United City FC keeps 16 Ceres booters
MANILA, Philippines–A group of investors managed by sports marketing firm MMC Sportz Asia on Thursday completed the transfer of ownership of Philippines Football League champion Ceres Negros FC, which will now be known as United City Football Club.
The club also announced that 16 of the 21 players registered for the AFC Cup have committed to sign for the club in preparation for the fourth season of the PFL, which has yet to start due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We would like to thank Mr. (Leo Rey) Yanson and his team for agreeing to the transfer of the club to our name as this allows the players to continue participating in the Philippines Football League and hopefully also in the AFC Cup for the 2020 season”, said Eric Gottschalk, the German chief executive officer of MMC Sportz Asia.
“We will now immediately apply for permission with the PFF to rename the Club to “United City Football Club” and request the Philippine Football Federation to support our statement of intent to continue participating in the AFC Cup.”
Ceres Negros will now be known as United City Football Club. The club also announced it has retained 16 of 21 players registered to Ceres Negros and intend to keep coach Risto Vidakovic. pic.twitter.com/wSA6zkpsiK
— Cedelf P. Tupas (@cedelfptINQ) July 23, 2020
The club has kept general manager Ace Bright and also intends to retain Serbian coach Risto Vidakovic, who has handled Ceres since 2016.
“Our intent to have coach Risto return as the head coach,” Gottschalk said. “The aim is to keep the team and staff together as much as possible, and allow them the well-deserved chance to continue to play football amid all the challenges that everyone has been facing”
Meanwhile, PFL commissioner Coco Torre has given Global FC 10 days to settle contractual obligations to players and staff, before deciding on the club’s participation this season.
