I TALKED with some officials of the PFL a few weeks ago and what I learned was quite interesting.
An assignment for a Global Cebu home game is most sought after because of how local officials treat them. They have their own liason officer and receive VIP treatment and their meal allowance is almost often unused as the CFA treats them to a feast fit for a king.
“Yung ibang FA, wala. Kanya-kanya na,” one official said. “It’s really different here.”
The official went on to say that for him, it seemed only the local FA is helping the league as the rest aren’t that cooperative. You could see the team effort every home game as the CFA board are full force in the venue, including president Ricky Dakay.
You can spot them during the home games are they are the ones with the Cebu shirts below the grandstand.
One visiting coach was also impressed with the local support that he told the liason officer after the match.
“Get my number, the CFA needs me,” he said, and promptly listed on what he could do and what the Global FC Cebu coach couldn’t do. It’s a case of an active application for a spot that isn’t vacant.
“Gusto ma hire sa Cebu,” said the one who relayed the story.
However, I don’t think Akbar Nawas would be going away soon considering the things he has done for Global--fourth in the league and undefeated in Cebu. They are also in the finals of the RHB Cup in Singapore and are in the running for the PFL post-season.
Before the post-season though, there is that one final home game against rival Ceres FC on Nov. 28, a Tuesday. This match was supposed to be held last July 29 but was moved due to Ceres’ AFC campaign.
Global Cebu started its undefeated run at home with a victory against the Busmen and I’m hoping that it continues. The home game, being hyped as the Visayas Clasico, comes about three weeks after the SunStar Football Cup and I hope the three-week period is enough for it to be revived.
We did our best to minimize the damage, putting up barriers in one side of the pitch and limiting access to the players and coaches only. We even had to stop a final to force people to watch the game from the grand stand.
The game, not the pitch, should be the story on Nov. 28. See you and don’t miss the biggest game this season.