Rejuvenated Global ready for PFL wars

A club with a rich and proud tradition in Philippine football, Global FC, is looking to turn things around after falling on hard times in the Philippines Football League (PFL) last season. The entry of Hong Kong-based consortium Manzinyi Management Ltd. has rejuvenated the once-struggling club, which recently announced the signing of former Filipino international Misagh Bahadoran and a slew of experienced foreign players.

Bahadoran has been on a hiatus since playing for Perak in the Malaysian League almost two years ago.

“Due to several serious injuries, I thought about quitting football and focusing on my business, but I couldn’t find that happiness and joy that football gave me so I would like to thank Global for welcoming me back,” Bahadoran, who was at the forefront of Global’s three UFL league titles, announced on his social media account. After an AFC Cup appearance in 2017, Global has seen its performances drop in the PFL last season, the club finishing in last place among seven teams after winning just one out of its 24 league matches. The return of Bahadoran comes after the club also signed former Manchester United youth player John Cofie, Major League Soccer veteran Jose Villareal and Scottish goalkeeper Alan Martin, who has played for his country at the Under-21 level. Another foreign player signed by Global, Sulemaan Naeem was in the books of English giant Liverpool.Youth international players Jordan Jarvis and Andreas Esswein were also snapped up by the club, whose roster also has Ziggy Ae, Nico Quintana, Ryan Jarvis and former Kaya FC Iloilo player Yannick Tuason. Global captain Jerry Barbaso, the longest-tenured player in the club, is also returning for another year, while former Filipino international Dominic del Rosario was also signed last week. INQ