Global FC, Ceres vie in AFC Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Global FC and Ceres-La Salle FC get their baptism of fire in Asian-level club competition when they vie in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup starting next week.

Ceres plays Maldives FA champ Maziya Sports and Recreation in a playoff on Tuesday at the National Stadium in Male to dispute a spot to the tournament proper in Group E along with direct entrants Bengaluru of India, Persipura Jayapura of Indonesia, and Warriors of Singapore.

Unlike Ceres, reigning UFL champ Global FC has been seeded into the group stage. The Global booters will compete in Group G and will make their debut at home on Feb. 25 at Rizal Memorial.

“Two of our clubs have been allowed to compete in the AFC Cup and we support them because it’s very important in the development of Philippine football that local clubs are also progressing,” Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta said in “The Football Connection” program on DZSR.

Should Ceres make it through, Araneta said it would hold their home games in Bacolod.

As for Global, the team is also eyeing home matches at the new Philippine Stadium.

The team had initially listed Rizal as its home venue but asked the AFC to hold it at the 25,000-seater venue in Bocaue, Bulacan. The AFC didn’t agree, at least for the Feb. 25 home fixture against South China of Hong Kong.

 “We received an advice from the AFC saying they could no longer transfer the first home game because of sponsorship matters, etc. and that they needed at least a one-month notice in changing the venue. So it’s gonna be at Rizal first and then the second game of Global will be at the Philippine Stadium,” said Araneta.

Global’s Philippine Stadium debut will be on April 15, when it hosts Yadanarbon of Myanmar. The team will have a third match at home on May 13 versus Pahang FC.