Global FC takes on Singapore’s Tampines today

ONE of the groundbreaking football clubs in the country, Global FC looks to put another feather in its cap by making a good account of itself in its debut at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League beginning today.

Global is set to take on Tampines Rovers of Singapore at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium at 7:30 p.m. in the first of what is a three- stage path to enter the group play of Asia’s premier club football tournament.

Ended 2016 as the top team in the United Football League by winning the League and Cup titles, Global earned the nod from the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) to represent the country and play in the preliminary/ playoff stage of the AFC Champions League.

Global needs to beat Tampines in their East Slot allocation match to advance to the next round.

If Global defeats visiting Tampines it then moves to the next assignment against Australian side Brisbane Roar in an away game on Jan. 31.

The playoff stage in February will be another away match for Global if ever against Shanghai Shenhua FC, which finished fourth in the Chinese Superleague.

“It’s an honor to play with a club like Global. And this is another first for us,” said Global captain Misagh Bahadoran at yesterday’s prematch press conference at Century Park Hotel.

“This is something new for us and we need to familiarize ourselves with the tournament. But we will do everything we can to get the win tomorrow ( today) and advance to the next stage,” he added.

Also present at yesterday’s presscon was new Global coach Toshiaki Imai who said he is excited for the chance to coach the local club.

“I’m excited to coach Global. I just came in recently but I like what I have seen so far,” said Mr. Imai, who replaced Leigh Manson for the Global post.

This year’s edition of the Asian club tournament, which runs till November, will be its 36th edition, and 15th under the current title of AFC Champions League.

South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won the title in 2016, beating United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain FC, 3-2, on aggregate.

The Pohang Steelers of South Korea is the most successful club in tournament history, winning it three times — 1997, 1998 and 2009 — while 10 teams have won it twice, including defending champion Jeonbuk.

Tickets for the Global-Tampines match are priced P50, P100 and P120. —