Global Cebu, a three-time United Football League champion which has struggled financially in the past years, will now be known as United Makati FC.
And the team will have a new home pitch at University of Makati Stadium.
Club owner Mark Jarvis announced on Tuesday the renaming of the club once ran by Azkals manager Dan Palami, but stressed that Global will not renege on its agreement to pay several former players.
“The history of the club remains,” Jarvis said. “This is just a rebrand for us. But we’re glad that we will be representing the country’s business district in the league.”
Hounded by ex-players like Anton del Rosario, who demanded to be paid their salary from the 2018 season, Jarvis said they would settle the issue before the Philippines Football League (PPL) kicks off next month.
“There were still funds from sponsors from last season that will be used to pay our former players,” Jarvis said.
“We will generate funds required to form a strong and competitive team. I will be putting more money into young and new players coming [into the new season], which is what Global has done for the longest time.”
Jarvis said he already has at least seven players from last season’s team coming back to play in the PPL.
The club has also forged a partnership with a Dubai-based sports marketing firm, MMC Sportz, led by Eric Gottschalk.