Test for Global and Philippine League

David against Goliath doesn’t even begin to describe Global vs. Brisbane. It’s like David’s baby brother facing off with Goliath’s uncle.

IN A few days, Global FC will face the Tampine Rovers in the qualifiers for the Asian Champions League, a game that could be the turning point for the Philippine club.

Global and Tampine have played before, in the AFC Cup last year, but this time, it’s for the Champions League and the stakes are much bigger.

If we want to dance with the big boys in Asia, we have to know if we have what it takes and the first dancing partner is Tampine. While the rest of the Philippine club football scene has been on a hiatus of sorts, with the end of the United Football League, Global and Ceres Negros have been quietly building up their teams.

For Global, which is finalizing its transfer to Cebu, it’s a chance to gauge where it stands in the Asian club football scene. Does one of the country’s most well-funded club, one with a foreign-laden coaching staff have what it takes to make it all the way to the Champions League?

To say that the odds are stacked against them is putting it lightly.

A win over Tampine Rovers will set Global up with another must-win match against Australia’s Brisbane Roar, which has competed twice in the AFC Champions League and owns two premierships and three championships in the A-League.

David against Goliath doesn’t even begin to describe Global vs. Brisbane. It’s like David’s baby brother facing off with Goliath’s uncle.

Still, I’m excited for Global and I’m hoping it gets the fan support it needs when it takes on the Tampine Rovers on Jan 24 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. And of course, like the rest of the country, I hope it beats the Rovers because next up is Australia and a juicy meeting against Brisbane.

At least, Global’s Dan Palami, who is also part of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), can get to check how Australia manages it A-League. Perhaps, we can pick up a pointer or two in how to make sure our domestic league enjoys the same success as Australia’s.

While there is a healthy domestic competition in other Southeast Asian countries, you can’t say the same for the Philippines, which essentially has four major clubs of note—Ceres, Kaya, Loyola and Global—and two others who could give them a scare on a good day, Stallion and Green Archers United. The four major teams have tasted international competitions, while Stallion and Green Archers still haven’t.

In a way, our league will sort of be a “smaller version” of the A-League when it started with eight teams in 2004 with Brisbane among the original teams.

Let’s hope Global gets to meet Brisbane.