Photo by Tristan Rafael Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Stephan Schrock is putting his career in Europe on hold to give Philippine club football a boost.
The inventive Filipino-German midfielder is poised to secure a loan deal to play for United Football League club Ceres-La Salle, making him the most high-profile signing in the off-season.
Details of the expectedly expensive deal have yet to be finalized but Ceres team manager Ali Go said Schrock will be part of the Bacolod-based side at least until the next European transfer window in June.
Go burned the lines with Furth officials the past few days just to strike a deal. Schrock is arriving Monday.
Pending his International Transfer Certificate and registration with the Philippine Football Federation, the move allows Schrock to represent Ceres in the AFC Cup, which starts next month, as well as in UFL.
Schrock may just be the star attraction the league needs to lure more fans.
The Bacolod side will be facing Tampines Rovers of Singapore, Selangor of Malaysia and Shiekh Jamal Dhanmond of Bangladesh in the group stage of the AFC Cup.
Unable to hold a place in Furth’s starting eleven, Schrock was reportedly told by his boyhood club to seek a new team despite having a couple of years left in his contract.
Sources said another UFL club made a bid for Schrock’s services but Ceres offered a better package to secure his services.
“We have high hopes for success with Stephan in the team,” said Go, whose side is already loaded with national team players like Manny Ott and Patrick Reichelt.