Ceres-La Salle eyes group berth vs Maldives

MANILA, Philippines - Ceres-La Salle FC guns for a place in the group stage of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup today when it battles Maziya Sports & Recreation of Maldives in a playoff at the National Stadium in Maldivian capital Male.

The Bacolod-based squad, a two-time PFF Smart Club titlist, looks to prove its mettle against the Maldivian FA champs as they dispute the last berth in Group E, where Bengaluru of India, Persipura Jayapura of Indonesia, and Warriors of Singapore have been seeded.

“The team has been training hard for the upcoming game,” Ceres club director Ali Go said.“We will be playing against a club that has played in the AFC Cup for three straight years...but we are ready and the team is all set to do and give our best.”

Ceres captain Juani Guirado along with fellow Azkals Patrick Reichelt, Paul Mulders and Martin Steuble are back in Maldives, site of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup where the Pinoy booters placed second to Palestine. It will be a rematch of sorts with some Maziya players, who played for Maldives in the Challenge Cup semis that the Azkals won in added extra time, 3-2.

“We’re ready. We don’t care if they have 15,000 or more crowd inside the stadium,” said Guirado, who got injured in the Azkals’ Challenge Cup campaign.