Azkals’ Chieffy Caligdong shows his form in scoring a goal against a selection team of the PAF-ADW at Floridablanca, Pampanga on Saturday.
Watching him is Ian Araneta (center), also a starter of the Philippine football team.
Photo by Ric Gonzales
FLORIDABLANCA, Pampanga – At least 6 members of Philippine Azkals played an exhibition match with fellow soldiers at the Basa Air Force Base here on Saturday.
The six Azkals players, notably Ian Araneta and Emilio “Chieffy” Caligdong, were mobbed by fans after the 15-minute match against the selection team of the Air Defense Wing of the Philippine Air Force.
“Many people, especially teenagers in and around Basa are playing football more than any other sports,” said Major Jen Padua, squadron commander of the PAF here.
Col. Arturo Jose Orticio Jr., deputy wing commander, said the exhibition game was a prelude to the 3rd Commander’s 7-A-Side Football Cup participated by 31 teams.
Brig. Gen. Edwin Manuel F. Remotigue, wing commander of the ADW, welcomed Araneta, Caligdong and four other members of the Azkals who are also members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
They are Nestor Margarse, Roel Gener, Eduard Sacapaña and Ricardo Becite.
In an interview, Caligdong, one of the consistent scorer in the team’s lineup, said they will go back to practice late August this year.
Asked what could be lacking in the Azkals’ unsuccessful run at the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier, Caligdong said “lack of bonding.”
His team lost to Kuwait last month. Araneta, for his part, said the Azkals “need more international exposure.”
Araneta and Caligdong also thanked the coaching team led by Michael Weiss of Germany.
