Azkals Development Team
The Azkals Development Team, commonly referred to as ADT, is a Philippine developmental football club that last competed in Philippines Football League, before officially withdrawing from the competition in May 2023. 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. The team has a youth academy, called the Azkals Development Academy (ADA). History As preparation for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines, the Philippine Football Federation decided to let the Philippines U-22 team, composed of players such as Yrick Gallantes, Chima Uzoka, and Elias Mordal compete against the clubs of the Philippines Football League in the 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara. The team won their first match, 1-0, against Green Archers United, but ultimately finished 3rd and failed to qualify for the semifinals. In the aftermath of the team's success at the SEA Games, it was reported that there were plans to have the national youth team participate in the 2020 season of the Philippines Football League (PFL) as a guest team. However, such plans were dropped and a reportedly a full-fledged professional club under the name ADT F.C. will enter the league instead. The formation of the club is an initiative of the National Teams Committee of the Philippine Football Federation. The coaching staff of the Philippine senior national team will be involved with ADT with Scott Cooper as head coach. 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. According to national team manager Dan Palami, the ADT is a platform to develop "homegrown" players for the national team. Philippines Football League 2020 season By January 2020, the club had begun signing its first set of players. 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. ADT's debut in the PFL was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic forced the postponement of the 2020 PFL season. 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. The club participated in the 2020 PFL season that was postponed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, boasting a roster with former PFL and