Smart Club C’ships-Visayas reset

By Jerome Galunan Jr.
The prestigious title in the Philippine Football Federation-organized Smart Club Championship-Visayas Regional Elimination originally scheduled November 21-25 still hangs after all as the tournament has been reset to kick off November 23-25 in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
In a PFF communication furnished the Watchmen Daily Journal (WDJ), the Visayas cluster has left clubs from host Negros Occidental Football Association (NOFA) and FAs from Cebu and Leyte after the Iloilo FA and Negros Oriental FA had withdrawn its participation in the tournament.
According to a source, these FAs withdrew because most of their players are already playing with Manila-based clubs.
Meanwhile, the Ceres-La Salle squad, bannered by varsity players mostly from the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City and several selected players, will be representing NOFA, although the official line-up has not yet been released.
The team is currently holding rigid training at the Ayala North pitch in preparation for the tournament, said assistant coach Ramon Janeo.
According to Janeo, Ceres-La Salle’s intention to take another step into competitive football came after years of successful stints in local football tournaments.
The event will also serve as a qualifying process of teams which have plans to join the country’s premier football league – the United Football League, Janeo said.
“If we qualify in Top 2 of the Visayas Eliminations, then we will advance to the next stage which is the Round of 16,” Janeo added.
Janeo further said if Ceres-La Salle FC plays good game in the tournament, the squad will earn a slot in UFL’s Division 2.
Ceres-La Salle will be managed by the Yanson siblings, Ricky and Leo Rey.
On the other hand, the tentative date for the Round of Round of 16 will be on January 13, 2013 with the venue yet to be determined, while the quarterfinals is scheduled January 19-20 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.
The semi-finals will take place on January 26, 2013 in the same venue with the finals on February 2, still at Rizal pitch.
A “no permit, no play” policy will be strictly implemented. A team is also allowed to register foreign players in a team roster, the letter said./WDJ

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