Star-studded Meralco, Kaya make UFL debuts

MANILA—Members of the national team return to their respective clubs as the United Football League resumes Saturday with first-division sides Loyola Meralco Sparks and Kaya Cignal opening their campaigns at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Fil-British brothers Phil and James Younghusband make their debut for the Sparks as they face newcomer Team Socceroos, a team made up of former Southridge standouts and Brazilian-Japanese players, in the first match at 2 p.m.

National team skipper Aly Borromeo will spearhead Kaya’s bid against dangerous Diliman at 4 p.m. in the second of two televised games on AKTV on IBC 13.

Borromeo, an imposing figure on defense, will be joined in the Kaya side by players with international experience in Jason Sabio, Yannick Tuason, Christopher Camcam and Nate Burkey, who played in the two friendly matches against Singapore and Nepal last week.

The spotlight will be on the Sparks as they parade a retooled lineup powered by the Younghusband brothers—former Chelsea reserves team players—who have a combined total of 24 international goals.

Phil hopes to pick up from where he left off last Tuesday when he led the Azkals with two goals in the 4-nil drubbing of Nepal.

The Sparks actually have the two other players who scored for the Azkals against Nepal in James Younghusband and Matthew Hartmann, whose younger brother, Mark, is also in the squad.

In a duel that could potentially determine which team tops Group C, Kaya is in for a tough outing against a Diliman squad coming off an impressive 7-0 victory over ABC Stars.