PFL champ Ceres Negros signs up Azkals mainstay

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning Philippines Football League champ Ceres Negros FC started its buildup for the coming season by signing up Azkals mainstay Sean Kane, formerly of JPV Marikina.

Kane’s entry is expected to shore up the defense of the Busmen, who retained the core that reaped success not only in the inaugural PFL but also in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup in 2017.

“I’m very pleased to have signed with Ceres. It’s a great club and a great environment for me to continue to grow as a player,” said the Azkals defender, who first played for Kaya in the old United Football League in 2016 before moving to Marikina in the PFL last year.

The Busmen are bringing back former captains Patrick Reichelt, Louie Michael Casas, Manny Ott, Arnie Pasinabo, Carlie De Murga, and Martin Steuble as well as veterans Bienvenido Marañon, Stephan Schrock, Omid Nazari, Junior Muñoz, Kevin Ingreso, OJ Porteria, Jeffrey Christaens, Ed Sacapaño, and Super Herrera.

Young guns Joshua Dutosme and Nessi Ramos will also return to the fold as Ceres defends its crown in the PFL and vie in the AFC Champions League qualifiers.

“The 2017 squad has shown resilience and professionalism which has led to multiple titles last season,” the Bacolod-based team announced yesterday.

The Busmen, though, will go about its 2018 sorties without key players from last year like Iain Ramsay, Roland Müller, Josh Grommen, Luke Woodland, Kota Kawase, and Fernando Rodriguez, who are headed elsewhere.