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Enthusiasts laud Younghusband brothers in Davao Aguilas FC
FOOTBALL enthusiasts, especially Davao Aguilas Football Club (FC) fans, lauded the entry of brothers Phil and James Younghusband in the lone Mindanao squad in the Premier Football League.
The brothers, former key players of FC Meralco Manila Sparks, signed their contract with the Davao Aguilas FC in a formal ceremony Wednesday evening at Makati Shangri-la Hotel that was witnessed by the club's executives headed by its chairman Jefferson Cheng.
Davao Region Football Association (DRFA) president Erwin Protacio said, "They (Younghusbands) will give the Aguilas more scoring opportunities especially with Jason de Jong on midfield - who can properly distribute the ball. The Aguilas will have a very tall front line in addition to Harrison Sawyer."
Avid football fan Bai Siang Lim, who had watched Olympic football games live in the past and cheered for the Aguilas every home game in Davao del Norte, said: "I am sooo excited with the Younghusbands' signing with the Aguilas!! And Big Big impact for the exposure especially for Davao! The Younghusbands are not only celebrity players, they are top scorers! They'll be a huge help to a new club like Aguilas, which is second to the last in the league!"
DRFA grassroots official Albert Ryan Lim, also sports director of the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) was all praises for the Younghusbands.
"They (Younghusbands) are true professionals, even if they were already moving to Davao Aguilas FC, they still scored for their last game with FC Meralco Manila. They will be a big help for the Aguilas," Lim said.
DRFA women's tournament committee chair Rachelle "Ching" delos Reyes, for her part, said the Younghusbands will give the Davao Aguilas FC a big boost in the league "especially in attacking".
Bemedaled football coach Rey Henry "Ewee" de Leon, meanwhile, said it would benefit the team especially in offense, adding, "Good seasoned players are usually assets to the team. Also since they are popular and good looking, more potential fans will draw near."
Former Davao City standout Darius Joseph "Jed" Ramos Diamante, now a varsity scholar at De La Salle University Green Archers, said the Younghusbands being football icons in the country will encourage more Dabawenyos to support the games of the Davao Aguilas FC.
"This, hopefully, will encourage more Dabawenyos to start or continue playing football in the professional level as their idols are. I hope their move will help enrich football culture in Davao and bring it to a level where more quality homegrown players will be produced," Diamante said.
Sun.Star Cebu sports editor Mike T. Limpag also said that the move shows Davao is serious in aiming for the trophy. "Since they are the most high profile players, it could raise awareness for the sport not only in Davao but in Mindanao. As someone who learned the sport in Mindanao, I hope the Aguilas and the Younghusbands can help in discovering talented kdis who are often overlooked."
The club also signed up Simone Rota, de Jong, Matthew Hartmann and Nick O’ Donnell recently. MLSA