THE Panaad stadium was full packed. The crowd was noisy. The pitch was immaculately green. The result was terrific. Everything was just ideal for a club football.
I wish I was there in my birth province of Negros Occidental, when Ceres-Negros Football Club (FC) crushed Hanaoi FC 6-2 in the elimination round of the AFC Cup football tournament.
The Busmen were just terrific against the Vietnamese side as they topped the table with eight points in their impressive victory at their home pitch at the Panaad stadium in Bacolod city.
But what is more impressive is how organize Ceres-Negros FC is as a professional football club. They are the envy of the other Philippine clubs as the Philippine Football League was launched Friday at the Shangri La Hotel in Makati city.
Just observe Panaad. The fans came in droves with their Ceres jerseys. They also came with drums and flags. What an atmosphere. That is how should be done inside the stadium.
Of course it helps when the owners own the country’s biggest bus company, the Villacar Transit.
They can hire the best players, best coaches and management team.
There is actually no secret of success in club football.
Club owners will just have the passion, deep pockets and know how on business management.
The Ceres-Negros FC owners, the Yanson brothers have all these. They deserve success.
The people of Negros are also sports crazy. I grew up in Victorias Milling Company (VMC) in Victorias City some 44.9 kilometers away from Bacolod.
The onetime biggest sugar refinery in Asia, VMC had a vibrant sports community. All sports were played and we had enough playgrounds to play the sports we liked.
The love for the sports is just natural for all Negrenses and it is not focused only in Victorias or Bacolod. The entire island of Negros love sports. It used to be basketball during the time of the Negros Slashers in the now defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association. Now with the Ceres-Negros FC making the name in not only in the country but also in Asia today, the people of Negros are behind the Busmen.
(l.biantan@gmail.com)