VIDAKOVIC LOOKS TO TEST NEW PLAYERS IN COMING MATCHES

Ceres-Negros Coach Risto Vidakovic is looking forward to the next league matches to assess his new signings for the club.

The busmen signed five new players in the fold to reinforce the current core. League veterans Paul Mulders, Jerry Barabaso, and Curt Dizon signed for the Negros squad.

Goalkeeper Roland Muller returned from family duties while Aussie striker Blake Powell aims to make his mark for the defending PFL champs.

After their first practice at the Panaad Stadium with the team, Vidakovic was quick not to give early assumptions about the new signings.

“It’s to early to talk about them,” said the Ceres mentor. “We need to see them in the games and that’s it. You never know. The first impression, not important.”

The champion coach was happy with the new additions given that the team will be navigating across three competitions in the next few months.

Ceres-Negros is on the tail-end of the Philippines Football League and is nearing the AFC Cup ASEAN Finals. They will also participate in the Copa Paulino Alacantara on September.

“We need all the players that can compete for the first eleven. It’s also increasing the competition between the players so it’s good for the team,” added the former Betis defender.

Vidakovic will now have the luxury of an expanded pool after losing plenty of players to injuries in the last few months. “If I have five more players, then I can choose,” he added.

http://ceresfootball.com/vidakovic-looks-test-new-players-coming-matches/

PFL PREVIEW: CERES-NEGROS VS GLOBAL-CEBU

League leaders Ceres-Negros FC meets Global Cebu FC for the third time this season on July 20 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in the City of Manila.

The two rivals will meet for two consecutive matches this month with Ceres gunning to earn points in their quest for their second consecutive PFL title.

Both teams have met twice this season with the Negros outfit winning both matches in the historic stadium.

Ceres-Negros FC scored a hard-earned 2-0 victory last April 18 in Rizal Memorial. Mike Ott and Stephan Schrock scored a goal each in the match to keep the Cebu side at bay.

Their second meeting was also an interesting affair when they withstood home squad’s second half comeback to score a 4-3 win last June 16.

Stephan Schrock and Mike Ott both scored a brace while Darryl Roberts registered a brace of his own with Paolo Salenga scoring the other goal for Global.

Both teams have produced good results in their past matches leading up to the Saturday tiff. Ten-man Ceres-Negros lorded over the Davao Aguilas in Tagum to score a 3-1 result.

“Coming from a victory against Davao, the team had a good break after the last few weeks,” said Ceres Assistant Ian Treyes. “We are focused on our next games against Global. Hopefully we can perform well and get the next two games so we can focus on the AFC Cup,” he added.

A depleted but resilient Global side scored early but conceded late against the Aguilas to go home with a 1-1 draw last Wednesday. Ceres foward Nessi Ramos is well aware of the challenge ahead and is raring to go in the next match.

“We saw how Global drew against Davao the last game and they’re still strong team for me. We’re still focused on the game tomorrow and we have new players it will be a challenge for us,” said the former St. La Salle standout.

The opening of the transfer window saw three Global players moving to the Negrense squad last July 15. Paul Mulders, Curt Dizon, and Jerry Barbaso have reinforced ASEAN Finals bound squad and will possible feature against their former club.

Australian striker Blake Powell has also joined the defending PFL champions and will also likely play in their upcoming match. The A-League veteran has featured for clubs such as Sydney FC, Wellington Phoenix, and lately with the Central Coast Mariners.

The league match is set to kickoff at 730pm and will be shown live via PFLtv.ph.

http://ceresfootball.com/pfl-preview-ceres-negros-vs-global-cebu/

PFF reveals busy coming months for Azkals

WITH top international competitions in its cards in the coming months, the Philippine national men’s football team will be busy in preparation as it tries to put up a good showing, this according to the country’s football federation president.

Set to play in the AFF Suzuki Cup in November and December and in the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in January next year, the Philippine Azkals, now handled by new coach Terry Butcher, will be shuttling here and there in the lead-up to these tournaments to develop their game and camaraderie.

In a statement, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta said the Azkals will travel to Bahrain during the September FIFA window to play a Bahraini club side, likely on Sept. 7, before tangling with the Bahrain national team on Sept. 11.

There will also be a FIFA window in October, and Mr. Araneta said the Filipinos can enjoy at least one friendly at home. Araneta hopes that the Rizal Memorial Stadium will still be available before it gets spruced up in preparation for the country’s hosting of the 2019 SEA Games.

“Our fans will get to watch our new team,” Mr. Araneta said, referring to the now Butcher-led squad.

British Butcher took the Azkals reins from American Thomas Dooley, who handled the team from 2014 to 2018.

The Azkals begin their Suzuki Cup campaign in November that will see them compete in a five-team round-robin group with a new home-and-away format.

The Philippines will host Singapore at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod on Nov. 13 before playing either Brunei or Timor Leste away four days later. The two ASEAN minnows will square off in a two-legged qualifying series in September to determine who makes the group stage.

On Nov. 21 the Azkals entertain Thailand at Panaad before closing their group stage against Indonesia on Nov. 25.

The semifinals will run from Dec. 1 to 6, with the two-legged finals being held on Dec. 11 and 15.

After a quick Christmas break the team flies to the Middle East on Dec. 26, where final preparations for the Asian Cup will commence.

Mr. Araneta said that there are plans to play in Qatar against either a club team or their national side, and then perhaps a game in Kuwait before the team goes to the United Arab Emirates for the Asian Cup.

The group schedule is as follows: Jan. 7 against Korea Republic in Dubai, Jan. 11 versus China in Abu Dhabi, then Jan. 16 against Kyrgyzstan in Dubai.

The top two will advance to the knockout round, but the Philippines can also sneak through as one of the better third-placers.

The Philippines booked a spot in the Asian Cup after a 2-1 victory over Tajikistan in its final Asian Cup Qualifiers group match on March 27.

In the prestigious tournament, the Philippines will join 23 other nations which proved their worth to be part of the quadrennial football meet. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

http://bworldonline.com/pff-reveals-busy-coming-months-for-azkals/

Uesato bids Ceres-Negros goodbye as Muller, Mulders rejoin Busmen

BY NIDA A. BUENAFE

Japanese striker Takumi Uesato scored the goals that gave Ceres-Negros the 2-0 win against Stallion Laguna FC in their last home game at the Panaad Stadium in the Philippines Football League (PFL) at the start of the month.

Yesterday, the club confirmed that Uesato is moving on out, paving the way for the return of goalkeeper Roland Muller and Paul Mulders and the acquisition of Jerry Barbaso and Curt Dizon from Global FC and Australian striker Blake Powell.

In his social media account, Uesato thanked his Ceres family and the Negros fans for supporting him.

“Goodbye…thank you so much Ceres family. I love Ceres family..Thank you always (for the) support,” he posted in his Facebook account.

Rejoining the team is ace goalkeeper Muller whose outstanding performance last year helped Ceres-Negros capture the AFC Cup ASEAN Zone Championship and the inaugural PFL crown.

Muller took a leave from Ceres at the start of the season this year to attend to his family. Two days ago, he posted a message in his social media account announcing his return.

“Announcement: COMING BACK HOME 💛 thankful for the trust of the sportmanagment, coaches, teammates, staff. I will work hard that I will asap to be back on my strength and help the TEAM,” a posted on instagram.

Tapped to join then Ceres-La Salle in 2014, Mulders moved to Global Cebu last year and saw action for the team during the AFC Cup Group Stage and in the PFL where the Cebu team finished runner-up to Ceres.

Also moving from Global to Ceres are national campaigners Barbaso and Dizon.

he 30-year-old Barbaso used to play for Laos FC before joining Global in 2009, while Dizon, a winger/forward, played in Spain with Gimnastica Segoviana CF in 2013 before his Philippine debut with Globalin 2014.

Further boosting Ceres’ lineup is Australian striker/attacking midfielder Powell, who played in the National Premier League in New South Wales and A-League’s Central Coast Mariner.

Meanwhile, Ceres club administrator Nicolas Golez said they are still waiting for the official communication from the PFL to confirm the July 21 and July 25 games between Ceres and Global at the Panaad Stadium.

Golez said the match scheduled today against Stallion was rescheduled while the back-to-back games against Global are yet to be confirmed.

He said they are looking forward to the two matches against Global for the new players and to prepare for the AFC Cup ASEAN Final home against Home United of Singapore on Aug. 1 at the Panaad Stadium.*NAB

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/July/18/sportnews1.htm

PFL - Ceres-Negros sign 5 players

PFL Advisory - Ceres-Negros vs Stallion Laguna

PFL - Davao Aguilas 1-1 Global Cebu - Updated

Livestream

https://www.pfltv.ph/livestream/davao-aguilas-fc-global-cebu-fc/1264108














0-1 Roberts , Global Cebu
1-1 Salenga , Davao Aguilas


1-1 FT

Barbaso leaves Global

Global Cebu is set to lose another key player as veteran defender Jerry Barbaso announced his departure from the club.

"I am sad to leave you all," Barbaso said on Facebook last night.He did not detail his departure from Global Cebu.

Barbaso has been with Cebu since he began his pro career in 2009 and has never transferred to another club.

"The time that I have spent with you guys is one of the best time of my life which I am sure i will cherish throughout my life," he continued as he thanked the club.

Cebu is still reeling from the loss of Wesley Dos Santos and Patrick Deyto, who are set to formally join Davao when the transfer window officially opens on Monday.

Three days ago, JPV Marikina FC missed out on playing at its homecourt at the Marikina Sports Complex after Global begged off from playing the scheduled match.

A statement made by the league early this week said Global Cebu FC has notified Liga Futbol Inc (LFI) that they would not be able to play their scheduled match against JPV Marikina due to "circumstantial reasons that the club has provided the LFI".*PNA

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/July/14/sportnews3.htm