Beckham, LA Galaxy to face Azkals in December

The Los Angeles Galaxy is coming to town. The Galaxy, one of US Major League Soccer's (MLS) prized teams, will be playing against the Philippine Azkals on December 3 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Thomas Payne, LA Galaxy president, said that the team will be in full force for the exhibition match which means that their top players including David Beckham will be joining the team. Beckham, a high-profile sports celebrity that stretches beyond the borders of football, will be joined by US senior national team player Landon Donovan and Ireland national squad member Robby Keane, a former English Premier League standout with Tottenham Hotspur. The Galaxy will be in the country as part of their promotional tour in Asia and Australia. "This is part of what we do which is to help promote the sport," said Payne in a press conference at the Makati Shangri-La Thursday. "And coming from a market like this where the country is starting to be football crazy and put a kind of game like this is good for the sport." Ticket information will be released first week of November. Payne has also given the thumbs up at the 15,000-seater Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. "It was wonderful. It was more than what we expected. We look forward to playing at a small venue where the crowd is close to the action," Payne said. The Galaxy will arrive in Manila on December 1 after their first stop in a country still to be determined. They will conduct a football clinic on December 2 before the exhibition match. Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano Araneta is excited on the magnitude of the match. "Ending the year with a match against LA Galaxy, what more can you ask for? The Azkals are very lucky that they will play with the LA Galaxy." Azkals team manager Dan Palami said that he has sent out invitations to the players with several already responded. "This is great not only for the Azkals but for Philippine football which is in its growing stage," said Palami. After Manila, the Galaxy will head to Melbourne for their final stop of their Asia-Pacific tour. The Galaxy are still competing in the MLS against the New York Red Bulls in the Western Conference semifinals. — JVP, GMA News