Football: RP Team enters in ASEAN FUTSAL semis

By Lily O Ramos

MANILA, June 11 — Good news for a change.

The Philippine Men's National Football Team will be making its first appearance in the ongoing semi-finals of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Futsal Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The RP Team earned its right to the semis after crushing Timor Leste 10-2 in the elimination round. The men's football players from Manila previously suffered a 0-3 loss to host country, Vietnam.

But the failure of group-mate, Brunei Darussalam, to show up in the competition gave the Filipinos an easy access to the difficult semis.

So far, the Filipinos' best finish in the tournament that took off in 2001 was in the 2005 edition when the Philippine Team landed fifth place overall with some Fil-Foreign players, including among others the three pairs of brothers, Phil and James Younghusband, Chris and Simon Greatwich and Darren and Phil Hartman, in its roster.

Head coach Ishmael Sedigh said they will face perennial champion Thailand, which has won the tournament since 2001.

"We will treat the match against the Thais as a major opportunity for the boys to raise their level of competitiveness," said Sedigh briefly over DZSR air waves.

Powerhouses Vietnam and Indonesia will contest the other semis seat slated on Friday. (PNA) LDV/LOR

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