Fil-Spanish joins Azkals

ANOTHER Fil-Spanish player joined the Philippine Azkals national football team when they resume practice Monday.

National team manager Dan Palami on Sunday confirmed that 22-year-old Carlos Alberto Martínez de Murga Olaivar will be around when the Azkals do their daily workouts at the Alabang Country Club pitch and at the Rizal Memorial football grounds.

The Azkals are preparing for the Long Teng Cup in Taiwan next month.

Olaivar is a right back, who plays for Tercera Racing Club Portuense in Spain. The club plays in the fourth level of the Spanish league system.

His presence here comes at a time when Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado takes a rest from his injuries.

He is one of two new faces in the team, the other being Roland Mueller, a Fil-German goalie, who plays for MSV Duisburg in the second division Bundesliga, was recently accepted by the Azkals.

Meanwhile, private funds will be used to renovate the football pitch at the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said this after the PFF signed a long-term agreement with the Philippine Sports Commission last Wednesday.

Funds amounting to $500,000 (around P21.7 million) will be used to set up a brand new artificial pitch at the Philsports complex, according to an agreement Araneta signed with PSC chairman Richie Garcia.

Peter Atencio

The money will come from international soccer body FIFA’s Goal 2 Project, which will course the funding through the PFF.

Under the new agreement, funding will be provided for the next 25 years to keep the Philsports turf in top condition, under the management of the PFF.

The facelifting of the 10,000-seat facility will give the PFF’s numerous national teams a chance to practice at any given time. Peter Atencio

source: manilastandardtoday.com