KICK OFF PH

We often wonder why athletes would want to call it quits while still in their prime. Why would somebody prematurely call time in their playing career rather than extending it as long as possible? There is sadly a cut off point for all professional footballers, it is often when they are mentally at peak that their bodies give up on them. Many careers are ended by long term injuries from which a player never recovers. Some just grow to slow to be able to compete at the highest level. While others step away from the game that they love for personal reasons.  Here are five national team players who decided to end their career prematurely, for better or worse. Demitrius Omphroy Demitrius Omphroy with the Philippine Azkals. Photo: Anton Sheker The former Sporting CP academy player, who was drafted 26th overall by the Toronto FC in the 2011 Major League Soccer (MLS) Super Draft, had seven appearances and three goals for the Philippine Azkals and was part of the Philippines Azkals squad that w

Ace Bright has  left an indelible imprint in local club football in just a few years into his tenure. Photo: Ace Bright Patrick Ace Bright  has risen through the ranks of  club football management in the Philippines. Currently the general manager of Philippines Football League (PFL) powerhouse United City Football Club, Ace has  left an indelible imprint in local club football in just a few years into his tenure. A graduate of BA Film from the University of the Philippines Diliman, Ace started out as a TV segment producer at ABS-CBN before making his way into the sports world working for the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). "I came from a totally different background but it didn’t take long for me to love and appreciate the sport," said Ace, who produced PBA's first lifestyle show. After spending his early years in the TV& Film industry, Ace had built a reputation that caught the attention of the local football governing body, and offered him the opportunity t

Joshua Grommen geared up for his long-awaited return to Thai League 1 after shoulder injury Sukhothai FC's Joshua Grommen is poised to make a return to the top flight of Thai football on Saturday after recovering from a dislocated shoulder injury sustained last year which kept him out of action for more than five months.   "Whenever I play, I would dislocate my shoulders from time to time. I would say my shoulder has popped 6-7 times until the time I decided to get surgery," said Grommen. "It was a big decision for me to do surgery not knowing how this would affect my football career but with the whole COVID-19 situation that was going on at that time, the decision was just a little easier with the uncertainty of football around the world," he added.  All healed up, Grommen is determined to make up for the lost time and prove himself yet again in the Thai League 1. "At the moment I'm feeling strong and ready to play as my shoulder has healed very well w