Azkals Development Team
The Azkals Development Team, commonly referred to as ADT, is a Philippine developmental football club that competes in the Philippines Football League.[1]
![]() | ||
Full name | Azkals Development Team | |
---|---|---|
Short name | ADT | |
Founded | 2020 | |
Head coach | Jovanie Villagracia | |
League | Philippines Football League | |
2020 | Philippines Football League, 3rd of 6 | |
| ||
Founded in 2020, the team is under the control of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), but is managed similar to a professional club. Most of the club's players are members of the Philippines' youth national teams.[2]
History
As preparation for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines, the Philippine Football Federation decided to let the Philippines U-22 team, composed of players such as Yrick Gallantes, Chima Uzoka, and Elias Mordal compete against the clubs of the Philippines Football League in the 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara. The team won their first match, 1-0, against Green Archers United, but ultimately finished 3rd and failed to qualify for the semifinals. In the aftermath of the team's success at the SEA Games, it was reported that there were plans to have the national youth team participate in the 2020 season of the Philippines Football League (PFL) as a guest team.[3] However, such plans were dropped and a reportedly a full-fledged professional club under the name ADT F.C. will enter the league instead. The formation of the club is an initiative of the National Teams Committee of the Philippine Football Federation.[4] The coaching staff of the Philippine senior national team will be involved with ADT[5][6] with Scott Cooper as head coach.[7]
The ADT was formed after it was observed that other countries participating in the games already had many players participating in professional leagues while Filipino players of the same age still involved in collegiate football. The development team is intended give "professional club environment" exposure to mainly youth players as well as select overage players from the senior national team such as individuals who recently recovered from an injury.[2] According to national team manager Dan Palami, the ADT is a platform to develop "homegrown" players for the national team.[8]
2020 season
By January 2020, the club had begun signing its first set of players.[1] ADT played their first friendly match against Philippine Army F.C. on March 5, 2020, as part of Philippine Army's 123rd founding anniversary. ADT won 6–0.[9] ADT's debut in the PFL was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 PFL season.[10] In preparation for the possible resumption of the season, ADT's players went to Balesin Island in September 2020. While by this time the government through Games and Amusements Board and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has allowed PFL teams to conduct team trainings, ADT's status as a guest team and non-professional side of the PFL meant that it had to secure a separate permission from the government.[11]
The club participated in the 2020 PFL season that was postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, boasting a roster with former PFL and UAAP players such as Jarvey Gayoso, Mar Diano, Marvin Angeles, and Mathew Custodio. ADT played their first-ever PFL match on October 28, 2020, at the PFF National Training Center, where they lost to defending champions United City (formerly Ceres–Negros), 1–0.[12] On their third match of the season, on November 3, they clinched their first-ever PFL win, 2–0 over Mendiola. Jarvey Gayoso scored the team's first-ever PFL goal.[13][14] The club ended up winning the next 3 games to secure 3rd place overall.
2021 season
In 2021, the club brought in many new faces as well as let go of old players to other league clubs, in keeping with the club's values. The club's biggest departures were Jarvey Gayoso, who went to Kaya–Iloilo, Anthony Pinthus, who transferred to United City, and Chima Uzoka, who went to Stallion Laguna, The club brought in Oskari Kekkonen and Sandro Reyes, two prospects who had played for the Philippines national under-23 football team. On the team's list were Mark Winhoffer, Lloyd Fagerlie, Niko de Vera, and Mark Swainston, although none of them played a match for the club. The club participated in the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara due to the cancellation of the 2021 PFL season. In the group stage they thrashed Mendiola 1991 9-0, their biggest-ever victory, and narrowly won 2-1 in the semifinals against Stallion, setting up a final with Kaya-Iloilo, where they lost 1-0.[15] A number of their players would go on to play in the 2020 AFF Championship later that year.
2022–23 season
During the club's 2022 preseason, the team let go of many of its players who were vital in last season's cup run. Mathew Custodio and Ivan Ouano went to United City, Sandro Reyes, Oskari Kekkonen, Mar Diano, and Quincy Kammeraad departed for Kaya, Troy Limbo and Kainoa Bailey went to Stallion Laguna, while Christian Rontini became the first player of the club to transfer overseas, going to Penang in the Malaysia Super League. The new-look club, as preparation for the 2022 Southeast Asian Games, participated in the 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara, bringing in reinforcements such as Scott Woods, Jaime Rosquillo, and Mateo Alegre, as well as hiring experienced coach and former Azkal Norman Fegidero.[16][17] The club ended up with two wins, one draw, and three loses, finishing fourth but having to forfeit their semifinal slot due to their commitments in the ASEAN competition. After the SEA Games, Philippine National Team veteran Stephan Schröck was brought in and the club saw another overhaul, letting go most of its oldest players and bringing in majority of the Philippine U-19 National Team. With Schrock maintaining a playing coach role and acting as captain, the club impressed despite the players' young ages. The ADT finished fourth in the mid-season table, with a number of their players playing in the 2022 AFF Championship.
Players
First team squad
- As of 13 February 2022
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Current coaching staff
Position | Name | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Head coach | ![]() |
[18] |
Assistant coach | ![]() | |
![]() | ||
![]() | ||
Goalkeeper coach | ![]() | |
Physiotherapist | ![]() |
Head coaches
Name | Year(s) |
---|---|
![]() |
2020–2021 |
![]() |
2021 |
![]() |
2022– |
Honors
- Copa Paulino Alcantara
- Runners-up (1): 2021
See also
- Young Lions FC, a Singaporean professional football club whose players also play for Singapore's national youth teams.
References
- Hjelvik, Eirik Nesset (29 January 2020). "Norske Elias og Simen blir fotballproffer – på Filippinene!" [Norwegians Elias and Simen become football pros - in the Philippines!]. TV2.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- Del Rosario, Paolo (7 March 2020). "Future of Philippine football is bright with Azkals Development Team". ESPN5. Archived from the original on 14 September 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- Tupas, Cedelf (13 September 2019). "A time to learn". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- Dela Cruz, Jaime (29 January 2020). "Exciting Transfer movements as 2020 Philippines Football League draws near". Huddle PH. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- Rabelas, John Maverick (2 February 2020). "Paradigm Shift: The ADT Program launches". Huddle PH. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- Tupas, Cedelf (16 February 2020). "Gayoso, SEA Games standouts join Azkals cadet squad". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
- "ADT is the sure way forward – Palami". ASEAN Football Federation. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- Leyba, Olmin (5 May 2020). "Azkals open to naturalized player". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- Co, Adrian Stewart (7 March 2020). "PH Azkals Development Team blanks Army in friendly match". Panay News. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
- Suyu, Ian (4 May 2020). "Young Azkals stay ready for big stage". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- Suyu, Ian (11 September 2020). "Azkals training camp on hold". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
- Go, Beatrice (October 28, 2020). "United City FC cops PFL bubble season's 1st win over young Azkals". Rappler. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- Terrado, Reuben (November 3, 2020). "Jarvey Gayoso scores first PFL goal as Azkals DT beats Mendiola". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- "Football: Gayoso lifts Azkals Development Team to breakthrough PFL win". ABS-CBN News. November 3, 2020. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
- Terrado, Jonas (November 19, 2021). "Kaya-Iloilo wins Copa Paulino Alcantara title". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
- del Carmen, Lorenzo (11 March 2022). "PFF names Fegidero as head coach of Azkals SEAG team, Hall as director". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- Saldajeno, Ivan (11 March 2022). "Norman Fegidero named Azkals U23 coach for SEA Games as Stewart Hall becomes PFF director". Dugout PH. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- "Coaches-Azkals Academy". Azkals Academy. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- Terrado, Reuben (6 November 2021). "With United City out, Kaya, ADT, and Co. look to win Copa Paulino Alcantara". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
- del Carmen, Lorenzo (11 March 2022). "PFF names Fegidero as head coach of Azkals SEAG team, Hall as director". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
External links
- Azkals Development Team Latest Results - latest Azkals Development Team scores