THE toughest test yet for the Philippines’ Ceres Negros Football Club (FC) when it challenges erstwhile Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) of Malaysia, Wednesday night, May 17, in the AFC Cup Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Zonal semi-finals Leg 1 at the Tan Sri Dato Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium in Johor Bahru.
An experienced Malaysian side and a projected 10,000 plus fans will test the Busmen who have gone to where no other team from Bacolod has reached so far in the AFC.
JDT Southern Tigers’ defense is expected to focus on Ceres FC striker Bienvenido Marañon, one of the tournament’s leading scorers.
Ceres FC midfielders Iain Ramsay, Manny Ott, OJ Porteria, Kevin Ingreso and Luke Woodland need to be more aggressive in stepping the gas for more offensive options.
“Ceres FC must be physically, mentally, and tactically ready since JDT is a very strong side,” club director Ali Go reiterated. “And, as professional football players we have to embrace this moment playing with a bigger crowd.”
Ceres FC defenders should also put their eyes on JDT’s scorers led by Argentinian Gabriel Guerra, who shares with Marañon as tournament’s top scorers.
Since 2012, this is Ceres FC’s highest attainment in international tournament and it is looking forward to advance their dream to be among Asia’s best.
Negros Occidental Football Association president Ricky Yanson continuously appealed to Negrenses to pray and support the Ceres Negros FC as they represent not only the province of Negros Occidental, but also the Philippines.
Playing in the other Asean Zonal semis is Global Cebu FC, hosting Singapore’s Home United FC at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila. (HGD)
