We did amazing: Nawas

Although falling short of a title in its campaign in the Philippines Football League (PFL), Global Cebu FC head coach Akbar Nawas was all praises for his boys for the squad’s rollercoaster year in 2017.

“To go through the season with 17, 18 players - sometimes 13, 14 - and to beat the top team of the season the way we did (in the PFL); pushing Albirex in the Singapore Cup, maybe we rolled our luck too much until today,” said Nawas.

“For us to come this far, we are happy with what we have achieved. Of course no one is happy to lose a game, but if you sum up the season, we did what we had to amazingly.” Global had an up and down season in the PFL. They lost some key players like Amani Aguinaldo and OJ Clarino to injuries. Global finished at fourth place and took the last spot of the semifinals.

Global, however, showed its will to win by beating top seed FC Meralco Manila, 3-2, on aggregate from late goals.

Global’s magic ran out in the PFL Finals as the Cebu-side lost to Ceres Negros FC, 4-1, at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

Iain Ramsay, who scored a hattrick for Ceres in the finals, also praised Global despite beating them.

“Congratulations also to Global. Because to reach the final is not an easy work, it’s been a long season for all teams in the PFL. I think Global did remarkably well,” he said.

Ceres assistant coach Ian Treyes feels that Global is a very talented and tough team but his side got the upperhand by playing at home in front of a very supportive fanbase.

“Global, ever since, is our biggest rival from the past, maybe the future. It is difficult to defeat them. We are lucky enough to be playing (here in Panaad) in the Final.”

For us to come this far, we are happy with what we have achieved. Of course no one is happy to lose a game, but if you sum up the season, we did what we had to amazingly AKBAR NAWAS head coach, Global Cebu FC