AFC President’s Cup qualifiers kick off in Cebu

Cebu - The AFC officially launched the President’s Cup qualifiers at a press conference at Cebu’s Marco Polo Plaza, Tuesday.

The AFC President’s Cup is the third-tier in the hierarchy of Asian football club competitions, and features clubs from developing leagues in the region. It is the first time that a Philippine club, the United Football League’s Global FC, is competing in the tourney.

Media officer of the local organizing committee, Mr. Nico Navarro, hosted the event. Ricky Dacay, president of Cebu Football Association (CFA) and Atty. Ed Gastanes, secretary general of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) were also in attendance, as well as other members of the PFF and CFA.

Other teams in Group B with Global FC are Bhutan’s Yeedzin FC, Kyrgyz Republic’s FC Dordoi, and Pakistan’s KRL FC.

At the press conference, Global FC was represented by its Scottish head coach Brian Reid, Yeedzin FC by team manager Sangay Rinzin, FC Dordoi by head coach Sergei Dvoryankov, and KRL FC by head coach Tariq Lufti.

Of the four teams, the Kyrgyz Republic’s FC Dordoi is the most formidable, having made six appearances in the cup. In those six appearances, they have always ended up as finalists. They also won the Cup twice, in the 2006 and 2007 editions of the tournament.

“This year we have not changed our system and preparations,” said head coach Dvoryankov, “Unfortunately, only one team wins each tournament.” FC Dordoi reached the Finals in the last AFC President’s Cup.

“30 percent of our team is from our National Team,” added the confident coach.

Not to be outdone, Pakistan’s KRL FC also has nationals on their team. “Five or six of our starters are regulars on the National Team,” said coach Lufti. “And we’ve been around since 1995.

However, the Pakistanis have run into another kind of opponent they did not expect, Cebu weather. “We didn’t expect the weather to be this hot,” said the head coach, “but [thankfully] it is not as humid as we thought it would be.”

Bhutan’s Yeedzin FC had something else to say about the weather, which has been averaging in the mid to late 30s the past few days. “We’re coming in from very cold temperature, the Philippines is very different for us,” said coach Rinzin.

Another difference with Yeedzin FC is who makes up its team. “Our team consists of students and office workers; we don’t have ‘professional’ players. We only prepared for a month.”

Global FC, which also counts several Philippine National Team members in its fold, is the only first-timer in the Group. “We’ll do our best,” said coach Reid. “We’ll just focus on giving a good showing.”

Global is currently in second place in the ongoing UFL tournament.

“There have been problems with the gelling of the team since several of our starters have been injured,” the Scot said. But of course the hot temperature is less of an issue for Global.  “We just need to hydrate properly,” coach Reid adds.

The games will be played at the Cebu City Sports Center’s Abellana Field on May 8, 10, and 12. Games on May 8 will be KRL FC versus FC Dordoi at 4:30pm and Global FC versus Yeedzin at 7:30pm. Gates open at 2pm. - AMD, GMA News