MindanaoToday.com | Solid Gentle Giants Cebu FC can win PF League this year
By: Jack Biantan
CEBU CITY – After their impressive 4-0 win over the come backing Loyola Football Club at their home turf in the Leylam/Borromeo stadium Saturday night, the Cebu Football Club (CFC) can win the the Philippine Football League (PFL) 2024 title.
But of course the league is still a long way to go and Loyola after five years of missing the top flight, is still struggling for form.
A win is a win and credit goes to Cebu’s new Turkish coach Memis Ozata who managed to assemble a formidable crew of strong, big and skillful foreign players plus the young and talented local players who are out to prove themselves that they are ready for the professional game.
Ozata’s men completely dominated Loyola of coach Roxy Dorlas despite of an early scare from the attempt of Japanese striker Takaya Harada. After Harada’s attempt, the Gentle Giants responded, with Dutch-Surinamese forward Zamoranho Ho-A-Tham, Senegalese striker Abou Mouhamed Sy taking turns in the trying to score a goal.
Sy then opened the scoring for CFC when he unleashed a left footed shot that went trough between the legs of a Loyala defender and then to the far left of Loyola goalkeeper Isaac Annan and to the back of the net for a 1-0 lead in the 35th minute.
After that it was an all Cebu show, as Ho-A-Tham scored in the 45th minute with a solo run in the middle to put CFC ahead by two goals at the break. National team player Chima Uzoka almost put his name in the scoresheet in the dying minutes of the first half when he struck an attempt almost from point blank.
His shot however, went high up the sky and ‘hit a passing bird’ instead the back of the net. Chima, still fresh from seeing action for the Philippine men’s national team against Iraq, played out of position and was struggling during the match although he also had some brilliant passes which created scoring chances.
His struggle also continued in the second half and he was eventually replaced by his fellow national team player, the cat quick winger from Cagayan de Oro, JB Borlongan. Borlongan was a joy to watch at the right flank when he came in in the 60th minute.
His quickness and his center passes were instrumental to the CFC’s continued dominance in the second half.
Abu Sy scored his second goal from the penalty spot in the 47th minute after he was fouled by Loyola defender David Asari inside the penalty box. The penalty was rather harsh as Asari only slightly touched Abu Sy. Sy then calmly hit the back of the net with his left footed shot that did not give any chance for goalkeeper Annan and extended their lead to three goals.
Zamoranho Ho-A-Tham scored a beauty in the 60th minute from a free kick outside the penalty box to make things worse for the Loyola boys. The stocky built number 10, whipped the ball over the defensive wall that caught Annan off guard as if he was watching a ‘Vivamax movie’.
The fans also cheered as local boy, Tam-tam Ramos, the son of legendary coach Glen Ramos was sent in with 10 minutes remaining. It was a good experience for the former UST midfielder as he got some time on the pitch despite of the match surely under wraps in their favor by that time.
But the most impressive among the local boys was former national U-22 player player Kamal Amirul who played the entire 90 minutes at right back. The former Don Bosco Technology Center player was steady at back giving support to regular defenders, Charles Dabao III, Baris Tasci, Goktug Demirodlu and goalkeeper Jun Badelic.
The victory was an opening season gift to the CFC fans and team owner Ugur Tasci. The Cebuano fans are the most loyal in the PFL and they always pack the Dynamic Herb/Borromeo stadium every time the CFC play their home games.
Tasci is the visionary owner Gentle Giants who have already spent a fortune for this club and has never stopped and has always sought ways of improving the team and the club. Next match for the the Gentle Giants will be on April 27 against Maharlika FC. Who Maharlika FC escaped past Tuloy 3-2 in their opening match.
It will be a long way for the Gentle Giants, but judging from the performance against Loyola, Cebu FC is one of the contenders this season and sill surely give defending champion Kaya FC a headache in the months to come.
CFC ended up runner-up to Kaya last year but this year might be their year if Gentle Giants continue to play heads up football. (jackbiantantambok@gmail.com
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