AFC Cup: Ceres Negros coach sees ‘big opportunity to repeat history’

AFC CUP. Head coaches Risto Vidakovic of Ceres Negros (2nd from right) and Aidil Sharin of Home United, with their respective players Martin Steuble (right) and Shahril Ishak (left), meet during a press conference ahead of the AFC Cup 2018 ASEAN Zonal Finals first leg at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City on Wednesday night. (Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver/PNA)

BACOLOD CITY — Ceres Negros is seeking a repeat of its historic win against Singapore’s Home United last year to clinch a second Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup ASEAN Zonal title.

The Busmen will host the Protectors at the Panaad Park and Stadium in the first leg of the finals at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Ceres Negros, the reigning Philippines Football League champion, will go into the two-leg finals without top scorer Bienvenido Marañon, who was suspended after being sent off during the semi-finals match against Yangon United on May 16.

However, Ceres Negros head coach Risto Vidakovic is not worried.

“(It’s) nothing new. We already knew two months ago. We have prepared without him, the question is not important anymore. We have to think about the players who can play. We have enough players so the team will not suffer,” the Serbian mentor said during the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

He said that after Ceres Negros’ loss to the Singaporeans in their previous encounter in Bacolod, the upcoming match is “a new and very important game,” which presents a “big opportunity (for Ceres) to repeat history.”

In 2017, Ceres Negros became the first Filipino club to advance to the ASEAN Zonal finals and eventually win the title after defeating Home United.

“They will play the same way. We have to try to play our football. For us, it’s a historic game, to play in the finals. We want to win, of course. We will do the best we can. My players will give their 100 percent,” Vidakovic said.

Ceres Negros team captain Martin Steuble said Marañon’s absence is a “big blow” to the team but the other players will step up to the plate.

“The way we play football, the way our system is built does not rely on a single player. Someone has to step in and fulfill this role, and might be the lucky one to score the goal,” he added.

“There’s always pressure in football. Mainly, we put the pressure on ourselves, we want to give back to the people here. We want to win that finals more than ever,” the Filipino-Swiss midfielder said.

Meanwhile, Home United head coach Aidil Sharin said that coming from last year’s defeat to Ceres Negros, they face the challenge of avoiding the same fate.

“This the AFC Cup Zonal finals, we want to do our best and we will give everything we have,” he added.

Striker Shahril Ishak, Home United’s second leading scorer, said that Marañon’s absence from the Ceres Negros line-up doesn’t make them complacent because the Philippine side still has more quality players.