City, where they beat Bhutan, 3-1 in the opening match last May 12 “is much better.”
Kodirov vowed to whip the Philippines, which played with 10 players, if they will be matched against the host team again.
“We will try to show our best players (the next time we meet the Philippines),” said Kodirov.
RP coach Norman Fegidero, Jr. praised the “team efforts” of his players saying they played very well despite being outnumbered in the field. “But in our next game, we will definitely win against Bhutan.”
Fegidero said they need to score more goals in their next match against Bhutan in order to offset Tajikistan which is expected to whip Brunei.
Defender Alexander Borromeo said they proved Tajikistan wrong by holding them to a draw saying they want to play the visitors again.
The red card slapped on defender Jason Cordova midway at 21st minute of the second half for retaliating against midfielder Ibragim Rabimov “made us stronger,” said Borromeo, a Filipino-American.
“The pushing and shoving were parts of the game as both of us were good teams,” Borromeo added.
Referee Ali Al Badwawi earlier warned players from both teams to avoid playing roughly especially after the first half when tension erupted between Cordova and some Tajikistan players as they walked to the dressing rooms.
Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Eric Loretizo walked out some 15 minutes after the start of the second half after he was prevented by P01 Junie Rubio, a police security from the La Paz police precinct, from going up the complex.
Rubio said he did not recognize Loretizo, a former sportswriter from Bacolod City, as he did not introduce himself as VIP.
“I was ordered to secure the area and I did not know that he was a VIP,” said Rubio who was backed by his superior, Senior Inspector Uldarico Garbanzos.Loretizo, who arrived in the venue together with Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella, threw away his identification card and disappeared from the scene after chiding Rubio. /MP
The victory sent a strong signal to defending champion Tajikistan which downed newcomer Bhutan, 3-1, in a simultaneous match played at the Barotac Nuevo Football Plaza in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.
“With the support of the home crowd, I believe we can make it,” said the ecstatic Caligdong, a native of Barotac Nuevo, who asked local fans to cheer for the team in a pre-tournament press conference Monday.
“Let’s hope that the rain will not damage the playing field so that our players can sustain the victory,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) general-secretary Pablito Araneta who earlier predicted that the “much-improved and much-inspired” host team will roll past Tajikistan.
Topnotcher in the four-nation, five-day qualifying competition organized by PFF and Asian Football Confederation (AFF) will advance to the ACC finals set in Hyderabad, India on July 30-August 10.
But defending champion Tajikistan blamed this pitch field at the Iloilo Sports Complex, Iloilo City for its failure to beat the Philippines which held the visitor to a scoreless draw while Bhutan and Brunie scored one goal apiece in another match held simultaneously at the Barotac Nuevo Football Plaza in the second day of the Asian Football challenge (AFC) Challenge 2008 Group B qualifying competition.
“The field is not good. Our players had difficulty in running,” lamented Tajikistan coach Pulod Kodirov during a post game press conference.
He said the field in Barotac Nuevo, 29 kilometers away from Iloilo City, where they beat Bhutan, 3-1 in the opening match last May 12 “is much better.”
Kodirov vowed to whip the Philippines, which played with 10 players, if they will be matched against the host team again.
“We will try to show our best players (the next time we meet the Philippines),” said Kodirov.
RP coach Norman Fegidero, Jr. praised the “team efforts” of his players saying they played very well despite being outnumbered in the field. “But in our next game, we will definitely win against Bhutan.”
Fegidero said they need to score more goals in their next match against Bhutan in order to offset Tajikistan which is expected to whip Brunei.
Defender Alexander Borromeo said they proved Tajikistan wrong by holding them to a draw saying they want to play the visitors again.
The red card slapped on defender Jason Cordova midway at 21st minute of the second half for retaliating against midfielder Ibragim Rabimov “made us stronger,” said Borromeo, a Filipino-American.
“The pushing and shoving were parts of the game as both of us were good teams,” Borromeo added.
Referee Ali Al Badwawi earlier warned players from both teams to avoid playing roughly especially after the first half when tension erupted between Cordova and some Tajikistan players as they walked to the dressing rooms.
Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Eric Loretizo walked out some 15 minutes after the start of the second half after he was prevented by P01 Junie Rubio, a police security from the La Paz police precinct, from going up the complex.
Rubio said he did not recognize Loretizo, a former sportswriter from Bacolod City, as he did not introduce himself as VIP.
“I was ordered to secure the area and I did not know that he was a VIP,” said Rubio who was backed by his superior, Senior Inspector Uldarico Garbanzos.Loretizo, who arrived in the venue together with Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella, threw away his identification card and disappeared from the scene after chiding Rubio. /MP
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