The Azkals Development Team, commonly referred to as ADT, is a Philippine developmentalfootball club that last competed in Philippines Football League, before officially withdrawing from the competition in May 2023.[1]
Founded in 2020, the team is under the jurisdiction of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF), while being managed similar to a professional club. Most of the club's players are members of the Philippines' youth national teams.[2]
The team has a youth academy, called the Azkals Development Academy (ADA).
The ADT was formed after it was observed that other countries participating in the games already had many players participating in professional leagues while Filipino players of the same age still involved in collegiate football. The development team is intended give "professional club environment" exposure to mainly youth players as well as select overage players from the senior national team such as individuals who recently recovered from an injury.[2] According to national team manager Dan Palami, the ADT is a platform to develop "homegrown" players for the national team.[8]
Philippines Football League
2020 season
By January 2020, the club had begun signing its first set of players.[1] ADT played their first friendly match against Philippine Army F.C. on March 5, 2020, as part of Philippine Army's 123rd founding anniversary. ADT won 6–0.[9] ADT's debut in the PFL was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 PFL season.[10] In preparation for the possible resumption of the season, ADT's players went to Balesin Island in September 2020. While by this time the government through Games and Amusements Board and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has allowed PFL teams to conduct team trainings, ADT's status as a guest team and non-professional side of the PFL meant that it had to secure a separate permission from the government.[11]
The club participated in the 2020 PFL season that was postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, boasting a roster with former PFL and UAAP players such as Jarvey Gayoso, Mar Diano, Marvin Angeles, and Mathew Custodio. ADT played their first-ever PFL match on October 28, 2020, at the PFF National Training Center, where they lost to defending champions United City (formerly Ceres–Negros), 1–0.[12] On their third match of the season, on November 3, they clinched their first-ever PFL win, 2–0 over Mendiola. Jarvey Gayoso scored the team's first-ever PFL goal.[13][14] The club ended up winning the next 3 games to secure 3rd place overall.
2021 season
In 2021, the club brought in many new faces as well as let go of old players to other league clubs, in keeping with the club's values. The club's biggest departures were Jarvey Gayoso, who went to Kaya–Iloilo, Anthony Pinthus, who transferred to United City, and Chima Uzoka, who went to Stallion Laguna, The club brought in Oskari Kekkonen and Sandro Reyes, two prospects who had played for the Philippines national under-23 football team. On the team's list were Mark Winhoffer, Lloyd Fagerlie, Niko de Vera, and Mark Swainston, although none of them played a match for the club. The club participated in the 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara due to the cancellation of the 2021 PFL season. In the group stage they thrashed Mendiola 1991 9–0, their biggest-ever victory, and narrowly won 2–1 in the semifinals against Stallion, setting up a final with Kaya-Iloilo, where they lost 1–0.[15] A number of their players would go on to play in the 2020 AFF Championship later that year.
2022–23 season
During the club's 2022 preseason, the team let go of many of its players who were vital in last season's cup run. Mathew Custodio and Ivan Ouano went to United City, Sandro Reyes, Oskari Kekkonen, Mar Diano, and Quincy Kammeraad departed for Kaya, Troy Limbo and Kainoa Bailey went to Stallion Laguna, while Christian Rontini became the first player of the club to transfer overseas, going to Penang in the Malaysia Super League. The new-look club, as preparation for the 2022 Southeast Asian Games, participated in the 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara, bringing in reinforcements such as Scott Woods, Jaime Rosquillo, and Mateo Alegre, as well as hiring experienced coach and former Azkal Norman Fegidero.[16][17] The club ended up with two wins, one draw, and three loses, finishing fourth but having to forfeit their semifinal slot due to their commitments in the ASEAN competition. After the SEA Games, Philippine National Team veteran Stephan Schröck was brought in and the club saw another overhaul, letting go most of its oldest players and bringing in majority of the Philippine U-19 National Team. With Schrock maintaining a playing coach role and acting as captain, the club impressed despite the players' young ages. The ADT finished fourth in the mid-season table, with a number of their players playing in the 2022 AFF Championship.
On May 23, 2023, ADT announced its withdrawal from the PFL, forfeiting its remaining games in the season due to unspecified "recent events". Although it has committed to continue its Azkals Development Academy.[18]
The formation of the Azkals Development Academy (ADA), which is associated with ADT,[18] was first announced in November 2022 by Stephan Schröck.[19] The academy was launched by May 2023.[20]
It remains operational following ADT's withdrawal from the 2022–23 PFL season.[18] The academy was set to send a team in the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara.[21] However, a new club CF Manila entered the Copa from the core of ADA players.[22]
^Tupas, Cedelf (September 13, 2019). "A time to learn". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
