MANILA – Ceres-Negros FC will keep its spot in the halted 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup despite the impending change of ownership and management.
According to Philippine Football Federation (PFF) general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes, selling the football club will not affect its status in the international club competition.
“The AFC Cup slot belongs to the club,” said Gastanes during the Wednesday PFF virtual press conference. “The PFF is to make the appropriate presentation before the AFC.”
Ceres-Negros is currently leading Group G of the AFC Cup with seven points build on two wins and a draw.
“We will act on this quickly. This is not the first time that it happened. Global Cebu FC had that situation last year also when they were able to, in accordance with the PFF and AFC, change the management and proceeded to participate in the PFL (Philippines Football League),” Gastanes assured.
The new owners will take over for the resumption of the AFC Cup as well as the coming PFL season once the government gives the green light to resume action amid coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
“We should watch out for the next communication. We will be talking to both parties seriously also so that whatever plans they have and whatever the PFF and PFL management can do, we will be there to help,” Gastanes said.
Ceres-Negros has been the top football club in the country, having won the PFL crown since the league’s inception in 2017. The team also dominated the Copa Paulino Alcantara – another domestic tournament – and reached the Asean zone finals of the AFC Cup in 2018./PN
