Team Perspolise celebrate after winning the Neymar Jr’s Five 2018 National Final in Bonifacio Global City, Philippines on April 21, 2018
Perspolise knocked off crowd-favorite Tondo FC, 4-0, in the Neymar Jr’s Five National Finals Saturday at Turf BGC in Taguig to book a trip to Brazil this July.
Perspolise, composed of Louis Serge Kaole, Otuyemi Emmanuel, Junior Stephen Ngong Sam, John Paul Canieso, Okoh Anthony Alechanu, team captain Hamed Hajimehdi and head coach Mikee Carrion, are headed to the World Finals on July 21 at Instituto Projeto Neymar Jr. in Praria Grande, Brazil.
“It was a tough game, but everything worked out for us in the finals,” Carrion said. “It’s a great honor for us to represent the country. We’re going to go there and have fun, but everybody has to watch out because we’re representing the Philippines.”
“It was good, we brought out our best players and we are excited to go to Brazil,” said Hajimehdi. “Football is my life, I have been playing since I was thirteen years old. It allowed me to play in many countries and all clubs. It’s also my job, football is my life.”
Tondo FC failed to get over the hump for the second straight time after losing to Naxional in the final last year.
READ: Naxional trips Tondo, books trip to Brazil
“We played better than last year,” said Tondo FC’s Dennis Balbin. “We really had to prepare for this year. We worked on team defense and organization, learning that Neymar Jr’s Five is really a team effort.”
“I think we were all rooting for Tondo FC, they would have made a great story,” said Sports Director Anton del Rosario. “But I’m happy for Perspolise, I’ve got friends there. On the world finals, Perspolise won’t play like they’re on vacation. They’re going to play to win.”