Vikings FC acquires Maharlika FC

c/o Vikings FC

Vikings FC shared their English language release of their decision to take over PFL side Maharlika FC. Details can be read below.

Taiwanese football club Vikings FC (VFC) has officially completed the acquisition of 100% ownership of Philippine club Maharlika FC, marking a new era for the team as it looks to elevate its performance in the Philippines Football League (PFL) where it currently sits at 9th place as the first round ends.

Under the terms of the acquisition, Vikings FC will take full control of Maharlika FC's operations, ensuring financial stability and strategic development as the club moves forward. Maharlika will be retaining its players on contract, while welcoming a significant number of players from VFC on loan.

Strengthening the Squad with VFC Players

To reinforce Maharlika FC’s roster for the remainder of the season, Vikings FC will loan several key players to the club, bringing experience and skill to enhance Maharlika’s competitiveness in the PFL, whilst providing the Taiwan players valuable game experience. The loaned players will integrate into the squad immediately, with the goal of boosting the club’s performance and securing positive results in the league.

Speaking on the acquisition, Chen,Huang-Teng, Vikings FC's team leader, stated: 

"We are excited to embark on this new journey with Maharlika FC and to contribute to the growth of football in the Philippines and Taiwan. Our immediate focus is to strengthen the squad through the loan of our talented players and to work closely with the team to achieve their goals for the remainder of the season. We believe this partnership will bring mutual benefits and elevate the level of football in both Taiwan and the Philippines."

Maharlika FC’s former owner, Anton del Rosario, also expressed his optimism for the club’s future:

"We are thrilled to see Maharlika FC take this next step under the leadership of Vikings FC. This transition ensures the club's continued growth and stability, and we are confident that the support from Vikings FC will help the team reach new heights in the PFL."

A New Vision for Maharlika FC

With Vikings FC at the helm, Maharlika FC will undergo strategic enhancements aimed at improving player development, operational efficiency, and fan engagement. The club will continue to play its home matches in the PFL while adopting best practices from VFC’s successful football model in Taiwan.

They have appointed as Head Coach Jung Donggyu, former Korea Youth National Team player and AFC “A” license holder. As a collegiate player Coach Donggyu won multiple championships with the Far Eastern University and most recently served as an assistant coach at Stallion Laguna FC.

The Vikings FC management is committed to upholding the values and heritage of Maharlika FC while introducing modern techniques and resources to advance the club’s competitiveness both domestically and regionally.

Fans can expect exciting updates as Vikings FC works towards revitalizing Maharlika FC’s brand and performance on the pitch. For viewers in Taiwan, they can watch Maharlika FC’s matches live on matchday.ph.

Philippines Football League set for 2024/2025 kickoff

c/o Matchday Media / Philippines Football League

MATCH SATURDAY

7:00 PM – Maharlika Taguig FC vs. Stallion Laguna FC

MATCHES SUNDAY

4:00 PM – Mendiola FC 1991 vs. Dynamic Herb Cebu FC

7:00 PM – Manila Digger FC vs. One Taguig FC

After months of anticipation, the Philippines Football League season 2024-2025 begins this weekend of 28 and 29 September 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Spots for the AFC Champions League Two and the ASEAN Club Championship, currently called the Shopee Cup, are on the line for this season, which will determine its champions through a double round robin and a Finals Series featuring the top four teams.

Defending champions Kaya FC-Iloilo seek to retain their title against nine other squads, two of which will be jumpstarting the season at 7pm Saturday night.

Maharlika FC finished in ninth place last season, and is set to reshuffle its deck with the departure of the likes of Lucas Del Rosario. MJ Libre is set to lead Anton del Rosario's community club alongside Jorrel Aristorenas and Marvin Angeles.

They will go up against Stallion Laguna, who wants another crack at the title and continental play after falling short of it last time out with a third-place finish. The Ernie Nierras-coached side always reloads, snapping up Kenshiro Daniels alongside a side that saw the emergence of Finn McDaniel.

On Sunday, the first game of the scheduled doubleheader features Hamed Hajimahdi and Mendiola FC against league runners-up Cebu FC. The Gentle Giants hope to do one better this time, with the likes of Zamoranho Ho-a-tham, Rintaro Hama, as well as recent national team callup JB Borlongan seeking to spark the offense.

Capping the action for the weekend is the matchup between Manila Digger and One Taguig. Both teams took advantage of the offseason to make major build-ups to their squads, with Giap Bongolan joining  the former fresh from helping the University of the Philippines reclaim the UAAP championship, while also relying on the steady presence of Jim Ashley Flores and Eric Giganto.

The latter, on the other hand, made headlines by securing the transfers of the likes of Daisuke Sato, Carlie de Murga, Oliver Bias, and Simen Lyngbo, among others, as they hope to break the stranglehold Kaya FC has in the league.

Tickets to these three matchups are available both at the venue and via TicketMax. It will also be streamed through the PFL's social media platforms with broadcast through the Premier Football channel on cable or via Blast TV.

Philippine Air Force stuns Tuloy FC to secure first win

c/o Romeo Martinez

The elusive first victory in their return to top-flight club football finally arrived for Philippine Air Force FC.

Needing four matches, it finally happened on Sunday night, as they emerged as 2-1 winners against Tuloy FC.

Ronald Macasinag opened scoring in the 21st minute for the Airmen, with a composed finish into the bottom right hand corner past Tuloy keeper Archie Pabelliar.

Jed Delariarte doubled the lead for Air Force twenty minutes later, converting one from close range.

The second half saw Tuloy produce plenty of scoring opportunities, but Zaldy Abraham proved ready to prevent those shots from moving past his line. One of those was the UST alumnus parrying a Syrn Saut free kick with twenty minutes remaining in the match.

Tuloy would finally pull one back in the 87th minute thanks to John Lloyd Jalique, but they were unable to find the equalizer in time.

Erwin Oro shared post-match, "Ang pinagpa-praktisan namin, lumabas, nagamit namin ang mga tactics namin." He also praised the leadership of captain Glenn Bulaquina, noting that "Pinatapang niya ang team."

Air Force seeks to capitalize on this momentum in their upcoming matchup this weekend against Maharlika on May 5 before flying out to Iloilo to face Kaya FC on May 8.

Air Force seeks first win in PFL against Tuloy

c/o Matchday Media

With nary a win so far in the Philippines Football League, Air Force seeks to claim it on Sunday night at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, hopeful that their matchup against Tuloy FC would bear that fruit.

Kick-off has been moved to 9:00 pm as a result of the earlier matches scheduled that day moved later due to the prevailing heat conditions in the country.

Although suffering two tough defeats to Mendiola FC 1991 and One Taguig FC, the Airmen did manage to make things difficult against a fellow league returnee in United City FC.

Jan Delariarte's header from twelve yards out allowed PAF to score their first goal of the campaign, a bright spot in their 4-1 defeat.

Serving as Air Force's foil in this Sunday's quest for an inaugural victory is a Tuloy side that has a built an impressive following with their style of play. Anchoring their offense are the duo of John Jalique and Harry Nunez, with the latter having been called up for national team duty.

Tickets for the match cost just PhP 150, whilst bleacher area seating is free of charge. Matches are streamed online, as well as on Premier Football.

Air Force seeks PFL redemption against One Taguig

c/o Pat Reyes

Air Force seeks to bounce back when it takes on One Taguig FC when the Philippines Football League resumes action this weekend.

The Airmen take on OTFC to kick off Saturday action at 3pm, fresh from a 7-0 battering by Mendiola, whilst Taguig is coming off a 4-1 victory over newcomers Manila Montet FC on Sunday night.

Even with the lopsided defeat, the squad remains in good spirits. They managed to have chances to break through against Mendiola, although they were unable to convert.

Stephen Obero and Karl Bronda both threatened the Mendiola goal in the first half. A few minutes before half time, Jed Delariarte nearly scored off a free kick only to see the ball hit the crossbar.

In the second half, Jan Estampador sent a shot inches over the bar, and Jan Delariarte, Jed’s brother, also had shots on goal as did substitute Jomar Lestingio, who forced a save from the Mendiola goalkeeper.

The outcome could have been worse, but keeper Zaldy Abraham managed a few class saves, including a leaping parry to deny Mendiola striker Seyedsajad Mohebizadeh.

Erwin Oro, who shares coaching responsibilities with Joebel Bermejo, shares, "Mataas pa rin ang morale ng mga bata. We are working hard sa training to make adjustments sa next game against Taguig."

Air Force will be tangling against a One Taguig side that is newcomer "in name" only. A lineup that features a few familiar names in Kevin Ingreso, Stephan Schroeck, Arnel Amita, Jordan Jarvis, Yrick Gallantes, and Quincy Kammeraad, among others, they defeated their fellow newcomers on Sunday night, although it took them a while to break through.

The match is set for streaming both on the league website, as well as through its Youtube channel. Tickets available via TicketMax or at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, with the Grandstand costing PhP 150.

You can check out more updates from the team through its Facebook page.

Air Force set for return to competitive club football

c/o PAF

When the Philippines Football League opens its campaign on Saturday, one of the games scheduled will feature the comeback of a historic club onto the competitive scene.

At 530pm, Philippine Air Force FC kicks off against Mendiola FC 1991 at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

A purely homegrown unit devoid of foreigners, the Airmen will rely on a combination of experienced veterans and up-and-coming youngsters, coached by Joebel Bermejo.

Serving as the team captain is Barotac Nuevo native Antonio Albor, alongside fellow veterans Romeo Martinez, Glenn Bulaquina, Rodolfo Bebanco, Jake Hugo, Jomar Lestingio, and Geve Roy Cadiz.

Adding fresh blood to the side are a few alumni of the University of Santo Tomas in Zaldy Abraham, Darwin Busmion, and Karl Bronda.

Most of the team are enlisted personnel, but they have added a few civilians with the vision that they would eventually join the Air Force. Among them are the Delariarte brothers: Jed who plays up front, and Jan, who plies his trade in the midfield. Jev Estampador provides an imposing presence, while youth is served with the likes of Kernelle John Velasco, Kent Guevarra, Eric Mauring, and Patrick Salenga.

Bermejo believes that Air Force has something to prove in this upcoming competition.

The former Philippine international shares, "Bilang isa sa mga all-Filipino teams sa liga, malaking bagay para sa amin na maipamalas ang kakayahan namin at mapatunayan ang kalidad ng mga player na nagmula sa grassroots."

He adds, "Ito kasi ang isa sa mga paraan para masukat ang galing ng Pinoy sa larangan ng football, at ipakita namin na kaya natin makipagsabayan sa mundo."

To prepare for their return, the squad claimed the Jerry Treñas Dinagyang Cup back in January, and also finished runners-up in a tournament featuring the Armed Forces sides and other government agencies back in October.

After playing Mendiola, Air Force is slated to face these teams for the rest of the month at Rizal Memorial: One Taguig FC (13), United City (21), and Tuloy FC (28).

Plans are in place for the team to travel to Iloilo next month for a true road matchup against Kaya FC-Iloilo.

Helping boost the team is major sponsor Elan Vita Diagnostic Solutions of Engr. Keith Buyco, while also being fully supported by Philippine Air Force Commanding General Lieutenant General Stephen P. Parreño.

Acting as team manager is Brigadier General Dennis Estrella and assisted by Colonel Erwin G. Solomon, with Lieutenant Colonel Neil P. Dela Cruz serving as the officer-in-charge.

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.

Esteban named as Maharlika Manila FC’s new head coach

Maharlika Manila FC

Maharlika Manila FC is set to change things up in their current Philippines Football League campaign, making a change in their head coaching responsibilities.

Arman "Biboy" Esteban has been named as the new gaffer for the team, replacing Derick Keongil Kim after seven straight defeats to start off the current campaign.

Esteban played for the University of Santo Tomas, also serving as an assistant to current Tiger Booters mentor Marjo Allado. He also helmed Mapua's football program in the NCAA.

Lauren Bidias has also been tapped to serve as Esteban's assistant.

Aside from Esteban, Maharlika also revealed that they have snapped up three players that they believe they can help get the team going in defenders Lawrence Baguio and Alimar Job Ambong, as well as midfielder Jappeth Piñero.

All three players have Visayan roots and collegiate football experience in Manila.

Baguio is from Cebu and played for the College of Saint Benilde, with Ambong (Dumaguete) and Piñero (Bacolod) are Negrenses who were teammates at National University.

All three have national team experience, with the latter two also represented the Philippines in the AFF Under-19 Championships in Vietnam. Ambong had additional experience representing the country at the Under-18 level at Cambodia.

Baguio, on the other hand, was called up for national team duty in the 2019 AFF Under-22 campaign in Cambodia, as well as the 2020 AFC U23 qualifiers in Malaysia.

Maharlika hopes the new additions will help change the fortunes of the side, which is coming off a 1-0 defeat to Cebu FC earlier this week.

The club will face off against United City on October 1 after the international break.

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 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.

Postponement of Philippines Football League Season 2020

PFF x PFL

The Philippine Football Federation and the Philippines Football League released a statement on Friday that postpones the start of the 2020 PFL season.

Full statement is as follows:

In view of the continuing spread of COVID-19, which prompted the Government’s Inter-Agency Task (IATF) to issue Resolution No. 11 yesterday, 12 March 2020, which raised the Alert Level to Code Red Sub-Level 2 and, among others, placed the entire National Capital Region under community quarantine for 30 days and prohibited mass gatherings, the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and Philippines Football League (PFL) have decided to postpone the Philippines Football League kick-off originally scheduled on 21 March 2020 to 18 April 2020 tentatively.

Utmost priority must be accorded to the safety, health, and welfare of the players, coaching staff, match officials, sponsors, and others who are involved in the organization of the matches.

PFF and PFL encourage all football stakeholders and the general public to be mindful always of the risks posed by COVID-19, observe the recommendations on how to avoid the virus, be safe and healthy during these times, and to help the nation combat the spread of COVID-19.

Ceres Negros FC is the defending league champion.

Ceres' Asian path revealed

Your PFL champions

Earlier this month, the path for current Filipino football champions Ceres-Negros FC to compete in continental play was formally established, with the draws for both the AFC Champions League and the AFC Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

The road to the AFC Champions League.

In AFCCL play, the Busmen will be hosting Burmese rivals Shan United in the first round of preliminary play on January 14. Win that and a matchup against Thai FA Cup champions Port FC looms on January 21. The winner of that particular matchup will then head to Japan to face J-League runners-up FC Tokyo on January 28 for the right to participate in Group Stage play.

The survivor for this particular preliminary bracket has been slotted to Group F, where Korean side Ulsan Hyundai, Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, and Aussie squad Perth Glory await.

The known road for the Busmen

If Ceres is unable to survive the gauntlet in the AFC Champions League prelims, they already have a guaranteed slot in the AFC Cup Group Stage, where they were drawn into Group G alongside Vietnamese side Than Quang Ninh and Indonesian champions Bali United, provided they miss out on AFC CL Group Stage play.

Completing Group G is the winner of the ASEAN Zone playoff between Master 7 FC of Laos against Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC of Cambodia. The two are set to square off in a two-leg playoff in January.

Ceres-Negros FC has been the standard-bearer for Philippine club football in recent years, having qualified for continental play in the past six years. They secured the inaugural ASEAN Zone title in the 2017 AFC Cup, while managing to reach the final round of qualification for the 2018 AFC Champions League.
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History in AFC Competitions (Ceres-Negros FC)

AFC Cup
2015 Playoff Round
2016 Round of 16 (old format)
2017 ASEAN Zonal Champions, Inter-Zone Semifinals (quarterfinals, new format)
2018 ASEAN Zonal Finals
2019 ASEAN Zonal Semifinals

AFC Champions League
2018 Playoff Round (third round)
2019 Preliminary Round 1 (first round)