Singapore Cup: Loyola Meralco Sparks up vs Myanmar's Kanbawsa FC in July

After recently cutting down the suspension of Loyola midfielder Matthew Hartmann from a lifetime ban to a single season, though upholding the total ban with the Azkals, it seems the controversy continues as Hartmann was also barred from playing in the Singapore Cup.  

Explaining the situation after their 2-1 extra time victory over Singapore’s Geylang United, Loyola Coach Vincent Santos said that “Matthew is under sanction by the PFF for something that happened in the SEA Games and we didn’t expect him to be banned for this tournament as the sanctions were for tournaments in the Philippines.”  

Indeed the PFF sanction is for teams and competitions under PFF jurisdiction, i.e. the National team and the UFL, for which Hartmann has still not played since abandoning the team in Indonesia in the 2011 SEA Games.   

Few people sympathized with his ban from the National squad though the PFF’s unprecedented move to ban a player from club duty for an offense committed with the National team was criticized in some quarters as an overstretch.  

The Loyola staff were surprised and disappointed by the timing of the PFF’s notification as Hartmann’s name originally appeared on the squad list for the game in Singapore before being removed just minutes before the game.  

“We were very surprised to receive the news he wasn’t allowed to play. That is something we’ll have to work on when we get back to Manila” Santos explained.  

It was alleged that they received the news only the night before the game and Loyola, though clearly annoyed by the decision, went along with the PFF ruling in order to avoid further sanctions.   

Loyola qualify for quarterfinals  

It left Loyola in a tricky situation as they had to quickly change plans. Simon Greatwich filled in on the left of midfield in their 4-2-3-1 formation.  

Despite having the best chances early on Loyola went down to a first-half goal from Geylang’s Michael King, who capitalized on a defensive error, before Mark Hartmann equalized in the second half to force extra-time.  

Loyola persevered and despite tiring legs managed to claw an extra-time winner courtesy of a deflected Park Minho strike. Digging deep to defend the lead they held out and qualify for the next round. There they will face Myanmar’s Kanbawza FC who knocked out Singapore’s Woodlands Wellington also by a score of 2-1.   

Asked by Singaporean media if his team were lucky, Coach Santos was adamant the team had played well enough: I don’t think we were lucky, I think we deserved it… Mark Hartmann was distributing the ball well today and the Younghusband brothers played well but it was a team effort”.   

With Loyola the only Filipino team representing the country they were greeted by a relatively large Filipino crowd, clearly outnumbering the Singaporeans in attendance, making it almost a home game if not for the humidity and artificial turf.   

Asked how far the team can go, Coach Santos was cautious knowing that the team are in unfamiliar territory and are facing well-established teams from one of the best leagues in South East Asia, with the addition of several foreign teams who are among the best of their own countries.   

“We’ll take each game as it comes” he said “and we’ll definitely give this tournament a priority as the UFL will end mid-June so by the next game in July we’ll be free from other commitments.” 

An International Singapore Cup  

The Singapore Cup has sometimes invited teams from other countries to compete and join the preliminary rounds.   

Seeing how big a following the Philippines got when they competed against Singapore in last year’s 2-0 friendly loss at the same stadium, the Jalan Besar Stadium, Singapore officials commented that Philippine football was clearly growing and the large number of overseas Filipino fans helped in the decision to invite the Sparks to join the tournament.  

Other invited foreign teams are in the Singapore Cup this year. Cambodian Champions Phnom Penh Crown have already been knocked out 4-3 by S-League champions Tampines Rovers while Loyola were the first foreign team to reach the next round and will face the second foreign team to do so, Myanmar’s Kanbawza FC, in July.  

Malaysia’s Harimau Muda B and Laos’ Yotha, will face Singaporean competition in the next few days. Brunei DPMM, who were knocked out by Cup holders Home United, and Japanese Albirex Niigata B also compete in the tournament but are permanently part of the S-League.  

Loyola will be hoping to have a full squad, though, after the surprise decision of the PFF to attempt to ban a player from another country’s tournament. Geylang United are currently bottom of the S-League but they won the Singapore Cup in 2009 and are certainly no pushovers.  

Loyola beating Geylang in Singapore and marching on to the quarterfinals is another sign that the quality of Philippine football is improving, but the Matt Hartmann decision may highlight the need for clarity of disciplinary guidelines. — ELR, GMA News