Rufo Sanchez, Global Cebu FC head coach Akhbar Nawas, Davao Aguilas FC head coach Gary Philips and James Younghusband (from left) during yesterday’s pre-match presser.
.(CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
The Global Cebu FC and the Davao Aguilas promise a night of unforgettable football as they go after each other’s scalp in their fourth and final encounter in the Philippines Football League (PFL) at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
Game time is set at 7 p.m.
Global Cebu FC is installed the slight favorite tonight having won one while drawing two of their previous three encounters.
The Cebuanos won their first match last June, 2-1, at the Davao Del Norte Sports Complex. Their second encounter ended in a scoreless draw at the CCSC while their third match last Saturday, ended in a 2-2 draw in Davao.
Aguilas’ head coach Gary Philips is confident that they will do better this time what with a fearsome line-up led by James and Phil Younghusband.
“Obviously, the added quality of this squad is very welcome. There is no question, we really needed depth in our line-up in the last three months,” said Philips in a pre-match press conference yesterday at the Golden Prince Hotel.
“We got a long way to go, Global has been established for a long time, this is our fourth and final fixture and we are pretty much a new team. We are discovering our qualities and given the conditions, at the end of the day, the team that commits the least mistakes will win. Both teams got quality players. We need to make sure we are smarter in our plays.”
James Younghusband, the celebrated Philippine Azkals midfielder said that he’s feeling good coming back to Cebu again. He has visited Cebu many times as a member of the Azkals.
“I’ve been here for many times and it’s good to be back. It’s good to play with Global coming off from an exciting match last weekend and we are looking to get our first win. I know some of the players, we played each other in the UFL, we have a healthy relationship so it’s all business in the field,” said Younghusband.
Global Cebu is currently third in the standings with 30 points from eight wins, six draws and four defeats. The Aguilas on the other hand are still seeking their first win. They are currently in seventh spot with six points from six draws and seven defeats.
“As long as we keep performing and keep believing, the results will come. The last game could have gone either way and in terms of positivity, I think we are getting there. We give opponents due respect,”said Global Cebu’s head coach Akhbar Nawas.