Visiting Spanish team here to thrill for a cause

MANILA, Philippines - A friendly with global icon David Beckham and LA Galaxy ended 2011 with a bang for Philippine football.

Today, Phl football welcomes 2012 with another foreign-flavored match at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium that serves not just as a showcase of skills as it is a display of solidarity for a worthwhile cause.

The Azkals-Alyansa, a side headlined by mainstays of the national men’s team, takes on Spanish third division club CF Internacional de Madrid (CFIM) at 4 p.m., both going out for pride in the charity match to be seen on Phl (ABS-CBN’s Studio 23) and Spanish TV (Telemadrid).

Dubbed “Dili Kamo Nag-iisa,” the game will be for the benefit of the victims of typhoon “Sendong.” Organizers said proceeds from the day-long activities, including a celebrity football challenge at 2 p.m., will be donated to the Philippine National Red Cross. Four LBC vans will be stationed around the venue to accept donations in kind while Red Cross will have booths in every entrance for cash donations.

“It’s an opportunity to help and we can do that by playing our best, by going all out (for a win),” said skipper Chieffy Caligdong, whose team practiced last night at The Turf in Global City.

Fil-Spanish Angel Guirado, a former second division player in Spain, will join Caligdong and fellow nationals Phil and James Younghusband, Anton del Rosario, Eduard Sacapaño, Ian Araneta, Roel Gener, and Nate Burkey in the local side.

Rounding out the roster are keepers Edmundo Mercado Jr., Paolo Pascual, left back Roxy Dorlas, centerback Ange Tressor-Guisso, Yves Ashime, and Martin Doctora, right back Jerry Barbaso, left midfielder Misagh Bahadoran, central midfielders Valentine Kama, Carli de Murga, and Lexton Moy, and striker Ojay Clariño.

CFIM will be led by midfielder Juli, their team captain, forward Rufo, defender Joaco, and custodian Ruben.

Others are keeper Alberto, defenders Guille, Eloy, Mario, Manu, Allain, and Ruma; midfielders Sardi, Barahona, Plaza, Rafa, Arribas; and forwards Nacho, Robert, Palacios and Dani G.

“The match should be beneficial as we try to raise funds for those damaged by the horrible tragedy. From the sports point of view, CFIM expects a competitive match, something that should be enjoyable to the people watching on the venue and following on TV,” said CFIM coach Javier Garcia Marquez .

Juli said they’ve seen a few videos of Guirado and Younghusband and were quite impressed.

“They’re a very good team, hopefully we can give them a good test,” said Juli.

Notes: Although they share a common hometown, CF Internacional de Madrid is an entirely different entity from the more popular and accomplished Real Madrid. “We have no formal ties but we have a good relationship with them being similarly a Madrid club,” said CFIM chairman Stephen Kenneth Newman. “We do play against Real Madrid’s C Team. Real Madrid has an A, B and C team so basically our level is their C Team.”