There is no bigger way for a football team to signal the start of a new era than the signing of star players. In the 2017 Philippines Football League, no club has aggressively recruited top players like Davao Aguilas.
Azkals-capped players such as Simone Rota and Jason De Jong and UAAP Season 79 Rookie of the Year Jordan Jarvis have been recently recruited by the Jefferson Cheng-owned club, but it is their latest signings who will send shockwaves through Filipino football fans.
FC Meralco Manila just announced that franchise-faces James and Phil Younghusband have jumped ship to Davao today, in a Facebook post on its official club page.
“We made an earnest attempt to keep James and Phil in Manila with an offer of a contract extension. But the brothers elected to pursue this opportunity with Davao. They asked for a release from their current contract and we have granted it, allowing them to sign with the Aguilas,” read the statement.
The Younghusband brothers came to Philippine shores in 2005 which was also the same year they started to represent the country. It was in 2011 where the Filipino-English siblings were signed to play for Meralco in the defunct United Football League.
Manila’s club vice chairman Randy Roxas praised the brothers for their attitude in the game and added, “Off the pitch the Younghusband brothers embodied our club’s values in every way and tirelessly worked to promote the game and serve as ambassadors for Meralco. We can never thank them enough for all they have given to us.”
The news had an interesting timing as Davao is scheduled to host Meralco later today where the brothers shall play in the Sparks shirt for the last time. It remains to be seen how the transfers will affect Meralco’s title challenge, as they sit second in the standings with 24 points, while the only way to go must surely be up for Davao who are stuck at seventh place with 5 points.
The transfer papers have yet to be signed by the league.
Reports from Matthew Li and Lorenzo del Carmen
