UFL opener: Retooled Global battles Pasargad

A retooled Global side opens its bid to regain supremacy in the United Football League when it collides with Pasargad in the group stage of the UFL Cup today at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The 6:15 p.m. clash is part of a heavy three-match bill to start the 2016 UFL season, which will also feature a league competition starting in June.

Bracketed in Group B of the 12-team competition, former second division sides Forza and Agila clash in the season opener at 4 p.m., before second division champion Laos rekindles its rivalry with JP Voltes at 8:30 p.m.

Capping an explosive opening weekend on Sunday will be the match pitting defending champion Kaya and Stallion.

The most anticipated match of the weekend will feature reigning league winner Ceres-La Salle FC against the Loyola Meralco Sparks at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Former Bundesliga player Stephan Schrock will be playing for the first time for the Bacolod side, lining up against fellow Azkals star Phil Younghusband of the Sparks.

Global hopes to atone for a disappointing 2015 campaign where it failed to win a single trophy. The 2014 league champions beefed up their squad with Fil-Iranian midfielder Omid Nazari, a veteran of the Swedish league, who will join forces with national team standouts Misagh Bahadoran, Amani Aguinaldo, Daisuke Sato and returning Iranian striker Milad Behgandom.