United City, Blocksport forge technological partnership

 

As it continues its path towards their return to active football in the Philippines, United City Football Club strives to remain ahead of the game.

Fresh from launching its dedicated Fan App, UCFC has established its strategic partnership with Blocksport, paving the way as it embraces the capabilities of Web3 and blockchain technology in enhancing fan engagement and unlocking future revenue streams.

United City FC and Blocksport are excited about the transformative potential of this partnership, as we work together to create a cutting-edge fan experience and position the club at the forefront of the evolving sports and technology landscape.

Established in 2019, the Swiss-based firm has been a trailblazer in the sports technology space, establishing successful partnerships with numerous clubs across Europe and Africa, with their partnership alongside UCFC being the first of its kind in the ASEAN region.

Blocksport specializes in helping build digital infrastructure to establish community hubs, using Web3 and blockchain technologies to help with fan engagement and revenue generation.

Among the potential activations that can be conducted with this partnership include: Digital Collectibles and Memberships, NFT Games, Online Ticketing, Exclusive and Premium Content.

In revealing their partnership, COO Samir Ceric says, "At Blocksport, we are committed to empowering sports clubs with innovative solutions that transcend traditional boundaries. Our collaboration with United City FC signifies a bold step towards the future of fan engagement..."

He adds, "... By combining the power of Web3 and blockchain, we aim to create a digital ecosystem that meets and exceeds the expectations of the modern fan. Together with United City FC, we are paving the way for a new era in sports technology not just in the Philippines but beyond."

On UCFC's end, club president Eric Gottschalk says, "We are excited about the endless possibilities our partnership with Blocksport brings. As we step into Web3 and blockchain, we are not just transforming the fan experience; we are revolutionizing how clubs interact with their supporters. This is a game-changer not only for United City FC but also for Philippine Football, and we are proud to lead the way in embracing the future of sports technology."

Both sides believe in the transformative potential of this partnership, with the goal of create a cutting-edge fan experience that positions the club at the forefront of the evolving sports and technology landscape.

Esti Lestari named as United City FC chairwoman

United City FC named Esti Puji Lestari as its new chairwoman, as the club seeks to return to its previous glory.

Born in Sukabumi, Indonesia, Esti is armed with the experience and expertise that the club needs as it makes its comeback to Philippine football after a short hiatus, having previous stints as Persijap Jepara president and QD Red Lions China CEO. In both positions, she played instrumental roles in driving organizational growth and success.

As the only female owner of Persijap Jepara in its long history, she led strategic initiatives to enhance the club's brand visibility, optimize revenue streams, and foster community engagement, solidifying its position as a sustainable football club in Indonesia that continues to exist. Additionally, she has been a prominent advocate for women's football, championing initiatives to support and develop women's football at all levels.

With the Red Lions, she brought her dynamic leadership and strategic acumen to oversee the club's administration and development. Her visionary approach and dedication contributed to the growth and success of QD Red Lions during her tenure

In her initial statement as the new chair, Esti states,

"Reviving United City FC is my mission. It is an honor and privilege to be a part of a club with such a great tradition and long history, and my aim is to match the outstanding achievements of the past with similar ones in the future. 

I feel I have unfinished business in football, and as an esports owner, I intend to add value to the club off the field as well as on it. 

I am grateful for this opportunity and know that the Philippines football landscape is very supportive of not only the men’s game but also the women’s with their participation in the recent World Cup. 

In the spirit of ASEAN cooperation, I would also like this to be a pathway for both men and women from Indonesia as well as Philippines to gain valuable experience and benefit from the synergy between two nations."

From the perspective of UCFC, club president Eric Gottschalk shares, "We are privileged and proud to have such an esteemed investor and seasoned football expert join our Club to catapult the development of UCFC forward. Esti has been a long-time personal friend, and I am pleased to work alongside her as I know what she will bring to the Club. Our project and mission of UCFC have never changed, even when we took a break from football in 2023, but now we are back, and with Esti’s support, we will continue the legacy of the club and raise the bar once again for the gold standard of Philippines football."

Alongside the announcement of Esti's role, UCFC also reaffirmed its commitment to the sport with five specific bullet points:

• Achieving Sporting Success: United City FC aims to compete at the highest level of Philippine football, striving for championships and representing the country internationally.
• Community Engagement: United City FC is dedicated to fostering strong connections with its fans and the local community, organizing outreach programs and initiatives to promote the growth of football at the grassroots level.
• Youth Development: United City FC recognizes the importance of nurturing young talent and providing opportunities for aspiring footballers to develop their skills within a professional environment.
• Commercial Growth: United City FC seeks to maximize commercial opportunities, leveraging Esti's expertise to enhance revenue streams, attract sponsors, and expand the club's global brand presence.
• Women's Team Establishment: United City FC is committed to promoting women's football by establishing a dedicated team, providing opportunities for female athletes to compete at the highest level, and inspiring the next generation of women footballers.

The appointment signals an exciting new era for UCFC, as it looks forward to leveraging her expertise and vision to achieve new heights of success both on and off the field.

United City Football Club set for home games at New Clark City

From L-R: Alan Robertson (UCFC captain), Juan Esteva (UCFC Director of Football), Arrey Perez (BCDA SVP), Eric Gottschalk (UCFC president), Edwin Gastanes (PFF Sec-Gen), Alvin Yalung (CLFA president), Nikko David (MTD Philippines president), Mark Hartmann (UCFC captain)

United City Football Club is set to make another historic moment later this month, as the team is set to officially host matches at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium.

As of the moment, two matches have been confirmed to be held at the facility, the first coming this October 22 against the Azkals Development Team at 4pm. The other confirmed match will be against Stallion Laguna FC on November 5. These will be the first two football matches to be played at the facility since its construction in 2019, with potentially six more home matches in the coming year.

Team announced that tickets for these matches will be made available through their website.

Having these matches reaffirms the club's commitment to represent Central Luzon and elevate the region into the football scene.

Club president Eric Gottschalk says, "To represent Central Luzon and bring football to the local community is a major step in the development of professional football in the country. Football is all about belonging, therefore our matches need to be played within the community we are representing, which is now Clark in Central Luzon."

He adds, "We are proud to have access to the best sports venue in the Philippines when we host our home matches and we look forward to building our community and have our fans attending live matches at this beautiful stadium."

Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Aileen R. Zosa shares, "World-class sports facilities, safe environment, and stunning views–New Clark City can offer all of these and more. We are excited that UCFC chose New Clark City Athletics Stadium as the venue for its matches, and we hope to bring pride to players who will be coming to play here."

Representing Zosa at the ceremony is senior vice president Arrey Perez, with Philippine Football Federation General Secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes, Central Luzon Football Association president Alvin Yalung, and MTD Philippines president Nikko David acting as witnesses.

Also present at the event are captains Alan Robertson and Mark Hartmann, who both expressed excitement about the chance to have a true home game this season.

Aside from the matches, UCFC is also slated to set up its youth academy, which targets the PFL's break during December and January for activities at New Clark City.

The New Clark City Athletics Stadium has a seating capacity of 20,000, with a World Athletics-certified track surrounding a FIFA-certified natural grass pitch. It secured nomination to the Stadium of the Year Awards in 2020, as well as getting a Highly Commended recognition last year from the World Architecture Festival in the Completed Buildings - Sport category, as well as being shortlisted in the Engineering Prize.

Continental pathways set for United City, Kaya FC

AFC Champions League East Zone

The paths of the two Filipino sides in the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup are set, with the confirmation of the draw results for both competition on Monday.

United City FC is already assured of a Group Stage berth, having been slotted into Group G with respective league champions BG Pathum United of Thailand and Melbourne City of Australia. Completing the quartet is Korean FA Cup winners Jeongnam Dragons.

Upon learning the results, Eric Gottschalk shares, "We have a very balanced but competitive group & avoiding a team from China & Japan is definitely not a bad draw. I’m personally looking forward to the match-up with Thailand as this is the competitive level what we are always measuring ourselves against."

AFC Cup ASEAN Zone

As for Kaya FC, they will have to earn their way into the Group Stage, as they will face a yet-to-be-determined Australian side on March 8. A victory will earn them a shot a week later against Chinese side Changchun Yatai, provided the CSL team secures its clearance from the AFC. Win that one, and they secure a spot in Group H alongside two-time champions Jeonbuk Hyundai, J-League side Yokohama F. Marinos, and Vientamese champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC.

A loss in either match eliminates them from AFC Champions League action, but the team is already assured of a berth in the Group Stage portion of the AFC Cup.

The ASEAN Zone pathway for Kaya puts them in Group G, alongside Bali United of Indonesia and Kedah Darul Aman FC of Malaysia. Completing the group will be either Visakha FC of Cambodia and Young Elephants FC of Laos, who will face off in April to determine that spot.

United City entering groundbreaking partnership with Gravity Sport

Eric Gottschalk with the UCFC kit

 Tack on another historic notch for the United City Football Club.

The Pampanga-based team entered into a landmark partnership with Gravity Sport, with among all things, allowing the latter to become the former's official blockchain partner.

In addition, the deal allows UCFC to build & monetize content, data security, and entertainment in a custom-built digital asset ecosystem, something that no Asian football club has done previously.

A similar commercial and technological deal is in place with Serie A side Parma.

UCFC believes that having this kind of partnership "will pave the future of football and how fans will have ownership of the club's collectibles and put a new meaning to tokenization," especially with the increased awareness of blockchain, NFTs, and metaverse in the country.

Team President Eric M. Gottschalk shares, "We are proud to have reached another milestone in our vision of how we think Club football not only in the Philippines shall evolve over time, and we would like to thank Gravity Sport for its vision to see the potential in partnering with UCFC as well as Orchid Sport & Entertainment, which helped us to complete the deal."

He adds, "We will be the first regional football club to integrate blockchain into its operations from merchandise, membership, data analysis & security. Therefore, it allows our fans to get closer to the players through our dedicated fan tokens and exclusive NFTs, which will be launched ahead of the 2022 season."

Using Gravity Sport blockchain technology and NFT marketplace, UCFC will have the opportunity to craft innovative fan-owned assets, including digital player cards, as well as interviews, match highlights, and goals. Such tradeable assets would be available to acquire through unique fan tokens. In the process, Gravity Sport also helps enable the digital economy in serving as the host and operator of that platform, connecting and establishing a new form of engagement with a new global audience and providing an opportunity for them to adopt this new endeavor.

Gottschalk also shares, "The partnership with Gravity Sport and the use of blockchain technology will allow UCFC to make another step forward in unlocking new revenue streams and to become a sustainable football business that does not rely purely on match-day revenues or sponsorship income alone."

Gravity Sport founder Stuart Gallacher shares, "Gravity Sport is tremendously proud to add United City FC to its growing portfolio of international sports properties, following our jersey partnership with Parma Calcio in August."

He adds, "The Philippines is a very interesting market for us as the country is poised to reach new economic heights in the near future while its young, tech-savvy population is naturally equipped to easily grow into the new area of "blockchain technology. And just like us, UCFC is fast evolving, has a clear, futuristic vision while displaying strong values which assures that our ambitions are closely aligned. We are excited to innovate jointly with UCFC as we believe we have an incredibly exciting global blockchain NFT marketplace which will benefit all stakeholders, players, media, and of course the strong fan audiences that UCFC already has."

Gravity Sport's deal is also extended to UCFC's eSports wing, and the public will get a full glimpse of it when the league starts its 2022 season in February/March.

United City set for regional eSports football tournament

eSports in Southeast Asia is about to get a boost with the establishment of a regional eFootball tournament, under the auspices of the Champions eFootball (CeF).

Set to take place from September 9 to October 7 of this year, it will involve eight of the best sides in the region to be played on KONAMI's eFootball PES 2021 Season Update on the Playstation 4 platform.

A combined $9,000 prize pool awaits, with matches to be shown through the league's social medal platforms.

Representing the Philippines in this competition is United City Football Club, which recently launched its eSports entity. The others are Johor Darul Ta’zim FC (Malaysia), Persib Bandung (Indonesia), Tampines Rovers FC (Singapore), Nagaworld FC (Cambodia), Ho Chi Minh City FC (Vietnam), Buriram United FC, and Chonburi FC (Thailand).

UCFC President Eric Gottschalk shares, "Esports is a fast-growing and popular sport in the Philippines and we have been thinking of how to engage ourselves with esports. This is the perfect event for us to start an esports program especially with the big names in this region. We appreciate Champions eFootball for providing this opportunity to take part in the official esports competition and hope this platform can grow and provide us with access to new fan audiences worldwide and to allows us to play against the big names in the football world since I can see the possibility."

The CeF is divided into two divisions: ELITE and STAR. The former will have professional eSports players in competitive action,  whilst the latter will involve star footballers across the region, including Philippine international Justin Baas, and will provide entertainment and light-hearted content.

In launching this competition, Champions eFootball CEO Yong-Chul Yun says, "It is no surprise that esports and competitive gaming have become a cornerstone of entertainment and we are proud to bring this platform to the sporting world. In essence, our vision for Champions eFootball is to provide a platform for some of the best football clubs in the world to compete at a high level while attracting younger audiences and esports enthusiasts from across the region."

Endorsed by the Asian Electronic Sports Federation, their presence ensures a quality experience for all participants. This is most apparent in their role as Technical Delegate for this competition. AESF General Secretary Sebastian Lau shares, "AESF is excited to work with Champions eFootball as an innovative platform that fosters synergy between two giants of the sporting world; football and esports. We are excited to see what the future holds for football clubs and fans in the region as they venture to compete for glory in esports."

Aside from this regional tourney, CeF is also looking at establishing relationships with the various local leagues with the idea of having them act as qualifiers. It also potentially could see CeF winners facing off against European counterparts in a future tournament.

Further updates about Champions eFootball can be seen on www.championsefootball.com via their Facebook and YouTube.

United City FC enters eSports scene, forms UCFC Esports with BrenPro

Jab Escutin, COO of BrenPro and Eric M. Gottschalk, CEO of UCFC during the launch of the UCFC Esports division

United City Football Club continues to make inroads into the Filipino sports scene, as they announced a new partnership Monday with BrenPro Inc. to establish the ground work for its eSports team.

Called UCFC Esports, it is the latest reflection of the club's commitment towards being one of the best in the region, whether on the football field or on the gaming realm, whilst retaining its ethos of inspiring the next generation of fans and followers.

Team co-founder and CEO Eric Gottschalk shares, "The global growth of esports has been tremendous, and we are fortunate that the Philippines' esports scene is growing rapidly, which paves a great path for us to take on this venture. We are very serious about expanding our horizons to a younger demographic, and we set out to replicate the sporting success of our football division, with our esports division to adhere to the same mission and values that the club has already established. We are further excited to bring professional gaming with us as part of our LGU partnership with Clark City and the Pampanga and Tarlac region – a sport that has seen tremendous growth, support, and interest by the local communities."

In order to achieve excellence, UCFC will enlist BrenPro Inc.'s assistance. The firm is best known for as the group behind Bren Esports, which is one of the leading eSports organizations in Southeast Asia.

Established in 2017, Bren Esports is one of the most notable eSports teams in the country, and has achieve impressive results overseas. It also has one of the biggest eSports training facilities in the region. CEO Bernard Lu Chong shares about the upcoming partnership, "Our formula for success is that we instill excellence in every step of the way, which enables us to groom and develop future esports champions. We are definitely committed and confident that we can guide and shape UCFC Esports to be a leading esports contender not just locally but globally."

Gottschalk adds, "We tapped BrenPro's esports management services as we identified them to be the right partners for us to create and develop champions which will allow us to emulate our success in football. Their values, mission, and vision for the development of the Esports community in the Philippines, in general, align very well with our ambitions as a sports organization, and we would like to thank the team of BrenPro for their support and commitment to helping us establishing a competitive esport division in such a short period of time."

UCFC Esports has pinpointed four games relevant locally that it will devote themselves to: Valorant, League of Legends: Wild Rift, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and FIFA 2021. The team has already established its Facebook page (facebook.com/ucfcesports) for fans to check out, with plans for dedicated fan membership and a jersey design contest in the horizon. 

United City secures shirt sponsorship from Allianz

Allianz PNB Life's Alexander Grenz & Gino Riola,
with the UCFC home and away kits

United City Football Club unveiled its latest partner on Tuesday, with Allianz serving as the shirt sponsor for both continental and local play.

UCFC co-founder and president Eric M. Gottschalk shares, "We are proud to announce this ground-breaking partnership with Allianz for our Club.  Not only were we able to bring such a leading global brand with a strong reputation to engage in long-term sports partnerships but also because it shows that football partnerships are possible in the Philippines – even amidst a global pandemic."

He adds, "Football has been steadily on the rise in the country, and having Allianz support our Club might be just the attention-getter for other brands to support local and regional football."

Concluding, Eric says, "I would like to personally thank Alexander Grenz, President of Allianz PNB Life and his team led by Mr. Gino Riola, Allianz PNB Life's Chief Marketing Officer, for their shared vision for football in the Philippines. We look forward to delivering a strong partnership across all of our platforms for the mutual benefits of all parties."

Allianz, represented in the country by Allianz PNB Life, is globally recognized by its football club partnerships with both Bayern Munich and Juventus, having secured the naming rights for their respective home stadiums. In addition, they set to become the Worldwide Olympic Insurance Partner following the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Locally, Allianz PNB Life has its own initiatives to help grow the sport, helping organize the National Youth Futsal Invitational in the last couple of years pre-pandemic, as well as sending outstanding young Filipino footballers to the Allianz Junior Football Camp regionally in Thailand and globally in Germany.

During the pandemic, they have conducted programs seeking to establish sustainable transport for Filipinos through cycling. Through the Allianz Ride Safe campaign, they have formed a partnership with the San Juan local government to launch the first solar-powered bike pit stop and repair station in the country this past November, whilst also donating bollards for use with the city's bike lanes.

Last month, the campaign also donated artistically designed bike racks to the City of Manila, allowing bikers to park and lock their bikes on these structures safely.

On this new partnership, Allianz PNB Life President Alexander Grenz shares, "Allianz aims to be an Insurer of Sport, and we have long-standing partnerships with football clubs and stadiums all over the world. We are very excited to extend that tradition to the Philippines by being the official shirt sponsors of United City Football Club, a team we are certain will capture the hearts and minds of fans in the country and the Asian region."

The partnership sees the Allianz brand being shown on both the home and away kits of UCFC for their upcoming AFC Champions League campaign and the Philippines Football League. The brand will also be on the replica Chronos merchandise kits set to be sold to fans.

United City plants football flag in New Clark City

Left: Arrey A. Perez (BCDA)
Right: Eric M. Gottschalk (UCFC)

United City Football Club has found a new home.

The defending Philippines Football League champions has selected New Clark City in Pampanga as its future base of operations on Monday.

UCFC President and Co-Founder Eric Gottschalk shares, "This is a historic day for all of us within the organization as we are finally able to announce New Clark City as our permanent home. This has been in the works for several months, and we would like to thank Vivencio B. Dizon, President & CEO of BCDA (Base Conversion and Development Authority), and his team for their support in bringing professional football to the Province of Pampanga and New Clark City."

Gottschalk adds, "Our move to Pampanga has a lot to do with the already existing sports mentality within the community, especially the love for football, and since the PBA has no foothold in Clark, UCFC will be the only professional sports franchise in the province."

The club already has plans in place, as Gottschalk notes, "Our community work will start right away with many plans already developed. The UCFC football academy will take shape before the end of 2021, and we continue to finalize the location for our future football stadium."

Serving as the temporary home of UCFC will be the New Clark City Stadium, the 20,000-seat athletics stadium that served as the central hub of the 30th SEA Games in 2019. Plans are set to host its first match at the venue in early August, once the AFC Champions League campaign in Uzbekistan has been completed.

In addition, the club already has identified a prime location to break ground for their future stadium, with only the necessary paperwork needed to be completed before it is made official.

To mark the move and reflect its commitment to its new community, UCFC will also embark on a name change effective after the conclusion of the 2021 PFL season, becoming United Clark Football Club in the process. The change will also be reflected on its crest, as well.

UCFC becomes the latest crown jewel for New Clark City and its ambition to become the Philippines' sports hub. Having hosted the SEA Games, it also is set to host the final qualifying window for the FIBA Asia Cup, and is also set to host a couple more major competitions later this year.

United City Football Club forms kit partnership with CHRONOS, reveals design for upcoming AFC Champions League

CHRONOS unveiled as the official kit supplier of United City Football Club (UCFC) ahead of the 2021 AFC Champions League campaign

Reigning Philippines Football League champions United City Football Club revealed this week their kits that they will use in the upcoming AFC Champions League season, where they make their Group Stage debut.

Chronos Athletics helped with the design of these kits. They are also set to serve as the team's kit supplier for this season. This is different from the fan-designed kit commissioned by the UCFC, which is set to be used for the upcoming PFL season.

UCFC co-founder Eric Gottschalk shares, "I'm very excited to announce that Chronos Athletics will be the official kit supplier of UCFC for the 2021 season.  We continue to stay true to our mission of supporting local businesses involved in football in the Philippines while not compromising on the quality required for our professional players." According to him, "We believe this historic event for Philippine football deserves a special jersey. Thank you to our new partners from Chronos Athletics to make this possible."

He adds, "We are also excited to have found a dynamic partner who shares our vision of how football can be promoted, and we are thrilled that we were able to develop a limited-edition jersey just ahead of the AFC Champions League campaign..."

Eric also says, "Chronos not only involved us in the development of the AFC Champions League design, but it also ensured that we have a complete distribution and marketing channel behind our merchandise range..."

Chronos Athletics founder Lloyd Yniguez had this to say about their new partnership, "Chronos Athletics is proud to be chosen to become the official kit supplier and merchandiser of UCFC, undoubtedly currently the most dominant Club in the Philippines. The aim is to promote the brand of UCFC and to make the merchandise products available to fans in the Philippines as well as abroad..."

The announcement is the latest development of UCFC with regards to making their merchandise available to the public, one that has integrated both marketing and logistical solutions. Gottschalk concludes, "It all goes back to make sure we are as close as possible to our fans and the community; without them, we are nothing. We need to be able to communicate to and through our fans, and having our team jerseys available for purchase is just one of the vehicles we are exploring."

Pre-orders of the new kit and other merchandise can already be conducted through the team's official website, https://www.unitedcityfootballclub.com/. Inquiries to Chronos Athletics can be coursed through their online shopping platform in Shopee, as well as through their Instagram and Facebook page (chronosathletics.ph).

Among the options potentially available for fans to purchase are customized replicas of the AFC Champions League kit, both in home yellow and away black, with "Premium," "Cheer," and "Fan" versions. Training kits are also available, and with the current pandemic ongoing, branded face masks.

The squad is already preparing for their camp in Dubai, which is slated from May 30 to June 20, with the Group I matches against Beijing FC (June 26 and July 8), Kawasaki Frontale (July 2 and 5), and either Daegu FC or Chiangrai FC (June 29 and July 11) taking place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

UCFC snaps up two new sponsors for PFL stint

The UCFC away kit

On Thursday, United City Football Club announced its latest partners for their upcoming Philippines Football League campaign, namely the Manila Regenerative Center (MARC) and Integrated Market Services Asia Philippines Inc. (IMS Asia).

Upon securing their partnerships, UCFC co-founder and CEO Eric M. Gottschalk shares, "We are proud to announce these two grounds- breaking partnerships for our Club, not only because they come at a time of massive challenges to the global economy but also because we were able to attract local brands that have never before supported Philippines football."

He adds, "Tapping into the medical category during this pandemic seems like a logical choice for football partnerships but we also believe that the Club will tremendously benefit from the medical support and services provided to the team – and especially during these times, the welfare of the players and staff is absolutely key."

Tabbed as one of the forerunners in cutting-edge technology with regards to regenerative medicine, anti-aging, and sports injuries, MARC is based inside the Centuria Medical Center in Makati. The facility especially touts its stem cell treatment capabilities.

General Manager Mario Victor A. Bataclan shares, "We are honored to be part of the fast-growing Philippine football scene and be associated with the efforts of the Philippine Football Federation in developing the sports in the country." He adds, "United City Football Club is a team rich with heritage of triumphs and victories in the Philippines and ASEAN region and we at MARC will be cheering and rally behind the team in its quest to defend their national championship title."

IMS Asia is the exclusive distributor of Midas Magnesium in the Philippines. Midas Magnesium is a set of health care products that utilizes the healing powers of magnesium to address a variety of ailments.

IMS Asia Commercial Head Nina F. Oronan announces, "Midas Magnesium is excited to render support and partnership to United City Football Club for the upcoming Philippines Football League." She adds, "Together with IMS Asia, an innovative and value driven company in the business of healthcare and consumer distribution, Midas Magnesium products and health kits consist Magnesium roll-on’s, sprays and WariActiv Vapocoolant, which are perfect for body pain relief. We hope Midas Magnesium’s products will contribute to an optimal performance of the team and pave the way for a victory for UCFC."

The two join Monte Sportswear as UCFC's partners this season, with MARC's logo emblazoned on the front of the shirt and MIDAS Magnesium's logo located on the shorts.

United City Football Club supports #BIDASolusyon

United City Football Club continues to make waves in football scene, revealing that they will support the Department of Health's #BIDASolusyon sa COVID-19 campaign.

This particular initiative by the DOH highlights four principles needed to address the pandemic: 

• Bawal walang mask
• I-Sanitize ang mga kamay
• Dumistansya ng isang metro
• Alamin ang totoong impormasyon

Club co-founder Eric Gottschalk shares, "The ongoing pandemic has affected everyone, and it is required that everyone contributes somehow towards defeating the virus.  We at United City Football Club (UCFC), including our staff and our players, have committed to support the BIDA Solusyon sa COVID-19 campaign of the Department of Health (DOH) by implementing the 4 BIDA principles into our daily routines."

He adds, "It is our responsibility as a football club to contribute to society, and we thank the DOH for allowing us to become the first professional sports team in the Philippines to join hands and to support BIDA. This is such an important initiative, and we as a Club will do everything we can to support the cause, and we hope that this will encourage many more sports teams and athletes to support their campaign."

As part of this partnership, UCFC will integrate the #BIDASolusyon branding onto their social media content, with the players integrating it on their own social media. They will also practice what they preach, once they commence their resumption of training at the Philippine Football Federation's National Training Center in Carmona for both the AFC Cup and the Philippines Football League, following protocols as agreed upon in the Joint Administrative Order issued by the Games and Amusements Board, the Department of Health, and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III says, "The Department of Health extends our thanks to all our partners who help us ensure that our message: ‘Everyone could BIDA Solusyon’ is communicated to all, regardless of age, status or interest.  We hope to partner with more organizations like United City FC in providing the public with the right information they need to stay safe and protected against COVID-19."

For more information on the #BIDASolusyon, please visit facebook.com/BIDASolusyon.

United City Football Club releases new kits

Monte’ Athletics will be the official kit supplier of United City Football Club (UCFC)

Tuesday marks another moment in the developing history of United City Football Club, as they unveiled their kits for the upcoming Philippines Football League season and the upcoming resumption of the AFC Cup, where they take the place of their predecessor Ceres-Negros FC.

The kit is in partnership with Monte Athletics, who will also take on the added responsibility of offering club merchandise, including replica jerseys and branded face masks.

On announcing the partnership, UCFC co-founder Eric Gottschalk shares, "I’m very happy to announce that Monte’ Athletics will be the official kit supplier of UCFC for the 2020 season.  We chose them as we want to stay true to our mission of supporting football in the Philippines; and this should also include its stakeholders, the local community.  We were right away convinced of the premium quality of the high-performance range of the Monte’ products, so it was an easy decision to partner with them for our inaugural season."

Fans can start purchasing the official UCFC replica kits at the Monte Athletics online store on Lazada starting September 1, with the club making future announcements for additional retail and online partners.

United City Football picks Trevor Morgan as head coach

 

Trevor Morgan (Photo from Bhutan Football Twitter) 

The United City Football Club on Friday continued its build-up as a competitive side, naming Trevor Morgan as its inaugural head coach.

In making the announcement, co-founder Eric Gottschalk shares, "His exposure to various leagues: From the English Football League, the English Premiere League, the Indian Super League, Singapore S-League, Western Australian State League, Malaysia Super Liga, to name a few, has prepared him very well for his new role as the Head Coach of United City Football Club (UCFC), which suits very well the ambition that this club has.  We are excited and proud to have him on board, especially since the season is about to start. Trevor will bring the necessary experience onto the pitch to immediately get the team as best as possible competition ready, which considering the long COVID break is a key task in itself.  We have high ambitions for the local league and the AFC Cup and we believe, Trevor is the right coach especially since he is no stranger to Asian football."

Morgan will be coming in from a stint with the Bhutan national men's football team, and is rich in experience facing off against regional opposition, having had stints in places like Singapore and India.

A former footballer, he made over four hundred appearances for a variety of clubs in the English football pyramid, scoring over two hundred goals from 1980-94. In between, he also played in Australia, Ireland, and Hong Kong.

Afterwards, he then moved towards coaching and management, helping Sorrento Soccer Club achieve initial success in Western Australia to end the 20th century. Moving to Singapore, he then led Sengkang Punggol FC (now called Hougang United) to a runner-up finish in the Singtel League Cup in 2007.

A stint as an assistant in Hull City FC followed, becoming the first Australian coach in the English Premier League.

He is best known this decade for his stint as the manager of East Bengal, having won a total of eight trophies across three seasons in the Indian Super League, as well as taking them to the quarterfinals of the AFC Cup in 2013.

Morgan says about his appointment to UCFC, "I cannot wait to get onto the training field with the players and look forward to working with a group of high-quality players and staff. I have been given a wonderful opportunity to help take an already very successful team to the next level, and I will give everything I have to help improve our team and to further establish Philippine Football as a force to be reckoned within Asia."

Pinthus completes UCFC player signings

Anthony Pinthus

 The signing spree is over.

With the impending conclusion of the FIFA transfer window, United City Football Club have secured a loan deal from the Azkals Development Team (ADT) for Anthony Pinthus.

Serving as part of the Philippine men's football team at the Southeast Asian Games, the 22-year-old goalkeeper also had a stint with a few teams in Switzerland before making his way here.

UCFC co-founder Eric Gottschalk shares, "True to our mission of developing young players, we have signed Antony Pinthus, on loan from ADT.  This was also agreed on by both clubs and supported by Philippines National Head Coach Scott Cooper, to expose Pinthus to the AFC Cup competition."

He adds, "He is the most promising goalkeeper of the Philippines after Neil and Roland and we are happy that he decided to join us for this season, as we believe that UCFC is the right platform to expose him to top Asian football, while learning from our veterans such as Stephan Schroeck and Bienve Maranon.

Pinthus completes a stretch of signings highlighting UCFC's commitment towards youth, which included three signings with UAAP connections: former UAAP Men's Football champions Jordan Jarvis and Miggy Clarino, as well as current UAAP HS Boys Football Most Valuable Player and fellow SEA Games participant Pocholo Bugas. It also comes with the recent development of former Ceres-Negros FC head coach Risto Vidakovic opting to pass on taking a similar role with UCFC.

With Vidakovic declining the post, Gottschalk says, "we have prepared a shortlist of a number of highly qualified individuals and we will make an announcement in due time."

Completing the signings for UCFC are: OJ Porteria, Sean Kane, Ron Bayan, Jun Badelic, Angelo Marasigan, Robert Lopez Mendy, Arnie Pasinabo, Tristan Robles, Dennis Villanueva, Joshua Dutosme, Takashi Odawara, Hikaru Minegeshi, Mike and Manny Ott, and Jorrel Aristorenas.

UCFC signs Ott siblings

United City Football Club secured a couple more players as they continue their efforts to field a competitive side once football resumes.

Having taken over Ceres-Negros FC of the Philippines Football League a month ago, they completed the acquisition of two more former Busmen late Thursday in the Ott brothers, Manny and Mike.

Co-founder Eric Gottschalk had this to say about the signings, "We are happy to announce that two (2) more former players have signed on to play for United City Football Club (UCFC) this season.  Both, Manny and Mike, bring a tremendous amount of experience on the club and international level to the team and this will be instrumental in our pursuit to defend the PFL title and to progress from the AFC Cup Group stages in September in Vietnam." He adds that the team are still looking to add a few more names before the start of the upcoming season.

The siblings and Philippines internationals rejoin their former teammates in Ceres-Negros, led by national team captain Stephan Schroeck.

United City Football Club reveals new crest

United City Football Club crest, as designed by Grit Sports' Gerard Andaya

United City Football on Wednesday revealed their team crest, as it continued to share its progress after its recent takeover of Ceres-Negros FC.

The announcement was made during the SPIA-Asia webinar featuring co-founder Eric Gottschalk, where he also discussed the continued development of the new club to viewers.

Designed by Gerard Andaya of Grit Sports, the final design of the crest was the result of a logo design contest, enabling fans to be part of the growth of the club. It was one of five finalists, picked from over three hundred entries worldwide, with almost a third of them being Philippine entries. Andaya's design received 58 percent of the votes, according to Gottschalk, who adds, "This is only the beginning of many fan activations, as we intend to be a club focused and dedicated to our fans.  We also intend to have a million followers on social media by year end, and to have a membership program with 5,000 registered members by year end as well."

Entries were required to provide an accompanying description of the crest, with Andaya sharing his as follows: "A circular crest not too different from its original identity to acknowledge the roots of the club.  With two (2) stars which pay tribute to the origins of the "Ceres–LaSalle" & "Ceres–Negros" heritage." As for the center of the logo, he describes it as a "Geometric patterned football to represent that football is at the center of the club’s existence, while the symmetry of the ball stands for “Unity & Stability."" As for the solid outer circle, it "Symbolizes the solid fans, being the club’s foundation that holds everything together."

For his efforts, Andaya is rewarded PhP 10,000 and a customized jersey.

Ten additional fans also received customized jerseys as well: Cicile Casmiro, Aero Estrellado, Mark Galang, Kim Angara, Frederick Ajose, Joseph Ubas, Rene Divina, Hannah Vergara, Novy Salas, Loue Salvado.