Ceres Negros XI signs up Azkals defender

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine titlist Ceres Negros FC has beefed up its roster with the signing of Azkals defender Alvaro Silva  as it gears up for its bid in the AFC Champions League.

Silva, who was named to the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup’s Best XI last year and played a big role in the Azkals’ AFC Asian Cup debut this month, is tipped to provide a solid presence for the Busmen when they play Yangon United in the ACL first round preliminaries on Feb. 5 in Bacolod.

“Very happy to announce my signing with Ceres Negros for the next two years,” the Fil-Spanish center back posted on Twitter yesterday.  “(It’s) a new challenge and the same dream that (I had) when I started professional football 15 years ago.”

Ceres acquired the 34-year-old veteran, who was left unattached following the end of his contract with Kedah in the Malaysian Super League, in the latest of pre-season movements that previously saw Miguel Tanton, Dennis Villanueva, Dylan de Bruycker and returnee Angelo Marasigan coming on board.

Silva joins forces with Azkals teammates like Stephan Schrock, Carli de Murga, and Kevin Ingreso in Ceres’ determined effort to qualify for the ACL group stage after coming a win shy of making history last year.

For this campaign, the Busmen need to first hurdle Burmese side Yangon and then Thai outfit Chiangrai United on Feb. 12 for the right to face Japan No. 3 Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Feb. 19 in a playoff for a spot in Group F.