Maharlika Manila F.C.

Maharlika Manila Football Club, commonly referred to as Maharlika, is a Filipino professional football club based in Manila that competes in the Philippines Football League.

Maharlika Manila F.C.
Full nameMaharlika Manila Football Club
Nickname(s)Koponan ng Masa
(Team of the Masses)
Founded2020
OwnerAnton del Rosario

Choy Calunsod
Cedric Hodreal

Denice Vitorio
Head coachRoxy Dorlas
LeaguePhilippines Football League
2020Philippines Football League, 5th of 6

The club was founded in 2019 as an all-star seven-a-side team that competed in the 7's Football League. The professional team was formed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The club was co-founded by former Philippines national team defender Anton del Rosario.

History

Seven-a-side team (2019)

Former Philippine national team defender Anton del Rosario announced that to open his 7's Football League's 2019 season, the league would be launching a new competition called the Kampeon Cup 2019. The competition was held from July 27 to 28 at the McKinley Hill Stadium in Taguig, and featured all-star 7-a-side squads from Manila, Bacolod, Cebu City, and Davao City.[1] The team based in Manila was Maharlika Manila F.C.[2]

Several Philippines Football League (PFL) standouts played for the club during the Kampeon Cup, including former Ilocos United goalkeeper Cedric Hodreal, former Kaya—Iloilo and Philippine national team defender Aly Borromeo, Mendiola midfielders Hamed Hajimehdi and Roberto Corsame, and Philippine Air Force stalwart Alexander Elnar. The team had noted Philippine celebrities in its squad such as Nico Bolzico, husband of actress Solenn Heussaff, and Brazilian-Japanese model Daniel Matsunaga.[2]

During the Kampeon 7s Cup in 2019, Maharlika faced all-star clubs from around the Philippines and finished second out of four clubs in the group stage. In the final, it lost 5-3 to the Cebu all-star team, Cebu Leylam FC, with Hajimehdji, Del Rosario, and Borromeo scoring the goals.[3] The team was also planned to join the Kampeon 7s Cup 2020 in Cebu featuring clubs from Davao, Bacolod, Cebu, and Iloilo City from March 13 to 15, However, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the competition was cancelled. [4]

Philippines Football League (2020–)

On July 27, the Facebook and Instagram pages of Maharlika were created, leading to exciting new rumours of the formation of a new club. The club began engaging its fans by asking them questions regarding topics such as player signings and sustainability. On July 30, the club opened its doors to training via Zoom Video Communications. Pictures of these training sessions were later posted, revealing Del Rosario alongside a set of younger football players as well as many former United Football League and Philippines Football League veterans such as former Kaya-Iloilo players Serge Kaole and Alfred Osei, Hodreal, who played for Maharlika in the Kampeon 7s Cup, former Manila Nomads Sports Club player Mateo Yuhico, and former Global keeper Enrique Ortiz.

On August 6, during a livestream on the Facebook page of Sports On Air, Del Rosario revealed that Maharlika was applying for a license to be able to join the PFL as early as the 2020 season. Should they not participate in this year's season, they are open to join the 2020 season of the Weekend Futbol League.[5][6] He also stated that he doesn't want to commit just yet, given the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. The team's lineup wasn't revealed either, but it is hinted by Del Rosario to contain former Azkals players, former football players, and some youth players. Brazilian-Japanese model Daniel Matsunaga is one of those who is part of the lineup. [7][8][9] On August 9, Misagh Bahadoran hinted that he had joined Maharlika Football Club, stating that the club had the mentality of former Azkals' players.[10][11]

On September 1, Maharlika was granted a provisional license allowing it to participate in the PFL's 2020 season.[12][13][14][15] For at least the first season, players were signed to play for a wage of ₱1, essentially pro bono, until the club becomes more sustainable.[16] On September 22, 2020, Maharlika formally partnered with the City Government of Manila and were formally endorsed by Mayor Isko Moreno.[17]

Maharlika's first-ever PFL match took place on October 28 at the PFF National Training Centre, where they lost 1–0 to Kaya–Iloilo.[18][19][20] On their following match, on October 31, Maharlika scored their first-ever PFL goal, with Jose Montelibano scoring against Stallion Laguna. That same match was also their first-ever PFL win, which ended 2–1 courtesy of winger Jeremy Theuer.[21]

Players

First team squad
As of 19 October 2020[22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 MF  PHI Melvic Pitogo
3 DF  PHI Anton del Rosario
4 MF  PHI Carl Amisola
5 DF  ESP Joaco Cañas
6 MF  PHI Javi Coscolluela
7 MF  PHI Mateo Yuhico
8 FW  KOR Kim Sung-Min
11 FW  PHI Gary Espesso
13 GK  PHI Enrique Ortiz
14 DF  PHI David Basa
15 MF  PHI MJ Libre
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 FW  PHI Yannick Tuason
17 FW  PHI Christopher Lawless
18 DF  PHI Jerry Barbaso
19 DF  CMR Serge Kaole
20 MF  PHI Dingdong Fornea
23 FW  PHI Charlie Beaton
24 MF  PHI Peter Itaas Varley
28 FW  PHI Jeremy Theuer
29 GK  CMR Henri Bandeken Fong
30 DF  PHI Jose Montelibano
— MF  PHI David Pusing

Team image

Maharlika Manila F.C. markets itself as the "Koponan ng Masa" and adopts the motto of "For the people, by the people, we are the People's Club"[23] The club's crest was designed by Augustino Cabral of Southside Football with its own nickname featured at the bottom using baybayin script.[24] The club is named after a feudal warrior class of the ancient Tagalog society in Luzon during the pre-colonial era.

Kit manufacturers and sponsors
Period Kit Manufacturer Shirt Partner[25]
2020– Gameville Sportswear Philam Life

Personnel

As of 1 September 2020

Position Staff
Management team leader Choy Calunsod

Cedric Hodreal

Denice Vitorio

Head coach Roxy Dorlas
Assistant head coach Kit Salanguit
Chols Villarino

Records and statistics
Results of league and cup competitions by season
Season League Copa Paulino Alcantara AFC Top goalscorer(s)[lower-alpha 1]
Division P W D L GF GA Pts Pos Name(s) Goals
2020 PFL 51042193 5th n/a Jose Montelibano
Jeremy Theuer		1

Notes
  1. Goals in all competitions are counted.

References
  1. Murillo, Michael (22 July 2019). "7s Football League commences new season with Kampeon Cup". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  2. PinoyFootball (20 July 2019). "Philam Vitality 7s KAMPEON Paves Way For Talented Players Around The Country". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  3. Alison, Mars (28 July 2019). "Cebu Leylam Niños 7s bag Philam Vitality Kampeon Cup title". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  4. Sunstar Cebu (12 March 2020). "Kampeon Cup cancels 3-day event". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  5. Stewart, Adrian (8 August 2020). "Maharlika Manila targets PFL license". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. Murillo, Michael (6 August 2020). "Maharlika FC signifies intent to join the PFL". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  7. Saldajeno, Ivan (6 August 2020). "Anton Del Rosario bares Maharlika Manila seeking PFL license". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  8. "Maharlika Manila targets PFL license". Panay News. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  9. "Del Rosario forms football team". Manila Standard. 6 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  10. Tupas, Cedelf (13 August 2020). "Bahadoran sets comeback, joins team with 'mentality of past Azkals players'". Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  11. "Misagh Bahadoran to lead new PFL club Maharlika FC". Tiebreaker Times. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  12. "Maharlika FC, Welcome to the Philippines Football League; FIB Slaps Global FC with a lengthy suspension". Huddle PH. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  13. "Decisions For PFL Season 2020 Issued". Philippine Football Federation. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  14. "PFF suspends Global FC for 90 days, grants Maharlika provisional license". ABS-CBN News. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  15. "Football teams start practice as PFL eyes October restart". CNN News. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  16. Del Rosario, Paolo (10 September 2020). "Newly-formed Maharlika FC is built on 'love of the sport' and one-peso players". ESPN5. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  17. "Maharlika FC Inks Dream Partnership with Manila". 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  18. "PFL: Kaya Iloilo edges Maharlika-Manila for winning start to 2020 campaign". ABS-CBN News. 29 October 2020. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  19. Go, Beatrice (28 October 2020). "Kaya FC surges past newcomer Maharlika FC for 1st win". Rappler. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  20. Del Carmen, Lorenzo (28 October 2020). "Jayson Panhay, Kaya spoil Maharlika debut in PFL". Tiebreaker Times. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  21. Terrado, Reuben (31 October 2020). "Maharlika Manila nips Stallion Laguna for first-ever PFL win". Sports Interactive Network (SPIN.PH). Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  22. Ang Koponan ng Masa–Philippines Football League 2020 squad [The Team of the Masses–Philippines Football League 2020 squad] (video). Maharlika Manila Football Club. 19 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  23. Naredo, Camille (2 September 2020). "Football: PFL hails 'professionalism' of new team Maharlika FC". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  24. "We are proud to unveil the official logo of Maharlika FC". Facebook. Maharlika F.C. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020. We are proud to unveil the official logo of Maharlika FC, ang Koponan ng Masa. Logo by Augustino Cabral of Southside Football and Animation by Rigel Estabaya
  25. "Maharlika FC". Maharlika Football Club. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
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