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MANILA, Philippines – With the opening of the United Football League’s fifth season looming, Division I sides continue to search for the right mix in their lineups as some curious decisions were made throughout the league over the weekend.
Most notable of those alterations were made by Stallion FC, which dropped key players Bo Bae Park, Hector Zaghi, Guilherme Hasegawa, and Diego Barrera from its roster. The four will be joining last season’s Golden Ball and Golden Boot winner Rufo Sanchez, defensive specialist Joaco Canas, and Korean dynamos Lee Joo Young and Lee Won Hyung, who have since left coach Ernie Nierras’ side after the 2013 League.
Coming in for Stallion FC are Filipino-Italian Simone Rota and former Union striker Hamed Hajimhedi, who made waves in the last Cup contentions.
The Loyola Meralco Sparks also surprised many after deciding to drop Chad Gould, Park Min Ho, and Jonahan Romero from its lineup. Gould has been instrumental in both Loyola’s offense and defense in the past couple of years and had been tremendously effective in helping the squad win the 2013 UFL Cup, Loyola’s first major silverware since joining the UFL several years ago. Park Min Ho, meanwhile, was a regular in the squad’s first Singapore Cup stint back in 2012.
The 2012 League champs Global FC, in an effort to reclaim the title they lost last year, also shuffled its lineup, dropping Ivorian defender Ange Guisso, and Azkals regulars Ed Sacapano and Paul Mulders, while bringing in Filipino-American Charley Pettys from USL Professional Division side Los Angeles Blues.
Sacapano, after filling in between the sticks for Global during Ronald Sadia’s injury, is set to return to his original club Philippine Army while Guisso and Mulder’s future in the UFL remains unclear.
After minding the goal for Kaya since 2011, Saba Garmaroudi – together with Danilo de Jong who returns to the Netherlands – will not see action for David Perkovic’s squad this season. Joining Kaya are former Australia youth international and Gold Coast United reserve Richard Greer and compatriot Thomas Taylor.
The Australian coach has been rebuilding his side since 2012 and is eyeing to bounce back from a fourth place finish last year.
Other notable players who were dropped by their squads are Jake Hugo of Green Archers United, Pasargad’s Reza Ataei, and Matthew Uy of the newly-promoted Team Socceroo.
The 2014 Season kicks off on January 11 at Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill. –Rappler.com
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