Azkals, UFL set charity game for CDO, Iligan

Phil Younghusband

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine football is pitching in on efforts to raise funds for the victims of Typhoon Sendong.

Organizers are close to finalizing a charity football match involving the Philippine Azkals and stars of the United Football League (UFL) against Spanish third division side CF Madrid on Jan. 7 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said proceeds of the match will go to the victims of typhoon in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City.

The CF Madrid contingent will also bring relief goods from Spain when it arrives in Manila on Jan. 5, Palami said.

Several players have expressed interest and donate memorabilia for auction during the match, including United States-based Chris Greatwich, who proposed the staging of the charity football match on Twitter.

Greatwich’s call elicited a wave of support from the country’s football stakeholders particularly the UFL and its chair Santi Araneta of the Football Alliance.

Meanwhile, the Philippines will finish the year at No. 159 in the latest FIFA rankings—down 10 spots from its yearend ranking last year.

The Azkals, whose next tournament is the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal in March, played 15 international matches in 2011, ending up with five wins against the same number of losses and draws.

Malaysia, which will face the Azkals on Feb. 29, moved up seven rungs to 148. Vietnam made the biggest improvement among Southeast Asian countries, breaking into the Top 100 after jumping 35 spots to No. 99.