Suzuki Cup hero Sacapano joins Global on loan

The 33-year-old, who had previously spent his whole career with Army since making his debut in 2004, came to the fore at the end of last year when he became the Azkals' first-choice goalkeeper at the AFF Suzuki Cup after both Neil Etheridge and Roland Muller were unavailable for selection.

Thrown into the thick of things, he played a key role as Philippines qualified from a group that also included co-hosts Thailand, 2008 champions Vietnam and Myanmar and set up a semi-final clash against eventual champions Singapore, where they ultimately fell to a 1-0 aggregate defeat.

Following the high of being his country's first-choice custodian at Southeast Asia's premier international tournament, 2013 looked set to be a less-glamorous year for Sacapano as he returned to club duty with Army, who are currently bottom of the league after defeats in their opening seven games of the new season, including Thursday's 5-1 loss at the hands of Pachanga Diliman.

However, months after locking horns with the region's finest, Sacapano is set to have a taste of continental football after Global announced his loan capture on Thursday.

His new club are not only top of the league at the moment after picking up a maximum of 21 points from their first seven matches, but are also preparing for the AFC President's Cup, which will mark the first time a Filipino club has taken part in a continental tournament.

And while Global already have a safe pair of hands in Ivorian Roland Dely Sadia, it is understood that the signing of Sacapano was mainly to give coach Brian Reid more options in other areas of the field for the tournament, given teams are only allowed two foreign players in each game.

Sacapano, who confirmed the move will not be a long-term deal given he is still an "enlisted personnel" in the Army, revealed he does not believe he will have any problems adjusting to life at his new club given the number of international colleagues present.

"I'm joining Global to really help them in the President's Cup," he said on the club's official website.

"It's just like [being] in the national team."

The arrival of Sacapano is the second high-profile signing Global have pulled off in recent times, after last week's capture of Philippines defensive midfielder Jason de Jong from Stallion Sta. Lucia in a similar loan deal.

Global have been handed a tough group in the President's Cup after being pitted against two-time champions Dordoi Bishkek of Krygyzstan, Pakistani outfit KRL and Bhutan's Yeedzin.

Image courtesy of WSG