Filipino football fans were stunned on Friday morning after reports swirled around that defending Philippines Football League (PFL) champions Ceres-Negros FC is disbanding its powerhouse roster.
It was 4:29 a.m. of Friday when Filipino Football broke the news on the dissolution of the Negros Occidental-based football club and with some of its players moving out.
Upon reading the tweet, we asked around those who have knowledge on the matter and indeed disbanding the Ceres-Negros ahead of the 2020 PFL season is on the table.
However, we learned from a separate source that the Philippine Football Federation is doing its best to convince the Busmen management to reconsider its decision but nothing is close so far.
Arguably, Ceres-Negros was one of the most famous squads in the PFL with its huge fan base in Negros Occidental and their regional rivalry with Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo was the most anticipated match.
The Ceres-Negros was one of the most successful football clubs in the local football scene winning three PFL championships, one Copa Paulino Alcantara gold and another United Football League crown.
Apart from its success locally, the Busmen have also represented the country several times in the Asian Football Confederation Cup, with its highest achievement was winning the ASEAN zone in 2017.
Among the players in Ceres-Negros roster were national men’s football team mainstays Stephan Schrock, Roland Muller, Sean Kane, Mike Ott, Manny Ott, Jose Elmer Porteria, Dylan de Bruycker, Junior Munoz, Jeffrey Christiaens, and Dennis Villanueva.
The Busmen also have a loaded cast of foreign players in Spanish striker Bienvenido Marañon, Senegalese Robert Lopez Mendy, Spanish Manuel Super Herrera, and Japanese Takashi Odawara.
If ever Ceres-Negros’ departure will push through, the PFL will be left with just six teams in Azkals Developmental Team, Global Makati FC, Kaya FC-Iloilo, Mendiola FC 1991, Philippine Air Force FC, and Stallion Laguna FC.
If there is one fake news I can write, I am hoping that this is the one since the local football scene will not be complete with the absence of the Ceres-Negros./PN
