THE Little Azkals-beefed up Pasargad FC debuted with an 8-0 routing of the Philippine Army last Wednesday in the Under 17 category of the UFL Youth League at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City.
The youth team of the Pasargad FC is reinforced by members of the Under 14 national football team otherwise known as the Little Azkals and is also manned mostly by players from Cebu.
Members of the Little Azkals seeing action for the team are Cebu’s Moiselle Angelo Alforque, Lawrence Colina, Major Dean Ebarle, Kintaro Miyagi, Vincent Erik Lovitos and Brandon Durano; Davao’s Darius Joseph Diamante; Manila’s John William Abraham; Cagayan de Oro’s Jeremiah Borlongan and Juancho Fernandez; Bayawan Negros Oriental’s Christian Floren Lapas; Dipolog’s Sebastian Rafael Benedic Patangan; San Carlos Negros Occidental’s Mason Trent Vergara and Shanden Vergara; Dumaguete’s Jose Anton Yared; and Masbate’s Jovan Marfiga.
Other booters coming from Cebu are Ezra Decena, Charles Bayot, Iani Miranda, Pablo Luis Garcia and Inigo Ugarte. The rest of Pasargad’s players are Rexon Zyrus Capellan of Masbate, Keith Plotena of Talisay Negros Occidental and Younousse Yaogo of Ivory Coast.
Pasargad scored its first goal via a free kick outside the penalty box, which was converted by the Little Azkals’ team captain Diamante followed by Borlongan’s goal to end the first half at 2-0.
In the second half, Pasargad continued scoring with Miranda finding the back of the net after picking up a cross from Colina.
Alforque put Pasargad beyond reach after scoring the team’s fourth goal even before Yaogo exploded with four goals to cap the team’s first win.
Next up for the Pasargad today is the Agila FC, still at the Emperador Stadium.
Pasargad head coach Eleazar Toledo said that the team’s goal for now is to enter the top 4 and then try their best to clinch the championship.
There are eight teams in the category, which follows a single round robin format with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON