WITH the local football team he was playing for surprisingly pulling out at the end of the second season of the Philippines Football League, veteran player James Younghusband said he is keeping his options open in this period of transition.
Part of Davao Aguilas FC, along with his younger brother Phil, Mr. Younghusband found himself without a team after the Aguilas management decided not to continue its participation in the PFL, which has since been rebranded as the Philippine Premier League (PPL) with new handlers, citing uncertain in the league.
In an interview with BusinessWorld during the adidas Exhibit Pack trial run on Feb. 19, Mr. Younghusband said the turn of events was unfortunate but he is moving on and is looking at different opportunities that are available to him.
“I don’t have a team right now. Me and my brother came off Davao Aguilas and are currently in transition and we want to make the right decision. I like to eventually play in the PPL and see the goals of the league achieved and see the football community come together,” said Mr. Younghusband, referring to the rebranded local club football league, which is set to kick off its season in March.
He went on to say that his options are open, be it here or taking his talent somewhere else abroad.
“I’m keeping my options open and checking other opportunities elsewhere as well,” said Mr. Younghusband, 32.
Mr. Younghusband was last seen in action at the Philippine Azkals’ campaign in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup at the United Arab Emirates in January where he was part of the pool of players.
The Azkals failed to win any match in group play in their first-ever appearance in the Asian Cup but managed to turn heads for their spirited effort that had their higher-ranked opponents having to work.
It was an experience that Mr. Younghusband said was huge for the team as it served to motivate them some more to possibly come back in the tournament for years to come.
“It was a great experience for us in the Asian Cup. There was a bit of disappointment, of course, because we wanted to go far. But we learned a lot and it provided extra motivation for the team to want to go back to the tournament,” said Mr. Younghusband.
“I may be older when the next one comes along because it happens every four years but I want to help the younger players. I intend to play for the national team if the opportunity comes,” he added.
Mr. Younghusband has been part of the resurgence of the Philippine football since the turn of the decade and has represented the country in international competitions in seniors play for over a hundred times.
He played six years for Meralco Manila FC before joining Davao in 2017. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
