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Azkals' new recruits banner UFL opening


Following a successful United Football League (UFL) Cup, the country's domestic league kicked off the 2012 season with even bigger football names on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. The UFL added several Filipino-foreigners from the Azkals to its rosters, most notably Rob Gier, Simon Greatwich, Joshua Beloya and Carli De Murga. “More players from Europe are coming in and this makes the league stronger. The competition will become more exciting,” said UFL Cup Best Striker Phil Younghusband. Filipino-British Gier will be added to Global FC's last line. The 31-year-old defender hopes to use his Division 2 football experience in England to help Global bounce back from a third place finish in the Cup last year. The youngest of the Greatwich brothers, Simon signed with the Loyola Meralco Sparks. The Sparks, which ruled the Cup before losing to Air Force in the finals, could use Greatwich's experience competing in English and US  football leagues. The already Azkal-laden Kaya Cignal FC added Beloya to its ranks. Beloya's first shot to fame when he scored two late goals against Laos to give the Philippines its first win in the 2011 Southeast Asian Games. A talent of La Salle Bacolod, he was once named Best Striker of the Philippine Football Federation Suzuki Under-23 Cup. Another product of the U-23 national team, Filipino-Spanish Carli De Murga signed with Global. De Murga played for the Spanish third division club Portuensa before joining the Azkals. Juan Luis Guirado will also join his younger brother Angel in Global FC. The Hartmann brothers will be divided this season as Darren moved to Nomads Auction FC. His younger brothers Mark and Matthew will remain with Loyola FC. Two divisions   Unlike the Cup which was a free-for-all, the League will feature two divisions. Division 1 has defending champion Air Force Phoenix, former Cup winner Global FC, Loyola Meralco Sparks, Kaya Cignal, Army, Navy and Green Archers United. They will be joined by the recently promoted Nomads, Stallion FC and Pasargad. Headed by Azkals Chieffy Caligdong and Ian Araneta, Air Force bagged the first two league championships. The Airmen are hoping to continue with their dominance after also winning the UFL Cup against the Loyola Meralco Sparks last December. The Division 2 roster was expanded to 12 teams with the addition of Pachanga, Diliman FC, Team Socceroo, Forza FC, Laos FC, Cebu Queen City United and Agila. Sunken Garden, Manila-All Japan, Dolphins, Union Internacionale Manila and Lions FC are all staying in the second division. The team with the most number of points after a double round-robin will be the champion. Three points will be given for a win and one point for a draw. According to UFL Chairman Santi Araneta, there will also be a relegation after this season. The bottom team in the first division will drop to the second division, while the second division champion will be promoted to first division. — JVP, GMA News

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