Ramsay hands Ceres fitting farewell gift

BACOLOD CITY—Iain Ramsay arrived in this city 11 months ago at a time when his club career was in the crossroads.

He had become a regular for the Philippine national team, but his club career had stalled in the top-flight in Iran, where he was hardly fielded in the latter part of his stint there.

Ramsay, a former Australian League veteran, knew he needed a fresh start.

That’s why when Ceres-Negros came calling, as the Bacolod-based side rejigged its lineup in preparation for the AFC Cup and the inaugural Philippines Football League, there was little hesitation from Ramsay to join the club.

“I feel very fortunate that Ceres gave me a chance,” said Ramsay. “I really started enjoying playing football again. It wasn’t an easy situation for me when I was in Iran, especially when the club I played for there change coaches.”

Less than a year after joining the club, Ramsay leaves Ceres as one of its most beloved players, having starred in the Busmen’s run to the title in the AFC Cup Asean zonal championship and the maiden PFL season.

In his final game for the club, Ramsay delivered a hat trick that helped the Busmen overpower Global Cebu, 4-1, on Saturday night in the PFL Final at Panaad Stadium here.

Ramsay assisted on Bienvenido Marañon’s opener in the fourth minute, before finishing off Ceres’ quick counterattacks that put Global to the sword.

“I wanted to give absolutely everything for the team,” Ramsay said. “I wanted to do something that the people of Bacolod and my teammates will remember me.”

Ramsay waxed emotional in the awarding ceremony as he also announced that he was in the process of transferring to another club overseas, marking the end of a short yet successful stint with Ceres.