06/28/2009 | 06:48 PM
MANILA, Philippines – After undergoing quarantine and getting canned from the Asian Youth Games tournament because of A(H1N1), the Philippine football team finally got to play ball at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Saturday.
The Filipinos, placed in isolation for one week and delisted from the competition after one of their players tested positive for A(H1N1), drew with a Singapore selection, 2-2, in a match dubbed as the “AYG Friendship Cup."
The Philippines appeared headed for a victory but Mohn Khairy Shulaimy spoiled the party by scoring a late goal two minutes into stoppage time to pull even in the friendly.
Despite the draw, RP team coach Andrew Santiago said that the game was not about winning or losing against the Singapore team, a selection of players from different schools in the country.
“We were supposed to come here to play football, and we did," Santiago told the Asian Youth Games website. “The game is good for the team, and we are thankful to Singapore for putting in the effort to organize the match."
The Filipinos got the early upperhand when Genco Vicente scored on a clearance error by Singapore. However, the hosts managed to tie the match on a goal by Adam Swandi.
The RP youth players then regained the upperhand when substitute Clavano Luisito scored in the 87th minute for a 2-1 lead.
Mohd, however, tied the match in injury time for the draw.
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We were supposed to come here to play football, and we did. The game is good for the team, and we are thankful to Singapore for putting in the effort to organize the match (Asian Youth Games Friendship Cup).
– Andrew Santiago, Philippine football team coach
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Santiago said the 10-day quarantine period affected their game shape.
“We did not train for six days when we were quarantined, that is why we were tired after the first half. But I think we would have qualified for the next stage if we had a chance to play," said Santiago.
The Filipino booters were supposed to be bracketed in Group A with Iran and Chinese Taipei but one player tested positive for the A(H1N1) virus prior to the tournament.
The 17 other players and three coaches were quarantined in a resort and tested negative for the virus.
As consolation, the Asian Youth Games organizing committee gave the Filipinos a chance to play via the AYG Friendship Cup.
“The AYG Friendship Cup will allow the Philippines team to compete against an opponent and showcase their talent to the public who were unable to catch them in action," said Ng Eng Soon, co-project director of the Singapore Asian Youth Games Organizing Committee (SAYGOC) when they announced the match.
“We are really pleased. We want to thank the organizing committee and the Football Association of Singapore for organizing this special match," said Jose Mari Martinez, the deputy chef de mission of the RP delegation and president of the Philippine Football Federation.
Despite not having played an official match, the RP players, nevertheless, received their AYG certificates of participation from the organizers. - GMANews.TV
From GMANews.tv; see the source article here.
MANILA, Philippines – After undergoing quarantine and getting canned from the Asian Youth Games tournament because of A(H1N1), the Philippine football team finally got to play ball at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Saturday.
The Filipinos, placed in isolation for one week and delisted from the competition after one of their players tested positive for A(H1N1), drew with a Singapore selection, 2-2, in a match dubbed as the “AYG Friendship Cup."
The Philippines appeared headed for a victory but Mohn Khairy Shulaimy spoiled the party by scoring a late goal two minutes into stoppage time to pull even in the friendly.
Despite the draw, RP team coach Andrew Santiago said that the game was not about winning or losing against the Singapore team, a selection of players from different schools in the country.
“We were supposed to come here to play football, and we did," Santiago told the Asian Youth Games website. “The game is good for the team, and we are thankful to Singapore for putting in the effort to organize the match."
The Filipinos got the early upperhand when Genco Vicente scored on a clearance error by Singapore. However, the hosts managed to tie the match on a goal by Adam Swandi.
The RP youth players then regained the upperhand when substitute Clavano Luisito scored in the 87th minute for a 2-1 lead.
Mohd, however, tied the match in injury time for the draw.
----------
We were supposed to come here to play football, and we did. The game is good for the team, and we are thankful to Singapore for putting in the effort to organize the match (Asian Youth Games Friendship Cup).
– Andrew Santiago, Philippine football team coach
----------
Santiago said the 10-day quarantine period affected their game shape.
“We did not train for six days when we were quarantined, that is why we were tired after the first half. But I think we would have qualified for the next stage if we had a chance to play," said Santiago.
The Filipino booters were supposed to be bracketed in Group A with Iran and Chinese Taipei but one player tested positive for the A(H1N1) virus prior to the tournament.
The 17 other players and three coaches were quarantined in a resort and tested negative for the virus.
As consolation, the Asian Youth Games organizing committee gave the Filipinos a chance to play via the AYG Friendship Cup.
“The AYG Friendship Cup will allow the Philippines team to compete against an opponent and showcase their talent to the public who were unable to catch them in action," said Ng Eng Soon, co-project director of the Singapore Asian Youth Games Organizing Committee (SAYGOC) when they announced the match.
“We are really pleased. We want to thank the organizing committee and the Football Association of Singapore for organizing this special match," said Jose Mari Martinez, the deputy chef de mission of the RP delegation and president of the Philippine Football Federation.
Despite not having played an official match, the RP players, nevertheless, received their AYG certificates of participation from the organizers. - GMANews.TV
From GMANews.tv; see the source article here.
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