The current build-up of the Ceres – La Salle Football Club aims for sporting glory beyond national boundaries.

This was reiterated by club head coach, Ali Bernard Rojas Go, at the press conference and signing ceremony for five more players held in Bacolod City yesterday.

The five signees are Azkal member Carlos Alberto Martinez De Murga Olaivar, Venice, Italy-born twins Marvin and Marwin Angeles, former St. La Salle standout Arnie Pasinabo and German national Kevin Umberto Capolei, who was born in Italy.

“We are preparing not just for the United Football League but more so for the Asian Football Confederation President's Cup set early in May and hopefully, higher international tournaments,” Go said, as he disclosed that he will attend the draw for the AFC President's Cup in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

Eleven countries will see action in the competition in May which will be divided into three groups, with the Top 2 in each advancing to the AFC Cup in September, the Ceres FC coach said.

The Philippines will host the AFC President's Cup qualifying along with Sri Lanka and Mogolia.

The 10 other countries eyeing the slots for the September AFC Cup are Turkmenistan, Pakistan, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Chinese Taipei.

Our team build-up is in preparation for our players to see action outside the Philippines.

The direction of the team's training was reinforced by Nicolas Golez, CFC administrator, who said the club management “decided to build a more competitive team which will represent our province and country in future tournaments.”

This young team is trying its best to be the best, he said, adding that the reinforcement is expected to ensure team success and prestige.

Go said the Top 6 teams in the September tournament will see action in the Champions' League playoffs next year, with the No. 1 squad advancing to the AFC Cup scheduled later in 2015.

At the same time, Go said the Ceres-La Salle FC is looking forward to repeat its first-round top performance in the UFL- Division 2 en route to the club's team goal of being elevated to the Division 1 league next season.

“It will be an achievement fir this young team,” he said, adding that the reinforcement of the team will help the club in its Division 1 performance.

“We are looking at long months of training and we know that this is the best time to add players who will gel at the right time.

Despite few player injuries, Go said the team is “in good health”, with the one or two injured players expected to be fully back in action within a month.

Go acknowledged in the press conference that the team's “setting the bar high in its initial participation in the national competition by emerging the champion in the National Smart-PFF Club Championship in 2012, is due to the commitment and hard work of the players and the all-out support of the management.

The Yanson family has, for a long time, been supportive of the football program and at the forefront of promoting the sports and with their involvement, football is getting better and is going up in the country, Go further said.

The coach said he hopes that the players, especially those who are foreign born, will easily adjust to the local weather and culture as he also reiterated that the team, despite the presence of foreign born and trained players, “has no superstars”.

We challenge them to always do their best , excel and show competitiveness I including in our practices, he added.*AVDC

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