UNDERMANNED Ceres Negros FC faces an uphill climb when it plays Home United FC of Singapore in the first leg of the 2018 AFC Cup Zonal Finals at 7:30 Wednesday night at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
The Negros Occidental-based football team reached the zonal finals after beating Yangon United of Myanmar while Home United ousted Persija Jakarta of Indonesia in the zonal semifinals.
The Busmen are playing shorthanded, with Spanish striker Bienvenido Marañon suspended for two matches and Stephan Schrock still doubtful due to a foot injury.
“It will be tough but I expect the remaining players to give their 100 percent to win,” said Ceres Negros mentor Risto Vidakovic. “It’s a big challenge for us to defend our AFC Zonal crown.”
Expected to pick up the slack for Ceres Negros are Toni Doblas, Amani Aguinaldo, Manuel Herrera, Mike and Manuel Ott, Jose Porteria, Martin Steuble, Patrick Reichelt, Carli de Murga, and Omid Nazari.
Vidakovic will also bank on Australian Blake Powell, Jerry Barbaso, Roland Muller, Paul Mulders, and Curt Dizon, who were all signed by the Busmen during the transfer window.
After the home game, the two-time Philippines Football League champion will travel to Singapore for the second leg of the finale against Home United at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
The winner in this Zonal Finals series will face the Central Zonal champion April 25 team of North Korea in the two-legged Inter-Zonal Semifinals in late August./PN
