BR REVIEW
BUSMEN
ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER 2017
THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF CERES-NEGROS FC
ASEAN CHAMPS
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
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ROAD TO GLORY
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BRAVE BUSMEN MAKE HISTORY
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Q&A: IAIN RAMSAY
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MESSAGE FROM THE PFF PRESIDENT
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The club has represented the country very well in such a prestigious competition in the continent. It is also worthy to note what the club has done with regards to hosting the competition at Panaad Stadium.
n behalf of the Philippine Football Federation, I would like to congratulate Ceres-Negros FC on their historic run in the 2017 AFC Cup.
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This year’s tournament has been a watershed moment for Ceres-Negros FC after being crowned the first ever AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal Champions, following the victory over Home United in the two-legged finals last August 2017. For the past eight months, the entire region witnessed the remarkable climb of the club from the group stages to become the first zonal champion of the competition. Victories over teams from Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia made it a campaign to remember not just for the club, but also for stakeholders of the sport in the country. Despite its exit from the AFC Cup Inter-zone semifinals, the club has already achieved a milestone for club football in the Philippines and everyone involved in the sport in the country can be proud of what Ceres-Negros has accomplished. The club has represented the country very well in such a prestigious competition in the continent. It is also worthy to note what the club has done with regards to hosting the competition at Panaad Stadium. From the promotion of the matches to the conduct of the match, the success of the hosting is a testament of the commitment of the club to ensure that the Philippines is represented the best way it can in the AFC Cup. The PFF hopes Ceres-Negros will continue to set the example to the other clubs in the Philippines Football League. Qualifying for a higher level of competition like the AFC Cup is what clubs in the country should always aspire for. I would like to congratulate Ceres-Negros Chairman Leo Rey Yanson, Team Manager James Dinsay, Head Coach Risto Vidakovic, the players and staff, the Local Organizing Committee, and their lively supporters for their unwavering support to the club. What Ceres-Negros achieved in the AFC Cup is not just for the City of Bacolod, the Province of Negros Occidental, but for the entire Philippines. Once again, I give my hearty congratulations to Ceres-Negros FC.
MARIANO V. ARANETA President Philippine Football Federation
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
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he past eight months of the year have been very fulfilling for Ceres-Negros FC. The club reached great heights in the AFC Cup with the ASEAN zonal championship victory over Singapore’s Home United last August 9 as the highlight of the campaign so far. It has been a goal of the club to make history and with the support of our fans, family and friends here and abroad, we were able to achieve a first not only in Philippine football but also in the Southeast Asia region.
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There will always be tough moments and disappointments as the club tackles many challenges in the remaining months of the year. But rest assured that Ceres-Negros will always strive to give glory to the city and province. We hope that you join us every step of the way.
It was by no means an easy road to the ASEAN crown. The club and people behind the scenes worked extremely hard to reach our goals. From the management of the club to the Local Organizing Committee as well as the players and the coaching staff, Ceres went all-out in representing the City of Bacolod, the province of Negros Occidental and the Philippines the best way it can. The players and staff have been fantastic throughout our journey in the AFC Cup. They are the reason why we get to enjoy the sport and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it. From Iain Ramsay’s beautiful strike to start the 5-0 win over Tampines Rovers to Fernando Rodriguez’s penalty late in stoppage time that won us the semifinal against heavily-favored Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia and the unstoppable free kick from Manny Ott in the second leg of the Asean zone finals, there were plenty of moments that only burnished our love and passion for the “Beautiful Game.” Those goals were not only a product of individual skill, but a collective effort of our players. The role of our wonderful Ceres-Negros supporters has been equally important to our success. This year, more than ever, the disappointment of losing on the opponent’s home turf was always outweighed by the excitement of playing at Panaad Stadium. The players always looking forward to playing at home, knowing that they have the Panaad crowd to lean on when the going gets tough. Because of your support, the players always find an extra gear when they are out on the pitch. We will need the same support as we continue our journey not just in the AFC Cup but also in the Philippines Football League. We also express our gratitude to the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental led by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and the City of Bacolod through Mayor Evelio Leonardia. The support you give pushes us to continue working harder and improving in every aspect of our game. There will always be tough moments and disappointments as the club tackles many challenges in the remaining months of the year. But rest assured that Ceres-Negros will always strive to give glory to the city and province. We hope that you join us every step of the way.
LEO REY YANSON
CERES-NEGROS FC CHAIRMAN
/4 FOCUSED. As Stephan Schrock looks on, Manny Ott takes the free kick that ultimately gave the Busmen the victory against Home United at Panaad.
STEPHEN TAN PHOTOS
R AD TO GLORY
TOUGH CLIMB MAKES VICTORY SWEETER FOR BUSMEN
t was a long and arduous climb to the top for Ceres-Negros FC. The Filipino club I survived the tournament’s toughest group, before pulling off an upset in the semifinals. We retrace the Busmen’s rise from the group stages up until the Asean zone finals at Panaad Stadium. Bienve’s away goal
could have gone worse for the Busmen when the Malaysian side won a penalty in the second half. Roland Muller, however, was in fine form, denying Lucas Cano from the spot, preserving a goalless draw.
Opening their campaign in Hanoi, the Busmen had Bienvenido Maranon to thank for as they gained a point following a 1-1 draw with ietnamese champions Hanoi. Maranon poked home from close range only for Hanoi to equalize in the second half.
Shocker in Shah Alam At an almost empty Shah Alam Stadium, Ceres suffered its biggest loss in the AFC Cup, after a heavy 0-3 defeat to Felda United. Missing some key players to suspension and injures, the Busmen were left undone by an inspired Malaysian side.
Special strike from Iain The fans barely warmed their seats when Iain Ramsay unleashed an outside-the-foot shot from distance. The goal in the opening minute set the tone for a 5-0 drubbing of Tampines Rovers at Panaad.
Fernando’s effort
Roland’s penalty save The Ceres attack struggled to break down a resolute Felda defense at home, a week after beating Tampines. But it
CLINICAL. Bienve Maranon strikes early for Ceres
With their backs against the wall, the Busmen needed a big result against Hanoi at Panaad. And they did get off to a bright start when
Bienve converted a penalty for a 1-0 lead. Fernando Rodriguez delivered a fabulous goal early in the second half to highlight a 6-2 victory.
COMPOSED. Fernando Rodriguez calmly converts the penalty that stunned JDT
Kota’s header Kota Kawase scored perhaps one of the most important goals of his career when he directed a Kevin Ingreso corner in the second half to seal a 4-2 win over Tampines Rovers. The win ensured the Busmen’s passage into the semifinals, owing to a better head-tohead record over Hanoi. Gallant stand in Johor In the knockout round for the second straight year, Ceres-Negros gave favorite Johor Darul Ta’zim all that it can handle at Larkin Stadium before yielding, 2-3. The two away goals scored by Rodriguez and Maranon turned out to be crucial as they gave the Busmen confidence to pull off the stunning win in the second leg in Bacolod. Thriller at Panaad It was the biggest game for Ceres against a former AFC Cup champion. Needing just a 1-0 win to advance, the Busmen took an early lead through Kawase, who pounced on a fine delivery from Igreso. A goal off a counterattack from Johor’s Gabi Guerra gave the visitors control anew and left the Ceres faithful on edge heading into stoppage time. But fortune favored the brave Busmen. Aidil Zafuan recklessly pulled down Rodriguez in the box which forced the referee to call a penalty on the last play of the match. Showing nerves of steel, Rodriguez calmly struck the ball down the middle to send Ceres to the ASEAN zone finals.
Rude awakening in Jalan Besar Ceres found a worthy foe in Singapore’s Home United in the ASEAN zone finals. Croatian striker Stipe Plazibat, but captain Martin Steuble equalized just before the break. Home grabbed a slim edge thanks to a late header from Harris Harun. A victory for the ages Ceres-Negros hardly wasted any time overturning a 1-2 first leg defeat as OJ Porteria scored in the first miute. Putting the outcome beyond doubt, Manny Ott curled a superb free kick to the top corner to put the the Busmen ahead, 3-2. A virtuoso performance from Stephan Schrock and some key saves from Roland Muller also punctuated a well-deserved victory in the second leg of the ASEAN zone finals.
HISTORY. A 2-0 win over Home United gives Ceres the first ASEAN zone crown
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BRAVE BUSMEN
UNFLAPPABLE. Martin Steuble keeps his poise under pressure against Home United
STEPHEN TAN PHOTOS
he man wearing the black sport shirt with the club’s yellow crest patched on his chest sat at the edge of the media tribune looking stoic as the seconds of second-half injury time ticked away.
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As the crowd at the jampacked Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City prepared to celebrate Ceres Negros’ historic AFC Cup Asean zone finals victory over Singapore’s Home United, club owner Leo Rey Yanson hardly showed any emotion. He tried to let the moment sink in, wrapping his head around the idea that the club he built five years ago was on the cusp of becoming the best team in the Southeast Asian region in the AFC Cup. “We had set goals at the
start of the season, but it’s still difficult to react when you’re in the moment,” says Yanson. “All we know is that everyone involved in the club worked so hard to reach our goals and give honor to the province and to the country.” The run to the Asean zonal championship wasn’t just historic, but also impressive for the Busmen, who scored 23 goals from 10 matches. In clinching the Asean title on aggregate, 3-2, the Busmen whitewashed Home United, 2-0, in the second leg at Panaad to nullify the Singaporeans’ 2-1 win in the first leg in the Lion City. Yanson shuns the spotlight and rarely takes credit. But it was difficult to overlook his influence as the Busmen took the competition by storm. Ceres methodically broke down and outworked the
visitors in the first half, before standing its ground to preserve the clean sheet in the final 45 minutes. More than the resources he has poured into the club, Yanson kept the door open for Stephan Schrock to return to Ceres after a loan spell last season. Schrock repaid his faith with a performance for the ages in the second leg of the finals. The Filipino international’s work rate and vision sparked the Busmen to life, while goals from OJ Porteria and Manny Ott ensured they got the result. Porteria endured a difficult start to his career at Ceres, before the club owner went out of his way to advise him not to do “too much.” That talk allowed Porteria to settle nicely into the club, and the Busmen are slowly reaping the benefits of his rejuvenated play. The tactical acumen of Serbian coach Risto Vidakovic was also evident in the zonal finals as he deployed Schrock in midfield in lieu of the hobbling Bienve Marañon. Schrock wreaked havoc
and the Busmen could have won convincingly if not for a slew of missed chances in the first half. Captains Martin Steuble and Carlie de Murga have been critical to the club’s success the past few years.
MAKE HISTORY And so is Ott, whose delightful free kick left Home goalkeeper Hassan Sunny nochance. “The players gave everything,” says Vidakovic. “It wasn’t easy when you miss so many chances because when that happens, you usually lose. But whoever came on gave their all for the club.” The Panaad crowd has served as a sanctuary for the Busmen in the continental competition. They remain unbeaten in the AFC Cup at home. “We knew that our strength is at home,” says Ott. “Everybody had a clear focus for the game. Everybody still believed and the team showed strong character.” Schrock says he can’t help but be overwhelmed by the support that the club gets at home. “When you see the crowd here, you just want to give everything because you know how much this means to them,” says the former Bundesliga player who rejoined the team last April. Schrock recalls teammates breaking down in tears at the final whistle. “After the match, players were crying on the pitch because we left it all out there, the heart and the sweat. We put in the performance of
DELIGHT. The Busmen led by Serbian coach Risto Vidakovic (top photo, left) celebrate after the final whistle against Home United.
our life in this final,” he says. “We have very good support here and we’re very proud to represent this city.” It’s still a long road ahead for Ceres Negros in the AFC Cup with Istiklol standing in its way in the interzone semifinals and North Korean club 4.25 and Bengaluru of India also in the hunt. The
West Asia winner, which gets an outright finals spot, is also yet to be known. With performances like this against Home United, it was difficult to bet against the Busmen in their chase for continental glory. Perhaps only then can Yanson truly celebrate the greatness of his own creation.
/9 “Being the first Filipino team to do this and to create such a historic night in our very hometown of Bacolod made it extra special.”
Hometown: Perth, Australia Age: 29 Playing Position: Left Winger Former Clubs: Sydney FC, Sydney Olympic, Adelaide United, Melbourne City, Tractor Sazi
Q&A
IAIN RAMSAY
The left winger shares his thoughts on the club’s run to the AFC Cup Asean zone title and the inter-zone semifinals against Tajikistan’s Istiklol. Having played in the Australian League and in the top-flight in Iran, the man fondly called “Rambo” has been a key player for the Busmen since signing at the start of the season.
BUSMEN REVIEW: What were the challenges faced by the team at the start of the campaign? IAIN RAMSAY: The challenge at the start of our AFC campaign was match fitness. All our opponents were in season and we didn't start our season outside the AFC competition. So that was a massive challenge, but I think the team and coaching staff managed it really well. BR: What was the turning point in the group stage? IR: The turning point was our
loss to Felda United away in Ma-
laysia. Before that game we had a great start and played good football. The loss to Felda was a wake up call. It taught us early not to be complacent and not to take any opponent lightly. BR: What are your favorite games leading up to the ASEAN zone final? IR: My favorite game would have to be beating JDT (Johor Darul Ta’zim) at home and of course the win against Home United to be crowned ASEAN zone champions. Being the first Filipino team to do this and to create such a historic night in our very hometown of Bacolod made it extra
special. BR: What is your message to the fans as you continue your journey in the AFC Cup? IR: Make sure you fill Panaad Stadium on the September 12 and support your very own ASEAN Zone champions. We have our most important game throughout the whole campaign coming up and we need all your support to get through to the next stage. Together, we can create more history .
ROLAND MULLER 1 - GOALKEEPER
JOSH GROMMEN 2 - DEFENDER
KOTA KAWASE 3 - DEFENDER
SUPER HERRERA 4 - DEFENDER
KEVIN INGRESO 6 -MIDFIELDER
BIENVE MARAÑON 7 - MIDFIELDER
THE
PLAYERS MANNY OTT 8 - MIDFIELDER
FERNANDO RODGRIGUEZ
9 - FORWARD
OJ PORTERIA 10 - MIDFIELDER
IAIN RAMSAY 11 - MIDFIELDER
STEPHAN SCHROCK 12 - MIDFIELDER
CARLIE DE MURGA 14 - DEFENDER
ARNIE PASINABO 16 - MIDFIELDER
JUNIOR MUÑOZ 17 - DEFENDER
LUKE WOODLAND 21 - DEFENDER
OMID NAZARI 22 - FORWARD
MARTIN STEUBLE 23 - MIDFIELDER
MIKE CASAS 25- GOALKEEPER
JEFF CHRISTIAENS 28 - DEFENDER
PATRICK REICHELT 29 - FORWARD
EDUARD SACAPAÑO 88 - GOALKEEPER
THE MANAGEMENT RISTO VIDAKOVIC HEAD COACH
JAMES DINSAY TEAM MANAGER
IAN TREYES ASSISTANT COACH
PEPE LOSADA FITNESS COACH
PATRICK ACE BRIGHT MKTG. MANAGER
ANGELA BORRES PHYSIOTHERAPIST
BIANCA ACEBEDO PHYSIOTHERAPIST
ALFE SEBUHA KIT MANAGER
‘HOSTING SUCCESS ALSO A TEAM EFFORT’ would like to thank everyone who has helped us along the way in our journey to the I ASEAN crown in the AFC Cup. The success that the club has achieved was made possible by the players who have worked hard in achieving where we are right now and of course the all-out support of our team owner Mr. Leo Rey Yanson.
The Local Organizing Committee, which is in charge of ensuring a smooth staging of matches, has been blessed by a hardworking staff which doesn’t settle for anything less than a quality hosting job. From the police force, to the ballboys, down to the people in the different departments under the LOC, working with you has truly been a joy. I am also taking this opportunity to express gratitude to our partners who have helped us in the success of our hosting activities, especially the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental headed by Gov. Alfredo Maranon Jr. and the City of Bacolod City through Mayor Evelio Leonardia. With your support, Ceres-Negros has enjoyed tremendous backing from fellow Negrenses. I would also like to thank the fans, the Ultras, and our families who have been with us through thick-and-thin, cheering us on at Panaad Stadium or just finding time to give us the support we need as we take on the challenges that comes with putting up matches. Plenty of work goes on behind the scenes. But just like the results on the pitch, a successful hosting job is also down to team effort. We have been blessed to have a solid team on and off the pitch.
DANIEL NICOLAS GOLEZ
CERES-NEGROS FC ADMINISTRATOR