Singaporean coach lauds Global Cebu FC feat

MANILA, Philippines — Despite falling short of the ultimate prize, Global Cebu FC’s Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas took pride in how his charges battled through adversity all year long to cop a runner-up finish not only in the Philippines Football League but also in the Singapore Cup.

Injuries to key personnel and player departures hit the People’s Club but the Cebu-based booters soldiered on and managed to place a fighting second to Ceres Negros FC in the recent PFL to follow up a similar placing against S-League side Albirex Niigata in the Singapore meet.

“It’s been an amazing feat for Global. Middle of the year, we had players sold off to Davao and injuries to key players like Amani (Aguinaldo) and OJ (Clarino) and so on and so forth, and we had to live with a very depleted and thin squad most of the time,” he said.

“Having to go to games with 14 players and try to win every game and going to two finals, I think we’ve accomplished beyond what we could’ve have done,” he added.

He lauded the players, seven of whom are youngsters asked to step up to senior-level play at short notice, for their no-quit attitude.

“They stood up, played and dug deep to go through a season like this; not the ideal situation for us to be in but they dug deep and got to two finals,” he said.

Former coach of Tampines Rovers in the S-League, Nawas came to Global last May initially as consultant before signing a three-year contract as head coach.