Head coaches Myo Min Tun of Yangon United (left) and Risto Vidakovic of Ceres-Negros (right) with their respective players Yan Aung Kyaw (2nd from left) and Bienvenido Marañon during the pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon ahead of the AFC Champions League 2019 qualifiers on Tuesday night at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City. (Photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver)
BACOLOD CITY -- The Philippines’ Ceres-Negros and Yangon United of Myanmar will test each other’s mettle in the AFC Champions League (ACL) 2019 preliminary qualifiers at the Panaad Stadium in this city on Tuesday night.
The match is Ceres-Negros’ first on their home turf for the ACL, an advantage that could improve the Busmen’s chances to advance to the second stage.
Ceres-Negros head coach Risto Vidakovic said he is hoping for a good result since it would be a “real test” for the team to play with several new players in their initial tournament for the year.
In last year’s AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal semifinals, the Filipino football club beat the Burmese team on aggregate after losing in the second leg to advance to the finals.
“A new experience, a new year. We are going 100 percent, I hope everything will go well,” Vidakovic said during the pre-match press conference held at Luxur Place on Monday afternoon.
Veterans Patrick Reichelt and Manny Ott left the team last month to join overseas squads.
Among those who recently signed up with Ceres-Negros are Azkals defender Alvaro Silva, and midfielders Miguel Tanton and Dylan de Bruycker.
Spanish striker Bienvenido Marañon said the team’s latest recruits are “very good” players.
“I think, we are strong but we have to show it in the pitch. I hope this time around, we can achieve many things,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yangon United head coach Myo Min Tun said they have improved as a team after their encounter with Ceres-Negros in the AFC Cup 2018.
“Ceres is a very good team, we know. (But) in the semi-finals, (they) won one time, we won one time. We’re equal. On Tuesday, we will give fans a very good football entertainment,” the Yangon United manager said.
Team captain Yan Aung Kyaw said they will give their best performance against Ceres-Negros. (PNA)
