This appears in the Thursday, September 5, 2013 edition of the Business Mirror.
Loyola to take part in Indonesian tournament
Loyola to take part in Indonesian tournament
by rick olivares
The Loyola Meralco Sparks will be
playing in the Indonesia International Tournament this coming September 21-25
in Sleman, Central Java, Indonesia.
Loyola is one of three foreign clubs
participating in the eight-team tournament. Australian Central Coast Mariners
and the Malaysian Under-23 team will be joining Indonesian clubs Persia
Bandung, Arema Malang, Sriwijaya, Mitra Kukar, and Persepam Madura.
Loyola club president Randy Roxas said
that they will use this tournament as part of their preparations for the
upcoming United Football League season. "The competition is going to be
tough but it will be a good test for our team and our new players."
The Sparks, second runners-up the last
two seasons to champions Global and Stallion respectively, have reloaded for
the new campaign. Gone are former standouts Byeong Jeong Yeol and brothers Jang
Jo Won and Joo Won. The three Koreans have opted to serve their mandatory
two-year military service in their home country. Their departure doesn't mean
that defender Park Min Ho will be the only Korean left. Joining him is former
Stallion forward Lee Joo Young. Also coming over are former Pachanga stalwarts
Yves Ashime and Boyet Canedo.
Canedo is expected to occupy the
midfield slot of Mark Hartmann who is now with Global.
The biggest makeover for the Sparks is
in their backline. Ashime has been one of e best defenders in the UFL for the
past several years. He is expected to partner with fellow Cameroonian Rodrigue
Nembot who was a revelation last season after coming over from Union
Internationale. Also playing in the back four are Roxy Dorlas and Park.
"The addition of Lee gives us
another forward to play alongside Phil Younghusband while Freddy Gonzalez is
still recuperating from his season-ending ACL injury," underscored Roxas.
"Hopefully, we can add a few more pieces before the season starts."
If I may correct, Freddie is recuperating from a PCL injury.
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