Dynamic Herb FC rises as Cebu’s first homegrown pro football club

CEBU, Philippines —  At last, Cebu now has a homegrown professional football club.

This after the Philippine Football League has granted Dynamic Herb Cebu FC a provisional license to take part in the 2021 PFL season set to kick off late this month at a still undetermined venue in Luzon.

A team once carried Cebu as its home base in the PFL but it marks for the first time that Cebu will be fielding in homegrown talents and Cebu-based booters under the banner of Dynamic Herb FC.

It’s truly a dream come true for the revered Cebu football patron Ugur Tasci, who is also the man behind the multi-titled Leylam FC.

“Actually, this is not new,” said Tasci, DH Cebu’s technical director, in a statement. “This has been planned for a long time. Once we came to Cebu and started Leylam FC, things went on a roll, and everything just fell into place. So there was no reason that we couldn’t be in the PFL. With Leylam FC’s success representing Cebu, this is the next level for us.”

In 2012, Tasci established Leylam FC, which made a mark as one of Cebu’s most successful clubs, reaping countless championships here and abroad at the amateur level.

Although he has been working on the organization of DH Cebu FC senior men’s team for a couple of months now, Tasci said he withheld the official announcement until he would be a hundred percent sure that the club will be able to compete in the PFL this season.

“Last Monday, we officially received our provisional license from the PFL. Although, they already gave us an approval three weeks ago, there were requirements that we needed to accomplish and I did not want to give false information unless I am 100 percent sure that we will be able to represent Cebu in the PFL,” Tasci explained.

DH Cebu will be the seventh club competing in the PFL after the Azkals Development Team, Kaya Iloilo, Maharlika Manila, Mendiola 1991, Stallion Laguna, and United City.

Tasci wanted the club to fully represent Cebu, thus, he included a picture of Oslob’s famous whale sharks in their official logo.

Also, Tasci expressed his profound gratitude to the Central Visayas Football Association (CVFA) headed by its president Engr. Rodney Orale for their all-out support to the team.

“Once they see me, the first they remember is Leylam FC,” Tasci pointed out. “ But this is not about me or the company anymore. It is time for Cebu to be represented in the national tournament, that’s why I got this name. I thank Engr. Orale, and the rest of the CVFA for this name. I worked with them closely, and I appreciate their full support in this endeavor.”

 Tasci admitted that forming the club had not been easy considering they had to adhere to all health and safety measures at this time of pandemic, but he persevered because a pro football squad is not only his dream but also of the Cebuano sports community.

“This is our own, our pride. I urge all Cebuanos to support us, follow us. This is your real Cebu team, we represent the whole of Cebu island. We want all Cebuanos beside us in this journey,” Tasci said. “We are going to bring excitement, and fun to the PFL. Manila be ready and wait for us, we are coming!”.