Davao Aguilas F.C.

The Davao Aguilas Football Club (abbreviated as DAFC) is a Filipino professional football club based in the city of Tagum, Davao del Norte. It played in the Philippines Football League (PFL), the highest level of Philippine club football.

Davao Aguilas
Full nameDavao Aguilas Football Club
Nickname(s)Aguilas (The Eagles)
Short nameDAV
Founded2017 (2017)
GroundDavao del Norte Sports Complex
Tagum, Philippines
Capacity3,000
OwnerJefferson Cheng
Head coachMelchor Anzures
LeaguePhilippines Football League
WebsiteClub website

During the time of its participation in the PFL, the club was the sole Mindanao-based club in the league.[1] It left from the PFL and was disbanded after the conclusion of the 2018 season, following disagreements of its owner regarding the plans of a supposed successor league to the PFL. However, the club resumed operations again in July 2020, focusing on youth football.

Davao Aguilas FC is under the Davao Aguilas, Incorporated of businessman Jefferson Cheng.[2]

History

Establishment and entry to the Philippines Football League (PFL)

The group behind the Aguilas have expressed their interest to play in the Philippines Football League (PFL) and have submitted their letter of intent before the December 31, 2016 deadline. They were given until the end of January 2017 to complete all licensing requirements.[3]

On February 19, 2017 it was reported that Davao Aguilas FC is joining the Philippines Football League as the sole representative from Mindanao. Although CEO Chito Manuel admits that everything is "rush-rush" now, he said the team's head coach Melchor Anzures and assistant coach Lalas Carreon are busy building up the team from scratch. They conducted tryouts at the Agro pitch in Davao City on February 19, 2017.[1] Though the team's composition is already being organized as early as February 2017, Davao Aguilas lists its foundation date as March 26, 2017.[4]

In March 2017, the club participated in the Stallion preseason cup where Ed Walohan scored the first goal for the club in competitive play. According to team officials the squad fielded by the Aguilas was not the final squad to be fielded in the inaugural PFL.[5]

2017 season

The club hosted an official launch ceremony on March 26, 2017 at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex, their home venue.[6]

By June 2017, the club owners secured a sponsorship deal with San Miguel Corporation and appended "San Miguel" to their official name.[7] On September 18, with the club cut adrift in 7th place, manager Gary Phillips was sacked and replaced by Marlon Maro. The team finished 7th in the inaugural PFL season.

2018 season

In the 2018 season, the club signed in players of the Philippine national team and some foreigners to bolster the squad for a strong run for the season. Maro resigned in the middle of the season and was replaced by Melchor Anzures. In September 2018, the Club signed a partnership agreement with the Japan-based club team, Shonan Bellmare who is currently competing in the J.League. The partnership was formed to bolster cooperation between the two clubs in terms of operations which includes the development of players and coaches, player scouting, youth development, and marketing. Davao Aguilas will also cooperate with the club in starting their academy once the Davao Aguilas Sports Center in Mandug, Davao City is completed in the proposed date of 2019. The Davao Aguilas also changed their full name to "Davao Aguilas Bellmare Football Club" to signify their partnership with Shonan Bellmare.[8]

The Davao Aguilas featured in the final of the inaugural Copa Paulino Alcantara where it lost to Kaya-Iloilo due to a solitary goal.

Withdrawal from the PFL

After the 2018 season, it was reported on December 14, 2018 that the club has withdrawn from the PFL. Reasons for the withdrawal is yet to be officially disclosed by club owner Jefferson Cheng who iterated continued support for infrastructure and grassroots development in Davao. He is set to discuss with the club's stakeholders over the fate of the club itself.[9] Cheng has also cited the decision to hire Bernie Sumayao to manage the PFL despite his volunteering to take over the management of the league.[10] Sumayao later was appointed as a commissioner of the short-lived Philippine Premier League, which was intended as a successor to the PFL. However the league's inaugural season in 2017 was cut short and the PFL was reestablished once again.

The Davao Aguilas was disbanded but Cheng remained involved in local football sponsoring the Youth Football League Summer Tournament through his company Speed Regalo and committed on continuing works on a sports complex which was initially intended as a new home venue for the disbanded club.[11]

Return

In July 2020, the Davao Aguilas announced the resumption of operations its youth department.[12]

Crest and colors

The colors of the team are blue which represents "loyalty and brilliance" and red which represents "passion and valor". The five red stripes in the club crest symbolizes 5 attributes of the club's players namely strength, speed, agility, and the "right mentality" while the four blue stripes represents the concepts of fair play, respect, perseverance and integrity which are the team's values. The colors of the club were selected as reportedly as a show of patriotism and was derived after the Philippine flag. The bird's head in the crest is that of a Philippine eagle.[5]

The home kit is in red and blue while the away kit is predominantly white.[5]

Head coaches
CoachNat.Tenure
Melchor Anzures[note 1] PhilippinesFebruary 2017
Gary Phillips AustraliaFebruary 2017 – September 2017
Marlon Maro PhilippinesSeptember 2017 – May 29, 2018
Melchor Anzures PhilippinesMay 29, 2018 – Dec. 31, 2018

Records
Davao Aguilas vs Meralco Manila. September 23, 2017.

Season by season record
Season Division Season statistics Copa Paulino Alcantara Top goalscorer[note 2]
P W D L F A GD Pts Pos Name Goals
2017 PFL 28 4 10 14 35 56 –21 22 7th — Harry Sawyer 10
2018 PFL 25 11 6 8 52 39 +13 39 3rd Runners-up Phil Younghusband 12
Champions Runners-up Third place

Notes
  1. Anzures did not coach the team in a single league match although he was reportedly the head coach of the Davao Aguilas during its February 2017 try-outs.[1]
  2. Only includes goals scored in the league.
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References
  1. Biantan, Jack (19 February 2017). "Biantan: Davao Aguilas vow to build a strong team". SunStar. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  2. Saberon-Abalayan, Marianne (9 March 2017). "Aguilas awaits club license for pro league". Sun Star Davao. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
  3. Reyes, Jaelle (13 January 2017). "Two more teams want to join PH Football League". ManilaTimes. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  4. "About Us". Davao Aguilas F.C. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  5. Guererro, Bob (27 March 2017). "A football club is born: Meet Davao Aguilas FC". Rappler. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  6. Tupas, Cedelf (27 March 2017). "Aguilas hope to inspire football resurgence in mindanao". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
  7. Biantan, Jack (25 June 2017). "Biantan: San Miguel Corp. finally supports football". Sun Star Cagayan de Oro. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  8. Biantan, Jack (16 September 2018). "Davao Aguilas, Shonan Bellmare Merge To Boast Football Development". Pinoy Football. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  9. Biantan, Jack (14 December 2018). "Davao Aguilas-Belmare FC Quits PFL". Pinoyfootball. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  10. Limpag, Mike (19 December 2018). "Costly tantrum". Sun Star Cebu. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  11. Biantan, Javk (6 May 2019). "PFF Should Apologise To Jeff Cheng". Pinoy Football. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  12. del Carmen, Lorenzo (21 July 2020). "Davao Aguilas resume operations for youth competitions". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
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