Bacolod to host LG Cup
AFTER last year's 23rd Southeast Asian Games, football fans in Bacolod City are set to witness another international football extravaganza with the country's hosting of the qualifying round of the 2006 LG Cup.
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Johnny Romualdez is still waiting for the final confirmation from the Asean Football Federation.
"It's still unofficial because we haven't got the papers yet," said Romualdez. "If we get it, it will be most likely in Bacolod."
However, a report from the Vietnam Football Federation website already mentioned the Philippine's hosting of the event, slated Nov.
"Though the host country for the final round has not yet been chosen, the program will vary little from 2004. Accordingly, the qualifying round will be held in the Philippines from Nov. 7 to the 25 with the participation of Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Laos, and the Philippines. Brunei will join the tournament on the condition that the sponsor is not a beer or wine producer," said a part of the report posted at the Philfootball.info forum.
The qualifying round is a new thrust in the Asean Football Federation, which organizes the event, to give lower- ranked countries a chance to compete against themselves.
"The bottom five teams will play a round robin and the top two teams will advance to the final round. Previously, their were no qualifying rounds so the lower-ranked teams got beaten easily," said Romualdez.
Romualdez also said the Philippines has a good chance to qualify to the final round as the other teams in the qualifying round are not that strong.
In the 2004 edition, the Philippines defeated Timor Leste, 2-1, with Emilio Caligdong scoring two goals in the final two minutes. The Philippines also defeated Cambodia, 4-2, in the Seag.
The LG Cup, previously known as the Tiger Cup, will be the second international tournament for the Men's team this year. Next month, they are set to compete with the other bottom 15 teams in Asia in the AFC Challenge Cup in Bangladesh.
"This (Challenge Cup) will be tougher because this is the Asian level, not the Asean level," Romualdez said.
Chelsea FC reserves Philip and James Younghusband as well as Fil-Australian Leigh Dunn, who played for the Philippines a few years ago, are expected to be in the Challenge Cup team.
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Johnny Romualdez is still waiting for the final confirmation from the Asean Football Federation.
"It's still unofficial because we haven't got the papers yet," said Romualdez. "If we get it, it will be most likely in Bacolod."
However, a report from the Vietnam Football Federation website already mentioned the Philippine's hosting of the event, slated Nov.
"Though the host country for the final round has not yet been chosen, the program will vary little from 2004. Accordingly, the qualifying round will be held in the Philippines from Nov. 7 to the 25 with the participation of Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Laos, and the Philippines. Brunei will join the tournament on the condition that the sponsor is not a beer or wine producer," said a part of the report posted at the Philfootball.info forum.
The qualifying round is a new thrust in the Asean Football Federation, which organizes the event, to give lower- ranked countries a chance to compete against themselves.
"The bottom five teams will play a round robin and the top two teams will advance to the final round. Previously, their were no qualifying rounds so the lower-ranked teams got beaten easily," said Romualdez.
Romualdez also said the Philippines has a good chance to qualify to the final round as the other teams in the qualifying round are not that strong.
In the 2004 edition, the Philippines defeated Timor Leste, 2-1, with Emilio Caligdong scoring two goals in the final two minutes. The Philippines also defeated Cambodia, 4-2, in the Seag.
The LG Cup, previously known as the Tiger Cup, will be the second international tournament for the Men's team this year. Next month, they are set to compete with the other bottom 15 teams in Asia in the AFC Challenge Cup in Bangladesh.
"This (Challenge Cup) will be tougher because this is the Asian level, not the Asean level," Romualdez said.
Chelsea FC reserves Philip and James Younghusband as well as Fil-Australian Leigh Dunn, who played for the Philippines a few years ago, are expected to be in the Challenge Cup team.
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