Cebu, Stallion kick off AFC hostilities
Philippines Football League teams Cebu FC and Stallion Laguna FC get ready as the AFC Cup kicks off on 18 September.
Cebu and Stallion will see action in this edition of Asia's secondary football tournament after finishing in second and third places, respectively, in the last PFL season.
The Stallions will begin their campaign against Indonesia's Bali United on 20 September at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna while the Gentle Giants will play against Phnom Penh Crown of Cambodia on 21 September at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.
After almost capturing the PFL title last season, Cebu is doing so well so far in its AFC Cup buildup, winning all four games in Group B of the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara and securing a spot in the quarterfinal.
Cebu head coach Joshua Schirmer said with the club also facing Australia's Macarthur FC and Shan United of Myanmar in Group F, they still have a lot more work to do despite their hot start in the Copa.
"We know that the level of the AFC Cup teams will be high, maybe higher than these players' experiences before. To be honest, we don't know what to expect from them but we expect them to be at a high level and we have plenty to work on, that's for sure," Schirmer said.
"We only kept one clean sheet in our past for games so we have to improve."
Chima Uzoka will lead Cebu in its AFC Cup campaign after netting five goals in the Copa.
Meanwhile, Stallion will have to ramp up its game after absorbing a 0-1 loss to Mendiola FC 1991 last 9 September.
Still, head coach Ernest Nietas, whose side is already assured of a quarterfinal spot in the Copa, is optimistic about the situation, saying the defeat will make his wards hungry to win their upcoming match against Bali.
Apart from Bali United, Stallion is in Group G with Terengganu of Malaysia and Australian side Central Coast Mariners.
"It's a good loss for me because everybody now will be hungry and they will have to focus. You lose a game, you got to have a short memory and prepare for the next match," Nietas said.