Philippines’ Woodland eager for UAE return

dubai — The Philippines may be in unchartered territory ahead of their first-ever AFC Asian Cup Finals match on Monday, but, for one of their players, UAE 2019 is something of a triumphant homecoming.

Azkals midfielder Luke Woodland was born in Abu Dhabi, just over an hour away from Dubai’s Al Maktoum Stadium, where the Southeast Asians will begin their Group C campaign against the highly-rated Korea Republic.

Woodland’s family relocated to England when he was two years old, but he revealed his delight at returning to the country of his birth for the Philippines’ historic first step on the Continental stage, AFC website reported.

“My dad worked in Dubai for five years, then was in Abu Dhabi for two more years,” he explained. “So for me, when I knew the Asian Cup was being held here, I thought it’s my first Asian Cup, great venue, great city to be in, big Filipino community as well, so good for the team, and for me, I love it out here.”

Upwards of 600,000 Filipinos live and work in the UAE, with over 400,000 based in Dubai alone, and Woodland hopes these numbers will translate into a surge of support for an Azkals side facing the 2015 Asian Cup runners-up.

“(There’s a) big community here,” said Woodland. “We’ve played in Qatar before, we’ve played in Bahrain, and a big Filipino community there came and supported us. So for us to come out here it kind of helps the Philippines, with us coming to the tournament helps us push up the sport a little bit, it’s good for the country and good for us.”