Davao Aguilas Football Club was established in 2017 as a professional football club, based out of Tagum, Davao del Norte, in Mindanao with a coaching staff is headed by Australian football veteran Gary Philips. (Photo : Davao Aguilas Football Club)
13 May 2017 - TAGUM, DAVAO DEL NORTE: Davao Aguilas FC is all set for its first home game for the Philippines Football League (PFL), to be held at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex on Sunday, May 14, 2017. They will be going up against JPV Marikina, which was previously part of the UFL.
The team is starting to create a following in Davao and nearby provinces; and fans were seen waiting for them when they arrived at the Davao airport last Friday.
Australian Head Coach Gary Philips says, "We are excited to be here in Davao and we are looking forward to our first home game and we hope our fans will turn up in numbers and support the team. We all are excited, we can't wait to see you on Sunday."
Coach Gary has previously worked in 5 different countries, including the National League in Australia. He was also previously with AFC, for Coach Education and has also handled international men's and women's teams.
The team's goalkeeping coach on the other hand is Australian James Fraser, renowned World Cup goalkeeper for Australia in 1974.
The team's impressive line-up is composed of homegrown footballers, national team players and Fil-foreign players. Local players include Team Captain Jason Cordova, John Nico Macapal, Kim Versales, Junell Bautista, Philippine Azkals standout Nate Burkey, Under 22 mainstays Van Rey Diaz and Richard Talaroc of Misamis Oriental, Princeton Josue, Davao goalkeeper Roeder Ignacio, Tagum native Alexis Cabistante, Mujer Sumail, Amir Amaikurut, Kahlil Jikiri, Justin Cheng, John Philip De Los Santos, John Resty Gumban, Gerald Layumas, Jay-Ar Bucayan, Stephen Burda and Rey Franco De La Torre.
Fil-foreign players include Brad McDonald, Fil-American right wing Omar Khan, attacker Gilmar Fernandez, midfielder Andreas Esswein, Serbian goalkeeper Marko Trkulja, striker Nikola Grubjesic, defender Milos Krstic and Dylan De Bruycker, who scored the first goal for the team in last weekend's match against Ilocos United.
Tickets are still available at the stadium. You can also get free tickets when you register at www.facebook.com/DAFCofficial.
(press release)
