The Philippine Under 14 football team, better known as the Little Azkals, are shocking junior teams in Palermo, Italy after winning four of their five friendly matches so far.
Most impressive of the team’s game so far was against Serie B club’s Regina Calcio, whom they demolished, 8-0.
Cagayan de Oro’s Jeremiah Borlongan and Davao’s Javier Romero-Salas scored two goals each while the rest of the goals were contributed by Cebu’s Major Dean Ebarle, San Carlos City’s Mason Trent Vergara and Shanden Vergara and Christian Floren Lapas of Dumaguete.
The Little Azkals also posted a 10-0 annihilation of Inter-Reggio, the team’s second match in Reggio Calabria.
The out-of-town matches were arranged by Nicolo’ Ferrante and Rachel Ruiz Genco. Ferrante is the director general of the A.S.D SportVillage Tommaso Natale Scuola Calcio Giacomo Tedesco, which is hosting the Little Azkals’ training camp in Palermo.
Genco, a former member of the Cebu Football Association board, also works as one of the coaches in the school.
In their first friendly match which was played on the third day since their arrival in Italy, the Little Azkals beat the Giacomo Tedesco Scuola Calcio boys ’99, 5-0.
The match was used to evaluate the team’s performance for the training camp.
The Little Azkals also edged Christina Scuola Calcio, 2-1.
The only match they lost so far was against Mezzojuso Scuola Calcio, 0-3.
The team will continue their training and will be treated to a Serie A match between Palermo and Chievo on May 6. They will be homebound on May 10.