UFL: Ceniza can still coach Queen City in Div. 2

By Cheska D. Geli

Friday, February 3, 2012

UNTIL there’s a notice from the Philippine Football Federation, Paref Springdale head coach Mario Ceniza will still take charge of the Queen City United FC in the United Football League Second Division tournament.

Ceniza and his team Paref Springdale received a three-year ban from the Cebu Football
Association (CFA) last Wednesday for withdrawing its five teams from the Aboitiz Cup.


According to the CFA, the ban covers all CFA and PFF organized tournaments, courses and football-related activities.

“I haven’t received any notice from UFL and I am also not familiar with its rules on suspensions. I’m not also sure if there’s any precedence for this,” said Ceniza.

According to a source who doesn’t want to be mentioned, the UFL is sanctioned by the PFF since the latter provides the referees under the PFF Referee Exchange and Development Program.

But the UFL technical and executive committee has not been informed of any ban and there is still no letter from the PFF informing them of any suspension.

“As far as UFL is concerned, even if Mario Ceniza is banned by the CFA, he can still coach QCUFC in the UFL until such time that the PFF itself officially upholds that ban for all its sanctioned events,” the source said.

QCU will be in a tough match against crowd favorite Laos FC this Sunday at the University of Makati for its third game in the second division.

The team is hoping the return of starters Lehmar Baunsit and Ryan Lerio will finally get them their first win.

“It will certainly make a difference and our boys will be prepared,” said Ceniza.

Ceniza said that the issue of Springdale’s and his suspension has not affected the team’s preparations because it doesn’t concern his players in the club.

Ceniza and the Paref Springdale team had already elevated the matter to the PFF where they expressed their appeal regarding the sanction attached to them by CFA.

“It’s no ordinary forfeiture and withdrawal because there are circumstances behind it,” said Ceniza.

After two rounds, Cebu Queen City is ninth of the 12-team Division 2 with one point, while Laos is fourth. After Sunday’s games, Queen City still has 19 games left in the season.


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on February 04, 2012.