Bahadoran sets comeback, joins team with ‘mentality of past Azkals players’

Away from the game for more than a year, former Filipino international Misagh Bahadoran isn’t ruling out a comeback in the Philippines Football League (PFL), hinting he may be joining Maharlika Manila, a club being formed by ex-Azkals teammate Anton del Rosario.

Bahadoran, 33, has been hampered by injuries in the last two years, forcing him to go on semiretirement until his former club Global FC announced he was coming back early this year.

But with things not going as planned at Global, which has been hounded by allegations of unpaid wages to players and staff, Bahadoran has kept his options open.

“Actually there is a team that’s really interested in me and it’s going be a very big thing coming,” the 2017 Philippine Sportswriters Association Mr. Football Awardee said.

“Anton [del Rosario] is having his own team and inviting players and we are so excited because I think this team has this mentality of past Azkal players. It’s not about the money, this is about having fun and winning.”

Del Rosario’s Maharlika Manila has actually applied for a license in the PFL.

Still, Bahadoran couldn’t help but feel his disappointment over the fate of Global, which he captained for almost six seasons.

With Bahadoran leading the way, Global made history as the first club from the Philippines to reach the AFC Cup and the AFC Champions League qualifying. Azkals manager Dan Palami however sold the club two years ago to Mark Jarvis, who is now in hot water over the unpaid wages.

Jarvis reportedly still owns the club after Mazinyi said it is pulling out its bid to buy it.

“Some players, they flew here, stayed here, and they have no salary and quarantine happened,” said Bahadoran. “We want to speak up to help other players because it’s not only about us, there will be a next victim, another victim in the same situation. Someone has to teach a lesson to somebody not to do this because the life of an athlete is not a joke.”