Ceres-Negros ready vs Azkals tonight

By Jerome S. Galunan Jr.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

CERES-Negros U23 team head coach Norman Fegidero on Sunday said that his team is ready when they face the combined Philippine Men's Football Team and U23 squad tonight for the friendly match at 6 p.m. at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City.


Fegidero stressed that they will give the national team a good match up before the thousands of spectators who are expected to flock to the 25,000-seater football stadium.


On his part, Ricky Yanson, one of the Ceres-Negros team managers, said that this game is expected to be played tough. "We ask our fellow Negrenses to watch and support our team. This is our pride," Yanson said.


He added that this match will not only entertain Negrenses but will help football in the province.


Ceres-Negros team, the PFF-Suzuki U23 National Cup champion, will most likely bank its offense on its twin strikers Aldrin Dolino and Fil-Am Joshua Beloya. Dolino was PFF-Suzuki U23 National Cup ‘most valuable player’ while Beloya was named as ‘best striker’.


Also, the local squad will have on its defensive side PFF-Suzuki U23 National Cup ‘best defender’ Carmelo Tacusalme and ‘best goalkeeper’ Robert Mendoza.


Among other Ceres-Negros U23 team mainstays to see action tonight are Jason Cordova, Jose Emmanuel Diel, J Baguioro, Joven Bedic, Carlo Tacusalme and Gino Palomo.


Meanwhile, the combined Philippine Men's Football Team and U23 squad will banner the men’s team standouts Ian Araneta, Roel Gener, Nestorio Margarse, Lexton Moy, Yannick Tuason, Fil-Iranian Misagh Bahadoran, Fil-Am Nathaniel Burkey, and reserve keepers Eduardo Sacapano, Paolo Pascual and Christopher Camcam.


On the other hand, the U23 squad include Fil-British siblings Mark Andrew and Matthew James Hartmann, Fil-Italian twin Marwin Janver and Marvin Janwer Angeles, Fil-Belgians Angelo Marasigan Verheye, Johan Van Bosche and Jeffrey Christiaens, Fil-Spanish Carlie Olai-Var De Murga, Davis Mark Basa, Jerry Barbas, Mark Chester Braga, Romeo Martinez Jr., Reymark Fernandez, Deo Segunial, Stephen Ralph Permanes, Neckson Leonora, Gerardo Valmayor III, Lemuel Unabia and David Franz Fornea.


Missing the match are Fil-British siblings James and Phil Younghusband, who flew back to Manila early Sunday after their mother passed away.


In last Sunday’s friendly, the nationals won over PFF-Smart Club Championships champion Global-Teknika, 3-1.


U23 aspirant Fil-British Mark Hartmann carried the scoring load for the nationals after scoring all three goals in the first half before Global’s Carlos Tressor Guisso, a native of Ivory Coast, scored his team’s lone goal.


This tune-up match will be the Azkals’ last in their weeklong training camp scheduled September 8-15.


Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on September 13, 2011.