Ceres-Negros' transformation complete with new investors rename fabled club

After just two weeks since it was let go by Leo Rey Yanson, the reboot of Ceres-Negros is now complete Thursday as new owners have just renamed them as United City Football Club ahead of the 2020 season of the Philippines Football League.

The investors' group that took the club from the top man of the Vallacar Transit are managed by MMC Sportz Asia, led by CEO Eric Gottschalk in which they are keen to continue playing not just in the domestic scene, but also overseas as they stressed their commitment in continuing what the Busmen had done before the coronavirus pandemic.

"We believe transparency on all levels is key to the success of the new team and will unveil the names in due course," said in their statement

Yanson's decision to let go of his beloved club had sent a huge wave of mourning across the entire Pinoy football community, as it was the country's standard bearer in international competitions in the past four seasons, including their unbeaten Double last year where they only drew thrice to en route in clinching both the league and the Copa Paulino Alcantara.

It almost came close in sealing the league's debut appearance in the AFC Champions League proper, the most recent of which came just last January where they fell to Japan's FC Tokyo at the final playoff hurdle.

"We would like to thank Mr. Yanson and his team for agreeing to the transfer of the Club into our name," they added in the press release in which they are seeking to get clearance from the PFF for the name change in both the Qatar Airways-backed PFL and in the 2020 AFC Cup in which Ceres are on top of Group G before the lockdown halted all sporting activities.

“We would like to honor the legacy which Mr. Yanson created when he founded the Ceres Negros Club and we will try to continue the development of Philippines football, especially the professional league and the National Team,” they added.

As the sale complete, they are already securing their commitment of 16 of the 21 players from the last squad of the Busmen, as the new owners will retain the front office staff to be led by club official Patrick Ace Bright with the intention of keeping manager Risto Vidakovic still in their minds.

"The aim is to keep the team and staff together as much as possible, and allow them the well-deserved chance to continue to play football amid all the challenges that everyone has been facing," said in the statement.

Photo: Ceres-Negros FC (FILE)