Saturday, May 4, 2013
SCOTTISH head coach Brian Reid of Global FC relies on home crowd
support to back the team in its maiden appearance in the Asian Football
Confederation
President’s Cup on May 8, 10 and 12 at the Cebu City Sports Center.
support to back the team in its maiden appearance in the Asian Football
Confederation
President’s Cup on May 8, 10 and 12 at the Cebu City Sports Center.
The coach and his team arrived in Cebu last Friday and were treated to a
welcome dinner by the Cebu Football Association.
welcome dinner by the Cebu Football Association.
“The bigger the crowd, the more it will inspire the players. I hope that’s the
case here,” said Reid, a former professional player himself.
case here,” said Reid, a former professional player himself.
The coach said they want a few days before the game to get used to the
pitch and get afeel of the natural grass.
pitch and get afeel of the natural grass.
Global is used to playing on artificial turf in the United Football League
in Manila.
in Manila.
Although this is already Reid’s second visit in Cebu,
he still hasn’t seen the field at
the Sports Center because his previous visit was for a
Holy Week vacation.
he still hasn’t seen the field at
the Sports Center because his previous visit was for a
Holy Week vacation.
“I was elated when I learned that Cebu will be hosting the President’s Cup.
I heard that people in Cebu are very enthusiastic about football. It would help
that a good number of people will support the team,” said Reid.
I heard that people in Cebu are very enthusiastic about football. It would help
that a good number of people will support the team,” said Reid.
But the head coach admitted that he is challenged by the AFC regulation
of allowingonly two foreign players in the lineup.
of allowingonly two foreign players in the lineup.
“It’s a tough decision for the coach to choose the players but at the end of
the day, my job is to put up the best team,” he said.
the day, my job is to put up the best team,” he said.
He said the two foreign players will be midfielder Ben Starosta from England
and Ivory Coast keeper Moussa Sagono.
and Ivory Coast keeper Moussa Sagono.
The squad was supposed to play a friendly match against Cebu Queen City
United but he called off the match, saying the squad has limited players and he
can’t risk injuries.
United but he called off the match, saying the squad has limited players and he
can’t risk injuries.
The biggest test is we have a number of foreign players and we have to
change that. Change is always a gamble and it’s never ideal but we have to make
do with what we can,
rise to the occasion and perform well,” said Reid.
change that. Change is always a gamble and it’s never ideal but we have to make
do with what we can,
rise to the occasion and perform well,” said Reid.
Global FC will take on defending champion Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi FC,
which has 17 national team players including the manager and the coach,
Yeedezin FC of Bhutan and KRL C of Pakistan.
which has 17 national team players including the manager and the coach,
Yeedezin FC of Bhutan and KRL C of Pakistan.
“We just have to believe in ourselves and use our home advantage.
We need to get organized and disciplined,” said Reid.
We need to get organized and disciplined,” said Reid.
Global FC has tapped Filipino international Juani Guirado to shore up its
defense in the tournament, which starts Wednesday at the spruced up Cebu City
Sports Center.
defense in the tournament, which starts Wednesday at the spruced up Cebu City
Sports Center.
It will mark the first time that a Philippine club is competing in the tournament
or teams from “emerging football nations in Asia” and Global hopes to make the
most out of the
chance with a creditable performance.
or teams from “emerging football nations in Asia” and Global hopes to make the
most out of the
chance with a creditable performance.
“Our President’s Cup campaign isn’t just about Global,” said Global owner
Dan Palami. “It’s also a milestone for all football clubs in the Philippines –
a door that opens Asia
to Filipino clubs.”
Dan Palami. “It’s also a milestone for all football clubs in the Philippines –
a door that opens Asia
to Filipino clubs.”
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 05, 2013.
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