It’s not everyday that you have the chance to produce a big win against a regional giant, more so to give them a trashing in a high-level match with everything on the line. Ceres-Negros was able to achieve the improbable to the delight of the home fans and the designated team captain of the match in Manny Ott.
The current national team player was ecstatic in praising his team in the post match press conference.”I’d like to congratulate the team for an amazing job over 90 minutes. Everyone gave his best, putting out his potential on the field. We were highly concentrated before the game. We knew we had to win, we wanted to win, and we won. So were very happy for the win and were concentrating on the next game against Tampines,” the Ceres midfielder added.
Ott was awarded the captaincy with the co-captains unable to start including Carli de Murga who was recovering from a leg infection the past few days. The responsibility of being captain is sacred in football and is deemed to be a difficult task. Ott relished the opportunity to become one in such an important game but was quick to deflect praise when given.
“I was very proud to be the team captain but that was not an important part today,” said Ott. “Everyone gave their best. I just wanted the guys to enjoy the game to give a hundred percent. It was our last (AFC Cup group) game here in Bacolod we want to make the fans happy, but especially we wanted to make ourselves happy, and I guess we did it today and I’m very proud of the team,” the Ceres midfielder added.
The Busmen will now be focusing on a possible match in the Philippines Football League on the 29th of April before travelling to Singapore for their final group game in the AFC Cup on May the 3rd.
Photo from SKT Digital/Kieron Tan
