Cebu Football

Here's the top 16 of the UFL based on the usual tie-breaks and rankings. I still haven't heard any word if the top qualifiers will be seeded to 1 to 7 and the second-best to 8 to 14 and the wild cards get 15 and 16. If that's the scenario, we could see No. 15 Global against the Army.  If not, the scenario could be Global against Nomads. The Group of Death and Group G have three qualifiers each Here's the rankings:

 (Please note that this is not the official standings. All I did was update the Oct 22 standings in the UFL Page , with the results of Oct. 23, Oct 25, 26,  27, 29 and 30.) Group A         GP     W     D     L     GF   GA     GD     Pts Nomads         3         3      0     0     13     0      13        9* Lions FC        3         2      0     1      6      3        3        6* Union             2      ...

(This is my Fair Play column for Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 30) WE WERE traveling with Thai journalists on our way to the Thailand vs. Philippines match in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games when the visiting mediamen broke the ice and asked, in halting English, if we were willing to bet on the results. “I give you butt if 1-0,” the guy said. We just arrived in Bacolod and were tired from all the traveling so, it was kind of strange to hear some foreign media guy talking about butts going to a football game.

(This my story for Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 31) AFTER a hectic six weeks preparing for the UFL Cup, the players and coaching staff of the Cebu Queen City United will take a break before taking to the pitch anew for its next challenge—the the United Football League Division 2. “We are planning to hold another tryout soon so we can get more players but for now, we will be resting,” said head coach Mario Ceniza, who also handles Paref Springdale.

THE Cebu Queen City United bowed out of the UFL Cup without a win and a goal after losing to Pachanga, 4-0, in its final Group C match at the University of Makati field yesterday. The team, which spent more than P500,000 on airfare alone for its stint in the Manila-based league, finished at the bottom of the Group of Death after losing all three matches.  Pachanga, which also featured Cebu-based Joshua Fegidero, who coaches Bright Academy and the University of San Carlos, finished on top of the bracket with seven points on two wins and one draw.

(This is my Fair Play column for Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 29) THIS year’s University of the Visayas will not only be remembered as the team that failed to advance to the Cesafi basketball finals for the first time, but as a team of sore losers who resorted to dirty tactics because they failed to get the job done. And in the process, this year’s team tarnished what nine other UV teams have accomplished and what last year’s team gracefully showed in defeat.

(This is Cheska Geli's story for Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 29) THE Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will implement an eight-year plan to increase the number of qualified coaches in the country. As shared by PFF Technical Director Ariston Caslib, the plan will increase the number of grassroots coaches who will be instrumental in the development of football and in creating tough teams to compete in international tournaments. Six grassroots courses are projected next year and each seminar aims to attract at least 50 participants.

(This is my story for Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 29) A DETERMINED Cebu Queen City United will play for pride today as it takes on the dangerous Pachanga FC in its final Group C match of the UFL Cup at the University of Makati field. Cebu Queen City, which lost its first two matches to Global FC and the Stallions, is no longer in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stage, while Pachanga still has a chance to finish at No. 7 in the standings and will face the No. 10 qualifier in the round-of-16.

(This report by Cheska Geli came out on Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 28) LOCAL coaches will meet on Nov. 4 to discuss the coming 14th Aboitiz Cup at the Aboitiz Sportsfield, Mandaue. This year’s event will have three new categories—the  Players 6, men’s Under-19 and Under-23. The event will still feature the Players 8 and 10, the Boys 12 and 14 and the girls’ 12 and 17 categories.

(This report by Cheska Geli came out on Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 28) GERMAN football expert Eckhard Krautzun said he has learned a lot about Cebu football from the three- day coaches’ training he facilitated for Philippine Football Federation (PFF) at Sarrosa International Hotel. The activity, which drew interest from coaches, parents, educators and players, included topics on youth coaching, training session and basic football tactics. “I learned the need of the province and what can be improved,” said Krautzun.

Team                   GF       GA     GD      Points 1.) Loyola             27         2       25        9 2.) Army FC         24         0        24        9 3.) PAF                23         3        20        9 4.) Nomads         13          0...

 (Please note that this is not the official standings. All I did was update the Oct 22 standings in the UFL Page , with the results of Oct. 23, Oct 25, 26,  27 and 29.) Group A         GP     W     D     L     GF   GA     GD     Pts Nomads         3         3      0     0     13     0      13        9* Lions FC        3         2      0     1      6      3        3        6* Union             2       ...

(Here's a report I wrote about Phil Younghusband and the LA Galaxy for Sun.Star Cebu on Jun 13, 2007) IF THE football gods smile on our country, Pinoys may have another reason to cheer for Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy. And it’s not Victoria Beckham but Fil-Briton, Philip Younghusband. A report by former Sun.Star assistant sports editor, Jack Biantian, in www.pinoysoccer.com, the premier site for football news in the Philippines, said the Chelsea reserve and mainstay of the RP team is with the LA Galaxy, but not as a member of the team.

FRET not, Global FC fans, your team isn’t out of the hunt for the UFL Cup yet—not by a mile. Pointing out the scenarios would probably take me more than the allotted space for today’s column but let’s just say that Global still has a chance to make it as the top two teams in the Group of Death, or one of the top two third-place teams in all seven groups. But, one thing though, if Global FC does make the KO stage, I hope the team gets to improve on the offensive end, a lot.

GLOBAL Fc fans who are worried that their team won't get to defend its title in the UFL Cup and gets booted out in the elimination round need to watch for the results of today's Group G game between Garuda and Manhur. Now why would a game between two winless teams (Garuda, 0-2) and Manhur (0-1) matter?

 (Please note that this is not the official standings. All I did was update the Oct 22 standings in the UFL Page , with the results of Oct. 23, Oct 25 and 26.) Group A         GP     W     D     L     GF   GA     GD     Pts Nomads         3         3      0     0     13     0      13        9* Lions FC        2         1      0     1      4      2        2         3 Union             2        0  ...

 (Please note that this is not the official standings. All I did was update the standings in the UFL Page , which shows all games until Oct. 22 and update it with the results on Oct. 23.) Group A         GP     W     D     L     GF   GA     GD     Pts Nomads         3         3      0     0     13     0      13        9* Lions FC       2         1      0     1      4      2        2         3 Union             2    ...

IT WAS, as one fan said it, quite a difficult match to watch. Cebu Queen City United getting hammered on national tv by the Stallions FC, 8-0, in the first ever football match aired live that featured a Cebu club. Disappointing? Yes

THE Iloilo Stallions crushed the Cebu Queen City United, 8-0, for their second win in the UFL Cup at the Rizal Memorial Stadium yesterday. Playing in just their second game against a well-oiled team of veterans, Cebu Queen City United had its moments but the Stallions were simply too experienced. Ruben Doctora and Kim Jae Woo had a hat trick, while the Cebuano strikers had a hat trick of close misses as Cebu failed to score for the second straight game after falling to defending champion Global FC, 3-0, in its debut. The win puts the Stallions on top of the group with six points and a healthy goal difference, while idle Pachanga and Global FC are tied with three points each.

(This is my draft of Fair Play column for Sun.Star Cebu on Oct. 22)   THOUGH Cebu Queen City United lost its first game to Global FC, 3-0, in the UFL Cup, one Cebuano player—goalkeeper Alex Boanghog stood out. Jesa Mari ( JehBrofar on Twitter), who was a bit turned off by the physical play of some of the Cebu players, tweeted me, “Pero yung keeper nyo, thumbs up!” Coach Mario Ceniza also rated Boanghog highly, giving him an 8 out of 10.   Who is Alex Boanghog, or more importantly, who is Senior Police Officer 2 Alex Boanghog? Yep guys, Cebu’s starting keeper is a cop, one whose part-time job could add prestige to the force. This footballer-turned cop-turned footballer is no stranger to the big leagues and big games and, for his big game last Saturday, none is prouder than Big Jack Biantan, a guy whose passion for Cebu football is unmatched. Big Jack, whose life story is worthy of a tele-serye, found himself at Don Bosco Boys Home as one of the coaches back in the time when...