Global adds teeth to attack, taps Mulders

GLOBAL, one of two United Football League sides still in the hunt in the Singapore Cup, has bolstered its attack ahead of its two-leg quarterfinal duel with Singapore League side DPMM Brunei at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

Unattached after Dutch first division side ADO Den Haag did not extend his contract, Filipino-Dutch attacking midfielder Paul Mulders has been tapped by Global owner Dan Palami to beef up the squad that will face the Bruneians starting Wednesday night and in the second leg on Saturday.

Mulders, who last played for the national side in the 1-0 win over Hong Kong last month, brings a wealth of experience to Global and joins Spanish striker Rufo Sanchez in a fearsome Global strike force, which Palami hopes will deliver a semifinal berth after its failure to retain the UFL crown last month.

Global coach Brian Reid is also relishing the prospect of fielding Sanchez, who finished the UFL season as its top scorer with 18 goals.

“I was always impressed with him,” said Reid. “He’s a natural goalscorer and I hope he will do a good job for us. It’s an important match for the club.”

The other UFL team seeing action in the tournament, Loyola Meralco, will face Tanjong Pagar FC in another quarterfinal duel starting Thursday night. The second leg of the Loyola-Tanjong Pagar tie is slated Sunday.

Victories by both Loyola, which reached the last four last year, and Global will set up an all-Filipino showdown in the semifinals.

Global also signed promising defender Amani Aguinaldo, 18, who is a member of the Under-23 national team bidding for a slot in the Philippine delegation to the Southeast Asian Games, to a two-year deal recently.