PFF invites Guam XI to 4-nation tournament

MANILA, Philippines—Guam has been invited to complete the cast in the four-nation Paulino Alcantara Cup set in Bacolod City that will form part of the preparation of the Philippine football team for the AFF Suzuki Cup.

The tournament, which has been named after one of the greatest players to don the national colors in Alcantara, has already lured Macau and Chinese-Taipei.

“Guam is interested in joining the tournament and they have been improving,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta of the side that lost to the Azkals, 3-0, in a friendly in Bacolod City last June 12.

Formerly known as the Long Teng Cup, the tournament has been renamed with the Philippines hosting it for the first time on the last week of September which marks a busy month for the Azkals who will play three matches early in the month.

The door was open for Guam following the confirmation of Hong Kong that it is not joining the tournament that it has won the last two years in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Football Federation on Thursday struck an agreement with Department of Education, which will now take an active role in the implementation of the Kasibulan program.

“Its another boost for the sport as we expand the Kasibulan program,” said Araneta, after signing the agreement with DepEd secretary Armin Luistro.

Under the agreement, the PFF will subsidize the training of football instructors from the ranks of DepEd and PFF.

The federation is undertaking the program backed by Pagcor with the hope of discovering talents that will form the team bidding for a spot in the 2017 Under-17 World Cup.