Azkals on parade as UFL kicks off

Photo by Fritz Gerald Dalida

MANILA—Filipino-Spanish striker Angel Guirado will make his United Football League debut when Global FC faces Stallions Saturday at the start of the UFL Cup at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Guirado, the national player who saw action for Spanish third division team CD Ronda last season, is expected to be the linchpin of the Global attack along with fellow Azkal Misagh Bahadoran and Sudanese scoring machine Izo El-Habbib.

Guirado’s debut isn’t the only first marking the Cup competition opening Saturday.

For the first time since the league started three years ago, the UFL will have live television coverage after agreeing to a five-year deal with TV5.

Bunched in Group C, which is considered the tournament’s Group of Death, Global and Stallions face off at 4 p.m., after the parade of teams and opening ceremonies starting at 2:30 p.m.

Kaya FC collides with Team Schwarz in a Group D duel at the University of Makati pitch at 7 p.m.

The Cup competition, which will serve as a gateway for teams bidding to make the first division of the league starting January, has lured 28 teams.

Global further strengthened its lineup during the off-season with the acquisition of veteran Japanese midfielder Yu Hoshide, who has played professionally in the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.

Former national players Ruben Doctora and Jason Cordova banner the Stallions side, which will have a slew of South Koreans who helped them reach the semifinals of the National Club Championships.

Kaya will be powered by high-profile players in Azkals skipper Aly Borromeo, Anton del Rosario, Nate Burkey and Jason Sabio in its lineup.

The 28 teams have been divided into seven groups with the top two squads from each group advancing to the Round of 16. The two No. 3 teams with the best records will claim the remaining two Round of 16 berths. Cedelf P. Tupas