POWERHOUSE Team Manila won four straight games to reach the semifinals of the 1st Hyenas Football Festival men's open division Sunday, September 9.
The team was composed of current and former members of the Philippine Azkals national team with team captain Anton del Rosario and celebrity actor Daniel Matsunaga. They lived up to expectations after sweeping their games opposite Davao Strikers, Yoyo Football Club, Red Lions and Black Knights Football Club in the 7-A-Side bootfest organized to celebrate the Hyenas Football Club anniversary.
The visiting squad, however, later withdrew and no longer played the semis to give locals the opportunity to advance.
"We put together a good team here so (I think we can win the championship), I mean we are just happy to be in Davao," Del Rosario, a player of Global Cebu FC, said earlier before announcing their withdrawal.
He, however, was elated with how Dabawenyos embraced football.
"I think it was good. It was a good turnout and there are so many teams here and all the people are supporting us. It’s nice to see the people loving football and enjoying the nice weather," he added.
The team of football stars and veterans from Manila was brought in by Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Representative Jericho “Koko” Nograles who said that bringing in these elite athletes will inspire the local participants.
“I invited the team (Azkals) and told them to have some few friendly games with the locals, para naman ma-measure nila ang kanilang mga skills with the professionals and non-professionals, and so that they may experience the feeling playing with these kind of athletes,” Nograles said.
The congressman, however, was happy with the successful turnout of the bootfest.