MANILA – Jovin Bedic and Eduardo Sacapaño are part of the 20-man Philippine Azkals team in the 2018 Bangabandhu Gold Cup International Football Tournament in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
Bedic, a native of Iloilo, is joining his Kaya Iloilo teammates Marwin Angeles and Nathanael Ace Villanueva while Bacolodnon Sacapaño will be with fellow Ceres Negros players Jerry Barbaso and Amani Aguinaldo.
Louie Casas, Anton del Rosario, Jordan Jarvis, Alvin Sarmiento, Marvin Angeles, and Angelo Marasigan of Global Cebu; Julian Clarino and Paolo Salenga of Davao Aguilas; and Nathanael Alquiros and Fitch Arboleda of Stallion Laguna were called up to the national team as well.
Foreign-based players Misagh Bahadoran, Kenshiro Daniels, Angel Guirado, and Hikaru Minegishi, and Ateneo Blue Eagles standout Jarvey Gayoso are part of the Azkals team, too.
“The Azkals players in Bangladesh are the ones whom coach (Scott Cooper) would want to see play,” said team manager Dan Palami. “Some are new players, others were those not included in the Bahrain training camp.”
The Azkals will open their campaign against Laos at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Next up will be their match against Bangladesh on Oct. 5 (8:30 p.m.) at the Syllhet Zila Stadium. The other group comprises Nepal, Palestine and Tajikistan.
The top two teams at the end of the group matches will advance to the knockout semifinals of the tournament organized by the Bangladesh Football Federation./PN
