MANILA – Senegalese striker Robert Lopez Mendy has formalized his move to the Ceres-Negros FC as the squad aims for a third straight crown in the 2019 Philippines Football League.
Lopez Mendy agreed to join the Negros Occidental-based team after ending his tour of duty with Universiti Teknologi MARA Football Club in the Malaysian Premier League.
The 32-year-old Lopez Mendy’s entry to Ceres-Negros was timely following the departure of several key players in Alvaro Silva, Martin Steuble, Curt Dizon, Kevin Ingreso, and Maher Karic.
Prior to playing in Malaysia earlier this year, Lopez Mendy suited up with Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo last season and led the squad to PFL Copa Paulino Alcantara championship.
Lopez Mendy could have returned to the Iloilo City-based squad but they already have four foreign players in their roster in Ghanians Jordan Mintah and Alfred Osei, Trinidadian Darryl Roberts, and Japanese Masanari Omura.
Aside from Lopez-Mendy, the Ceres-Negros also tabbed the services of two former University of St. La Salle-Bacolod standouts in Charles Baberan and Tristan Robles.
Spanish striker Bienvenido Marañon, the leading scorer in the ongoing PFL season, as well as veteran Stephan Schrock renewed their contracts with the Busmen despite offers from other teams and in overseas./PN
