WITH an overhauled roster to boost their depth in practically all positions, the Davao Aguilas will be gunning for the championship of the Philippines Football League kicking off on Sept. 28 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
“That’s what we aim to do — win the championship. And with the players that we now have, hopefully we will be able to do it,” said Davao Aguilas FC president Mike Atayde said during the press launch of the club at the Pardon My French resto bar in Makati last Wednesday night.
“We are still a relatively young team that was formed in 2017. But given our previous history when we had the likes of Phil and James Younghusband, I expect this team to do well in the PFL,” said Davao Aguilas FC chairman and former national women’s team manager Jeff Cheng.
Head coach Aber Ruzgal said they retained 15 players from the previous side that finished fourth overall during the previous PFL season that also reached finals of the Copa Alcantara, losing to eventual champ Kaya-Iloilo FC.
Ruzgal said national team defensive stalwart Daisuke is no longer with the squad, opting to join former national teammate Stephan Shrock at One Taguig FC.
The team added 15 new players, including four Brazilians.
“We continue to have the mentality, the same mindset for this coming season. We remain committed to push and work harder to promote football, sustainable football,” Ruzgal said.
Although they have new faces, the coach said they did not have any problem integrating them because “we have the same model and the same system. Regardless of the players that we have, we retain the same playing principles.”
Ace midfielder Paolo Bugas summed up the winning atmosphere within the squad, saying: “I am very excited for this season, the team is really preparing well. The environment is healthy and competitive and we are aiming to win the championship.”
