AZKALS HOPEFUL. (L-R) Jethro Borlongan, Troy Limbo, and Carlo Dorin get ready for the Philippine Football League (PFL) Qatar Airways backed Bubble mini-tournament which kicks off on Sunday (Oct. 24, 2020) at the PFF Training Center football field in Carmona, Cavite. The three young footballers from Cagayan de Oro City want to play for the National football team, Azkals, someday. (Photo courtesy of ADT organizers)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY-- The dreams of the top three young footballers from this city to someday play for the National football team, the Azkals, are starting to become a reality.
Youngsters Troy Limbo from Xavier Estates, Upper Balulang; Jethro Borlongan from Barangay Iponan; and Carlo Dorin from Sitio Montecarlo, Barangay 12; have signed up with the Azkals Development Team (ADT) FC earlier this month.
The Alphaland Corporation and Stream Mobile backed ADTFC of long time Azkals backer, Dan Palami, and head coach Scott Copper will compete in the Philippine Football League (PFL) bubble mini-tournament, which will kick off on Sunday (Oct. 25). The Qatar Airways supported PFL will be held at the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
“I feel good. I feel blessed to be part of this squad. I am ready for this season, and I think we really have a strong team. This team is to develop players to be future Azkals,’’ said Troy, the oldest among the three.
The son of Darlene and Jun Limbo studied in the United Kingdom and just finished his Business and Sports education at Sunderland University in England.
The 21-year-old member of the Philippine National U22 team in the Southeast Asian Games in Manila last year, arrived from England last July and, together with the rest of the ADT players, are ready for their first match against Mendiola FC.
The match against the Penson and Company and Focus Athletics-sponsored Mendiola FC is set at 9 a.m. and will be streamed live on the internet.
Nineteen-year-old Jethro Borlongan just finished his Senior High School in La Salle and is supposed to play for the University of the Philippines but has opted to sign for the ADT to follow his dream of playing professional football and for the Azkals. Jethro is the son of Marjo and Greg Borlongan.
His elder brother JB studied at UP and played for the National U22 team in the Southeast Asian Games last December. He is now back in this city and has concentrated on running his own business.
“We are doing well. After our Covid test, we were isolated for five days and now we are doing our best to prepare. We will be ready for Sunday,'' said Borlongan.
He added that his hard work had been rewarded, and he will try to work harder so that someday his dreams will come true. Carlon Dorin, the product of the Montecarlo FC grassroots program, is also very happy for realizing his dream to play football on the professional level.
“I am so excited because I really want to play against professionals. Now that I am here, I am so happy,’’ he said.
He also wants to inspire the young footballers of this city and advised them to work hard, and motivate themselves so that they can reach their aim to become professionals someday.
Aside from the trio from this city who will play in the midfield for ADT, the PFF has also named 17 other young footballers to the team.
They are midfielders Mat Ocampo, Marvin Angeles, Christian Rontini, Yrick Gallantes, Jerome Marzan. Defenders are Dean Ebarle, Janherc Fritzrigoli, Simen Lyngbo, Mar Vincent Diano, Jan Vincent Quintana, Jarvey Gayoso, Matthew Custodio, Kainda Bailey, while strikers are Uzoka Kennedy and Marcel Ivan Ouano. Completing the team are goalkeepers Quincy Julian Kammeraad and Anton Yared.
Four other clubs will also debut on Sunday in the single round-robin competition. LBC/Fitness First sponsored Kaya FC, will play against Giligan’s Restaurant, and Pi Tracer backed Stallion Laguna FC at 430 p.m., while former Ceres FC-Negros--now known as United City F--will play in the main game at 8 p.m. against the debuting Philam Life sponsored Maharlika Manila FC.
UCFC is backed by Manila Regenerative Center and Midas Magnesium. (PNA)
