Mindanaotoday.com | Air Force returns to top flight football
By: Jack Biantan
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The legendary Philippine Air Force FC team will return to big time football and promised to build a formidable line-up for the Copa Paulino Alcantara.
Officer-In-Charge of the team, 1LT Paulie B Dumagan PAF, believes that this time the Airmen through their Commanding General, Philippine Air Force LT. Gen. Stephen P Parreño PAF, can reach their goals and they are ready for the Paulino Alcantara Cup scheduled in the middle of the year.
“We will make sure that we can come up with a talented team with a `heart’ that our country can be proud of,’’ he said.
1LT Dumagan is also aware that there are many good teams and some of them professionals. He added that it will not be easy and they are ready to face the challenge.
COPA PAULINO ALCANTARA
“We will show a different image of the Philippine Air Force for the Copa Paulino Alcantara and we believe in our strength that we will have a positive result,” he added.
The confidence has stemmed from the all out backing of current Commanding General, Philippine Air Force LT. Gen. Stephen P Parreño PAF, who gave the go signal to sign new recruits coming from the different PAF bases all over the country.
1LT Dumagan revealed that since last year they have recruited players from football hotbeds Bacolod City and Iloilo. They have also found talents from Floriblanca Pampanga, and Zamboanga City.
“Right now we are focused on the Copa Paulino Alcantara. We will give the professional clubs a good fight. Our target is to show the public that we are back,’’ he said.
ELAN VITA
Elan Vita of football supporter Keith Buyco is the main sponsor of the team. Elan Vita is a healthcare company which provides quality, affordable, effective state of the arts products to the healthcare providers and institutions in the country.
1LT Dumagan, who plays central defender for the team, also announced they have already completed their coaching staff and they will announce their complete lineup next month.
Leading the team is head coach Ssg. Erwin Oro PAF, assistant coach Ssg. Joel Bermejo PAF, and goalkeeping coach TSg. June C. Trasporto PAF. Completing their coaching staff are TSg Randy Bela-ong PAF, TSg Rolando C. Dueñas PAF and Sgt. Tristan John M. Sayson PAF.
AIRMEN
PAF had a strong presence in the top tier of Philippine football during the 80’s and the 90’s having won several national championships. The Airmen also represented the country in the Asian Club Championship and Asian Cup Winner’s Cup.
PAF was also a founding member of the United Football League
and even won the Division 1 title in 2010 and 2011. However, the following year in 2013 they finished last in 2013 and were relegated to Division 2. They then failed to earn promotion to top flight and later withdrew from the UFL in 2014.
They attempted to get back to top flight when they joined the short lived Philippine Premier League (PPL) in 2019. PPL folded up after just one match and the Airmen were absorbed by the revived Philippine Football League (PFL).
PAF did not stay long in the PFL after finishing 6th in 2019 as their players have started to age and they needed some fresh talents.
COVID PANDEMIC
The COVID pandemic added to their woes as they could not recruit players until last year. That was when that they started to seek for younger and better players from football hotbeds Iloilo, Bacolod and Zamboanga City.
PAF had notable players in the past like now Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta, and Philippine football legends Elmer Bedia Rodolfo Alikante, Raymund Tonog, Ian Araneta, and now Canada based Emelio ‘Chiefy’ Caligdong.
The new players who will see action in the Copa Paulino Alcantara remains to be seen but one thing for sure, that the PAF Airmen are back on top tier football in our country. (PNA)
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