Weary Ceres up against bigger odds

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan—Ceres-Negros traveled 27 hours to reach this dusty, mountainous Central Asian city.

Set to face Tajik champions FC Istiklol in the inter-zone semifinals of the AFC Cup here on Tuesday, the Busmen would like nothing more than making this journey worth the trip.

Playing on enemy ground has been a struggle for the Busmen in the competition and with travel-weary legs, the odds will be stacked against them at Pamir Stadium.

But midfielder Manny Ott, who was part of the national team that beat Tajikistan, 4-3, in Asian Cup qualifying last June, said it’s about time the Busmen shook off fatigue and finally play to their potential away from home.

The Busmen hold a strong home record, going unbeaten in five matches at home in the AFC Cup, including wins in the knockout stages against Johor Dairul Ta’zim of Malaysia and Home United of Singapore.

And while the Busmen can bank on the crowd at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod to energize them in the second leg on Sept. 12, Ott said they’re determined to take care of business when they travel.

“We need results away so we can be more comfortable at home,” said Ott. “We cannot rely on our results at home all the time.”

The Tajik champions carry a big reputation in the competition, after reaching the finals in 2015, losing to JDT.

The Busmen looked sharp as they underwent light training on Saturday.

“The travel is too long, too much,” said midfielder Stephan Schrock. “Nevertheless, we’re here to make a milestone for Philippine football. There’s nothing else on our minds except this game [on Tuesday]. We can take a big step with a result here.”