THE Filipino Premier League (FPL) kicks off Sunday at the PhilSports Field with two matches.

Pasargad FC faces Philippine Army FC in the opening game at 2 p.m., while Korean Nice takes on Union FC at 4:30 p.m. to start off the eight-team league, which is organized by Sport Vision Management Group and the Philippine Football Federation (PFF).

The league continues on Saturday, September 27, with Ateneo FC taking on Mendiola United FC at 2 p.m. and Gilligan’s FC meeting Diliman FC at 4:30 p.m. at the Ateneo field.

All games are played on weekends with the teams playing a single-round robin eliminations with the top four teams advancing to the semifinals.

Meanwhile, a team from Vision Asia will arrive in the country Friday to assess the country’s needs to help boost Philippine football.

Vision Asia is a development project of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), led by its president Mohamed Bin Hammam, to help bring Asian football to a level that is on a par with other football nations.

Vision Asia director John Menton will head a six-man delegation that will be in the Philippines for a week to evaluate the football situation in the country. Joining Menton will be AFC development officers Biplav Gautam (national association and club competition), Annathurai Ranganathan (grassroots and youth), Ameez Mohamed (referees), Ali Targholizadeh (coaches education) and Wong Siew Kim, secretary. 

“The Vision Asia people will provide us with a road map to follow for local soccer,” said PFF president Jose Mari Martinez. “They’ve had experienced with other Asian countries under the program.”

The Philippines is the ninth Asian nation to enroll in the program after Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Oman, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Vision Asia will also witness the opening of the FPL and will evaluate how the league should be run.

The team will also visit various football facilities in Cebu to evaluate the situation there.

From AIG to USA?

Manchester United’s shirts read AIG. They might as well say USA.

The US government’s $85-billion takeover of American International Group Inc. (AIG) gave it control of United’s shirt sponsorship, one of the most visible in sports after the team won two of soccer’s biggest club championships last season.

Tigers, Pages top UAAP taekwondo

UNIVERSITY of Santo Tomas (UST) topped the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 71 men’s and women’s taekwondo competitions but lost the juniors’ crown to University of the East (UE) Thursday at the Far Eastern University Gym.

‘NC’ Final 4 too close to call

TOP seed San Beda tries to continue its post-season mastery of Mapua and move closer to winning its third straight crown  when the Final Four of the 84th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament fires off today at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Devance at home with Aces

Joe Devance and LA Tenorio had 15 points apiece to power the Alaska Aces past the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 77-90, Wednesday in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Preseason Tournament at the Lyceum of the Philippines Gym.

FILIPINO PREMIER LEAGUE STARTS AT PHILSPORTS

THE Filipino Premier League (FPL) kicks off Sunday at the PhilSports Field with two matches.

Mamiit opens RP Davis Cup bid against Kazakhstan

CECIL MAMIIT opens up the Philippines’ tough campaign in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I second-round relegation tie against Kazakhstan No. 2 Yuri Schukin Friday at The National Tennis Center in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Tough Turf: Don Enrico now on top

DON ENRICO zoomed to the top of the standings with earnings of P4.68 million as the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) released the latest in the earnings of major players from January to August this year.