Azkals to face David Beckham & LA Galaxy in December

Top striker David Beckham and his team LA Galaxy will be facing off with the Philippine Azkals in an exhibition match this December.

This was finally confirmed, after weeks of speculation, during a press conference held Oct. 27. The game is scheduled on Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

According to a report on azkals.com, Beckham and his team will arrive in Manila on Dec. 1 and will be holding a sports clinic for the kids of Bantay Bata the following day, also at the Stadium.

“I think putting out a game that brings that kind of PR and media to an event like this can only be good for the sport in this country and for the kids. A big part of what we're trying to do for this is [to] leave something behind, and you'll find out soon that we're making something for the kids in the community.

“At the end of the day we want something for kids to look forward to, to look up to. We want kids to play the sport soccer, so I think this is a great platform to show that off,” Thomas Payne, President of the LA Galaxy’s Business Operations, said.

Saying that his team is already “very excited” for the upcoming match, Payne related, “Coming to post season, from what I understand, I don't know many of the players that have ever been to this market, so they're very interested in learning new things, meeting a bunch of great people, and putting on a show and a memorable event that people will remember for years and years.”

For his part, Philippine Football Federation President Nonong Araneta assured the other party their “full cooperation” to the event.

“This will be a joint project with the LA Galaxy and we hope that this will be very successful. We hope that this won't be the last of their visit here and we hope to see them again in the future,” said he.

Meanwhile, Azkals team manager Dan Palami told the press in an interview, "I think it would be interesting to see the kind of game that they'll be bringing in. I think [the Azkals] can give them a very good fight."

By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA