Cabalida likely to get U23 coaching job, says Palami; Azkals Sports Cafe set to open

Edwin “Diding” Cabalida has been offered the job of coach for the Philippine U23 Football team that will represent the nation in the South East Asian Games later this year in Myanmar.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami says that Cabalida, a native of Dumaguete who was a UFL League champion coach with Philippine Air Force in 2011, is inclined to accept the offer. Brian Reid, currently the coach of Palami's Global team, will pitch in as an advisor.

The Philippines finished last in their group during the 2011 SEA Games, losing to Vietnam, Myanmar and Brunei and only winning versus Laos.

Josh Beloya, who scored against Laos two years ago, says he believes preparations for Myanmar will begin in July.

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Palami also revealed that the team may have training camps in Parma, Italy, and in Bahrain in the lead-up to the competition.

In fact the Azkals manager is set to go to Italy to finalize the Parma camp which he says is “almost sure.”

According to Palami he is trying to get the U23 into some competitions like the UFL Cup or Super Cup. He also says the PFF may have a Cup of its own later in the year that could include the U23 team.

It was reported that the Yanzon brothers of Ceres FC and Dynamic Builders FC were initially tapped to manage the squad but that did not materialize.

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Palami made his comments at the soon-to-be opened Azkals Sports Cafe in McKinley Hill. He was there as part of the press conference to announce Freego's new brand ambassadors, Jason De Jong of Global, Mark Hartmann of Loyola Meralco Sparks, and Global's Misagh Bahadoran, longtime Freego endorser. The three midfielders are

The three players and Palami fielded questions about their preferences in jeanswear, with Hartmann and Bahadoran professing their preference for slim cut trousers. Hartmann and DeJong were both wearing Freego's reversible jeans.

The players joked that Palami's jeans must have, above all, deep pockets.

The Azkal Sports Cafe will have a soft opening next Tuesday, says Mel Macasaet, the cafe's proprietor.

The cafe is the successor to the Azkals Sports Bar which was previously located in the Fort Strip. Macasaet's new establishment is on a building very near Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill.

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“We want to cater to the Football market which is why we're in front of the UFL's stadium” he says.

“We're adding a lot of healthy stuff to the menu. So many of the players came to the Azkals sports bar looking for healthy dishes.”

A peek at the cafe's proposed menu includes Azkals-themed delights like the Misagh Fish Sandwich, Edsa (Ed Sacapaño) Garlic and Tomato Pasta, and Dan's Mushroom Burger.

Fans of Chieffy Caligdong would certainly love to dig into the Chieffy Southwest Jalapeño Burger, while diehard supporters of Phil Younghusband should give the Phil-ly Cheesteak Sandwich a whirl.

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Health-conscious Azkals fans should try the Weiss Mango Crepe dessert at their own risk. I am told that it is sinfully irresistible.

Macasaet says that prices will be friendly and that a good meal can be had for less than P200. Nespresso gourmet coffee will also be served.

HD TVs adorn the walls of the cafe, making it the ideal venue to watch televised sports events.

Macasaet, a former airline pilot-turned entrepreneur, also runs MelMac Sports Management, which represents Bahadoran, Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Schrock, Sacapaño, and even PBA player Arwind Santos.

Persistent rumors continue to swirl around Pinoy Footballing circles that a certain Football commentator and Football writer will be performing acoustic sets at the cafe soon, but The Passionate Fan cannot verify this rumor as of press time.

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.