From humble beginnings: The rise of Global FC

Cebu City: Founded as a social team in 2000 by a group of friends from Tacloban, Global FC have risen to become one of the leading sides in the Philippines and pioneers in football’s fast-growing development in the archipelago. After an historic debut campaign in the 2015 AFC Cup, the club has ambitious plans to match the best the continent has to offer and their maiden appearance in the AFC Champions League Preliminary Stage against Singapore's Tampines Rovers on Tuesday is another important step on that path.

From humble beginnings
Fifteen years ago, on a patch of grass behind Quezon City Hall in Metro Manila, a then 29-year-old Dan Palami, with fellow displaced friends and colleagues from Tacloban City, kicked off the humble beginnings of what has become one of the powerhouses of Philippines football, Global FC.

Palami, now President and Chief Executive of Global, has helped lead the club to a number of national and continental milestones as this year the team, 2016 domestic champions, become the first Filipino side to participate in the AFC Champions League preliminary stage.

In 2015, as their nation’s first representatives in the AFC Cup, Global narrowly missed out on a place in the tournament’s knockout rounds as they performed creditably, securing a first-ever AFC Cup win over Yadanarbon of Myanmar and a pair of goalless draws with five-time Malaysian champions Pahang FA to finish third in the group, a remarkable achievement considering their modest origins.